 |
"Having been away from NZ for 15 years I have longed to be
invigourated by all that NZ had to offer. My life has been enriched by the
evocative land and people; the creativity that abounded in the Nelson
Region (my former home) has inspired me greatly. It wasn't until I left
that I realised just how special NZ really is. I strive to go '1 inch
beyond the horizon', a strategy I have helped my husband and daughter
achieve. Finding the web site for NZEdge has given me impetus,
inspiration, pride and the joyous feeling that- to step toward the edge
and go beyond one's own horizon, is not being eccentric or odd (as some of
the local call me), rather it is, I believe, the essence of NZ that was
instilled in me. Thank you to all at NZEdge for putting together such a
brilliant and stimulating site."
Ably adept at
anything, Robin Hood's Bay near Whitby, England
"What an absolute
inspiration! I just got sent a link to your NZEdge site and was totally
impressed (in fact, made me feel proud to be a kiwi and, once again,
wonder why I'm not there)!! On the flip side, San Francisco is absolutely
amazing and we're finally feeling quite at home. I think having a number
of sickeningly patriotic NZ co-conspirators helps (and it's amazing how
patriotic one becomes living here)! It's an absolutely frenetic place to
live and the speed with which Silicon Valley morphs itself is astounding.
NZEdge is such a welcome reminder of just how amazing NZers really
are."
Public Relations
Director, San Francisco, USA
"Great concept, felt
bloody good to be able to sit at lap top in down town Sydney and get a
dose of positive NZ stories. Considering most of NZ press coverage we get
here is rather negative. You should consider doing an story on achieving
Kiwis living in Oz considering we are now the biggest immigrant population
living in NSW."
Senior Consultant,
Sydney, Australia
"The jury is yet
out whether New Zealand will continue to be the amusement park for the
Developed North or become a global player in the Knowledge Economy. All
the prerequisites are here. What is lacking is leadership. We need
champions all over New Zealand - from district councils and runanga, to
the community trusts, mayors and the school principals, to stand up for a
cultural revolution. We are no longer "at the edge". We are the
edge. We are not "World Class in New Zealand." We are world
class. It is in New Zealand where the new stars are forming."
Professor of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Auckland, NZ
"The positive
side to the kiwi diaspora - other populations have capitalised on this for
centuries (especially the Chinese and Indian communities). Samoans and
Tongans make no bones about the advantages of having significant
population nodes in several countries. I firmly believe that our
expatriate communities of New Zealanders are both a real and a potential
asset (potential in the sense that we don't make as much use of the
opportunities they provide as we might). I look forward to this web site
and reading of your documentation of the achievements of kiwis overseas. I
will highlight this web site in the next piece I write on the extension of
New Zealand's "edge" overseas -- a nice way of putting it!"
Professor,
Hamilton
"Congratulations
on a fantastic idea and on starting what I hope will grow to being an even
more inspirational site. As a financial planner and licensed Dale Carnegie
instructor I see positive opportunities everywhere, however there does
seem to be an increase in negative public sentiment. I hope that
initiatives like this web-site can draw together, strengthen and inspire
those with positive attitudes to even greater heights."
Financial
Planner, Auckland, NZ
"Thanks for the
nzedge updates. There's normally something worth reading. But...Russell
Crowe? Russell is Australian. Yes, he was born in NZ and lived there for a
bit, but he travels on an Australian passport and, more importantly I
guess, considers himself Australian. That's the test to me: what you
consider yourself. Other than that, thanks for the updates."
Anon
"WHAT IS FLAGNZ? What to
say about the issue of changing the design of the NZ national flag that
hasn't already been said? Not much as I think it has all been said a
million times before. The people know that there should be a change and so
do the politicians - yet until the day when we have somebody at the top
who is not afraid to stick their own neck on the line for future
generations of New Zealanders, then the lack of rapport and respect that
we have for our current flag will always be a reflection of the society we
live in and the image that the people of the world judge us upon. FLAGNZ
has to come from the people of New Zealand for it too ever eventuate. The
people have to create it, foster it, drive it, live it for it to ever
become a reality. Up until now there hasn't been the right condition for a
new design to take hold, but recently thing have changed with the
appearance of FLAGNZ. A design is now out there waiting for all you feel
strongly about the way you look at yourselves, the way you look at your
country and the way you want the world to look back at New Zealand. If you
don't support yourselves then nobody will. Without you FLAGNZ will never
fly. Find out more about FLAGNZ at www.hbtv.co.nz/flagnz
your help and support is needed."
Explorer, Hastings, NZ
"I'm a bit
worried that there might be too much hype and gloss and warm fuzzies and
perhaps not enough depth in the edge approach presented here. There seems
to be little celebration of New Zealand culture and a lot of emphasis on
ephemeral stuff. The images you have on the sight do not appear to have
much artistic rigour. I'll keep watching"
Professional Photographer/Veterinary Scientist, Wanaka, NZ
"Great nzedge.com
site! Amazed at the world maps without NZ. Thought that had stopped a long
time ago! I also teach at Waikato University, and work in a virtual world
of ideas and education. Keep up your great work on the Kiwi creativity
connection."
