Communications for kiwifruit psa outbreak wins top award

31 May 2011

Communications for kiwifruit psa outbreak wins top PRINZ Award

The communications response to the outbreak of bacterial vine disease psa in New Zealand kiwifruit has won Melanie Palmer (ZESPRI International Limited) and Andrea Brady (Catalyst Communication Consulting Limited) the supreme award at the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand’s PRINZ Awards.

The entry won the supreme award and the corporate public relations category award for rapid and clear communication during the psa outbreak. When psa was identified on two ZESPRI kiwifruit gold orchards in Te Puke the immediate response, led by ZESPRI and MAF Biosecurity NZ, focused on minimising risk to the New Zealand kiwifruit industry, ensuring information was easily accessible and that there were no adverse reactions from offshore trading partners.

Chief judge Gordon Chesterman said the project impressed the judges with its clear and timely messages. “It was about uniting people in a difficult and challenging time. It was about protecting the business and its reputation.”

The supreme award winner was announced at the PRINZ Awards in breaking news style by TV3 presenters Hilary Barry and Mike McRoberts on a pre-recorded video. Former MediaWorks director of marketing and communications Roger Beaumont hosted the awards dinner held at the Holiday Inn, Rotorua.

The supreme award was chosen as the best entry from the nine category award winners.

PRINZ President Jane Dodd said, “The winning campaigns demonstrated the value public relations brings to the business table by using strategic planning and creative thinking to achieve results in challenging situations.”

There were 53 entries submitted to this year’s awards which were held on the back of the two-day PRINZ Conference. The annual PRINZ Awards began in 1974 and represent outstanding public relations practice in New Zealand.
ends

© Scoop Media