There could be lot of change in store for New Zealand’s political and business environments over coming months. Not only is there an election looming – the outcome of which could see change of government – but momentum is growing for business to act with government to tackle New Zealand’s slow growth rate.
Taking politics first – the country’s foremost political commentator, Colin James, looks at the process of politicking in this month’s cover story. As he says on page 30, the first rule about elections is that “they must be managed, they cannot be left to voters” and it all stems from there. James follows the path of electioneering from the days of street corner and community hall meetings, through to today’s widespread use of social media and brand building.
“Transition poses headaches and opportunities for managers of elections as of business. Campaign bosses do not have it easy in the 2008 election,” he says.
And the role business plays in joining with Government to lift the country’s standard of living will grow if Fletcher Building’s Jonathan Ling has his way. As New Zealand faces more economic challenges, Ling and Deloitte chairman Nick Main discuss what needs to be done to improve things, and how business and Government must work together. simple vision – and people prepared to role up their sleeves and get on with it.
We update the commercial property market and find that premium space is scarce in our major cities, which could spell trouble for some with bottleneck of leases due to expire over the next couple of years. And we look at the changes and challenges for the commercial banking scene given the global credit crunch and slowing local conditions.
If that all sounds like lot of work for the brain – flip to the back of the magazine and find out how to bring creativity into your workplace and why it’s important.
Paul Lightfoot has joined the NZ Management team as account manager, replacing Linda Lang (who has moved to Apparel magazine, another 3media Group publication).
Born and raised in North Wales, Paul has broad range of advertising experience, having worked at TRN – Radio Hauraki & 91ZM brands, Prime Television – for its first three and half years on air, Metro magazine and North & South. Paul is very excited about joining the team at NZ Management, and looks forward to working closely with the magazine‘s regular advertisers and valued sponsors, and developing new business and ideas for the publication.