Hamilton, NZ
"I'm an ex
pat living in the San Francisco Bay area's "East Bay" and have
created a cutting edge "decorative concrete" product that my
company (Southern Cross Construction Technology, Inc) is currently
bringing out to market. Details can be seen at our web site at www.stampedoverlay.com.
Regards."
San Francisco,
USA
"Your nzedge.com
is brilliant. And yes, I've referred many to your site because of its ease
of use. For the past five years, I worked in New Zealand and gained NZ
Citizenship. As a well educated American, I consider myself one of the
luckiest people in the world to contributed to the NZ economy and work
with some of the top NZ corporates. I appreciate your insight on the
following:
a few articles in the
US media are starting to document what NZ/AUS knows about the OE: leave
your country to broaden your business experience - brilliant training for
running a global company. (Newsweek Jan 17, 2000, "Up Top From Down
Under" p. 52) My 5 year OE has proved invaluable - and as for many OE
types - the world is our oyster."
Waiheke Island,
NZ
"Congrats Kevin I
am sure the next cup defence will bigger, better and just huge for the
whole of the country. At least double the fun, action and intensity of the
last defence. The preliminaries are going to be formula one racing at its
best, to think we will be ready and waiting in the final is just huge, so
many egos are on the line worldwide, I am sure Prada will be there. No
matter who signs with who, NZ is already there! Hope you enjoy this ride
'cos it's going to be wild."
NZ
"Have had the
speech "Inspiration" by Kevin Roberts given to me by a teacher
who attended the Compaq Education Conference in Auckland, and found it
very interesting. Hope that I will have the opportunity to get involved in
some way or another. Am very interested in this type of motivational work.
Have two brothers who would fit very well into the group of Nzer’s who
have excelled in their work overseas."
School Caretaker, Whangarei, NZ
"I want to congratulate that someone is sending such positive
thoughts about NZ around the world .... and is getting so great a
response. We actually can enhance it if you like and want. We have got the
most phantastic and comprehensive information about New Zealand, at the
moment on a CD and pretty soon on the net. Looking forward to hear from
you and working together for our New Zealand. I have had a huge response
at a migrant meeting a week ago."
Manager/Owner,
Christchurch, NZ
"While checking
the MSN.com homepage this morning (June 23, 2000) I was tickled by an
article about the French war against McDonalds, with the author of the
article citing the Rainbow Warrior bombing by the French in Auckland in
1985 as an example of French protesting styles. I'm still not sure of the
connection, but it definitely made me laugh, which is always a good
thing!"
Independent
Consultant, Oceanside, California, USA
"Brian, I came
across NZEDGE and am duly impressed with the way New Zealand is
portraited. It is reassuring that there are groups that can see the
positive side to the current negative state of the country and the
migration of talented individuals. I am a firm believer in that should
this country be a dominant and vibrant marketing mecca then the change has
to start, not merely talked about. Change that deals with the root of the
problem not the end results. Namely, insuring that NZ is a dynamic, wild
and sassy place that people will queue up for to get a chance to come back
to. I am working on a project which is called FutureNZ which is based on
making NZ the country to be in, a country that realises its potential is
only limited by the minds that reside in this country. A country that is
not afraid to do!!"
Auditor, Auckland
"A lot of innovation that was traditionally the NZ hallmark and the
ability to get things done that no-one else could or would try now seems
to be disappearing -- lets try to repromote it.
"I spend a lot of
time in as an individual consultant / trouble-shooter underresourced
countries were there is great potential and we see now that a number of
the bigger NZ companies are, and are being seen by the world, to place
commercial expedience ahead of all else including relationships,
reputations and are also seen as becoming very conservative - any
opportunity has to be a "dead cert" and as one slightly
disappointed NZ CEO observed to me recently "NZ companies now in many
cases want it on a plate". Close colleagues (Russian, Cambodian,
Vietnamese, Chinese, etc) have observed that the NZ culture from Govt
Departments, to large corporates seems to take the "might is right
maxim", have limited regard for the small niche specialists (building
relations and reputations) and of most concern, NZ companies in many cases
are not seen as team players...The French, Germans, Japanese, Malaysians,
Vietnamese, etc will although competing, combine in a national team for
mutual benefit .... NZ companies are now perceived more as solo players
(primadonnas??)...as a close senior Vietnamese colleague recently observed
"...if NZ companies cannot or do not co-operate together on a
national team of their own culture / people how can I expect them to be
team players with me in a multicultural team of different national players
in an environment they do not know....."
"I think this is
what EDGE is possibly about .... getting a National team.. I fully support
that but can we see the lessons learned and the advantages being shown to
the big players.
"Can we
nationally present a combined team (even if we compete internally), can we
demonstrate co-operation to make NZ a winner rather than opportunities
going elsewhere because NZ interests are too busy bickering and
manoeuvring amongst themselves, can we show that a NZ team or player
respects the rules and ethics - in business and sport we an be relied on.
