RTF

How interesting that three of the most vilified groups in New Zealand pre-Covid-19 – farmers, truck drivers and immigrants – are now the ones holding the country’s economy together. This week, I met with Transport Minister Phil Twyford and his officials from the Ministry of Transport and I spoke before Parliament’s Epidemic Response Committee. The … Read More

Week one of the Government’s lockdown has been a grim one for business. Air New Zealand is a shadow of its former koru, Bauer media shut its doors, and the forestry industry is in dire straits. Most businesses are feeling the pain, with no end in sight. Even while the Government focuses on the health … Read More

As we wake up each day to more changes to our world, communication is critical for businesses dealing with the global spread of COVID-19. I know many businesses are facing pressure and business as usual is unlikely for some time. We are in a rapidly changing and unprecedented business environment when it comes to the … Read More

Sometimes, it’s the small things that Governments do that have the biggest impact. Last month, Employment Minister Willie Jackson launched a Youth Ready Employer Programme, aimed at ensuring employers have all the tools they need to employ young people. For something that I think could have far reaching benefits, it was done in a fairly … Read More

It’s hard to know which is worse, the global spread of Covid-19, or coronavirus, or the panic and constant media barrage about it. The RTF felt a bit like the canary in the coal mine when we wrote to the Government on 4 February and alerted them to the fact that businesses were already in … Read More

With 24-7 news cycles, the rapid spread of both information and mis-information on social media, and a tendency for people to panic, communication in a crisis is critical. Accurate information needs to flow so that people can adequately manage what’s happening in front of them. Sometimes the picture can be changing rapidly. A trusted source … Read More