Especially in Asia commercial expediency instead of relationships is a
short term gain. Can we come to the realisation that NZ is not a
superpower that shakes and moves the globe but as a small team of the
highest quality, providing the ultimate in innovation, professionalism,
responsiveness we have the ability to outclass the world - but
internationally even our biggest players are too small by global standards
to be arrogant. We should have the best network of the best people with
the best communications and intelligence hooked up and spanning the globe
....... for goodness sake why isn't Trade NZ in there with you 250 percent
---- that says something about where we are going nationally and the
national loss of initiative.
"I am only a
little anonymous guy working on my own but have clients in around a dozen
countries which include multinationals, international organisations,
foreign governments, etc. From this I provide market intelligence and
introductions, contacts, etc to TradeNZ, NZ companies and Business
Councils, etc. I don't see this as anything earth-shaking and it should be
the norm. It amazes me how that information is used and how few other NZ
companies are interested in team playing…"
Consultant Engineer, Auckland, Cambodia, Kosovo
General
comments received from NZEDGE.COM survey in May.
"Carry on
- I think you and Kevin are doing a great job together and we need more
like you!"
"Very good -
thorough - an increasingly valuable collection."
"I'm a non New
Zealander but I dig NZ."
"BEST CONCEPT BY
FAR. The concept of expatriate NZers as part of the NZ community. It works
for the Jews. Absolutely essential for a country our size. I don't think a
nuclear research facility in NZ is likely, but I'd love to hear from you
that an American one is run by a Kiwi who happens to live in the
States."
"More
power..."
"The type of
people you are reaching out to are going to be, in the main, movers and
shakers and that will give nzedge the edge."
"I would be
interested in an NZEDGE (or NZEDGE.com) billboard to stick up on my road.
"
"Keep the
messages going! It is also great to see the new subscribers to nzedge.com.
I eagerly await chat/news rooms on nzedge.com."
"I think your
site is great. However some of the more commercial "sell"
questions probably should not have been asked - as you have turned what
appeared to be just a fantastic passion (which of itself creates
inspiration in others) for NZ into what appears to be an obvious money
raising exercise - which is fine if just done without making it too
obvious!"
" I am enjoying
reading the edge stories particularly as I have been doing a leadership
paper for my Masters and these fitted extremely well, in fact, couldn't
have been a better fit, into the leaders of New Zealand! Used them to note
take from in prep for an exam."
"As a teacher, I
was wondering whether you had considered publishing them - then I read the
rest of the e-mail! I would love to be involved if you were going to put
them together for primary schools - probably in a simplified version but
suitable for say year 5 - 8 students i.e. Std 3 - Form 2. Some promotion
of these at institutions such as Massey would help in leadership study,
too!"
"Keep up the good
work!"
|
|
"I've found the
NZEdge site to be uplifting, well organised, and informative. Cheers. As a
communication graduate, I'm always looking out for inventive, creative,
and most importantly worthwhile concepts as case studies of excellent
integrated communication techniques - I think I've found something worth
raving about. Congrats."
Conference Director, Auckland NZ
"Inspiring. As a
Kiwi who wants to do business with the world, I am please to see you
articulating the uniqueness of our "have a go" attitude. We have
a great opportunity to ride the new wave of global business opportunities,
to react quicker and inspire greater change as others follow our
wake."
Director, Auckland NZ
"Thank you for your biography on Keith Park, New Zealand has produced
many great men and women and Keith Park was one of them. With Dowding, his
decisions within 11 Group of Fighter Command was the backbone of the
victory that Britain so badly had to win. I compliment you on presenting
this great man to the world."
www.battleofbritain.com,
London, UK
"Blow that
trumpet, guys! The more I travel, the more I realise how we New Zealanders
take excellence for granted. This site is a wonderful tribute to the
contributions NZers have made - and continue to make - to the World."
Solutions
Director, Chicago, Illinois, USA
"What an
inspiring site!"
Tender Manager,
Waiau Pa, NZ
"Fantastic. Its
not until you leave the country you realise how lucky and remarkable NZ
and its people really are...sense of before-unknown patriotism comes
hurling into the senses... Great to have a site as beautiful as this to
recognise and mirror the pride I feel! Thanks."
Information Research, London, UK
"Kevin/Brian A good start to a powerful concept. We just need to keep
working the government!! As an expat Kiwi in Silicon Valley, I am
interested in supporting any NZEDGE initiatives in the general area.
regards -Lance-"
Sales Dude, San
Jose, California, USA
"This is a great
site - great for us Kiwis away from New Zealand. The speeches are great
for motivation. Keep it up."
Conference
Director, Gold Coast, Australia
"Inspiring. As a
Kiwi who wants to do business with the world, I am pleased to see you
articulating the uniqueness of our "have a go" attitude. We have
a great opportunity to ride the new wave of global business opportunities,
to react quicker and inspire greater change as others follow our wake...
more power to you..."
Director,
Auckland, NZ
"Best wishes in
what you are setting out to achieve."
Property
Services, Auckland, NZ
"I am a New
Zealander living abroad. Really appreciated reading your newsletter, and
especially the Russell Crowe articles. What a film that was. Still seeing
it and up to my tenth screening."
Graphic Artist, Jacksonville, USA
"An informative and comprehensive coverage of New Zealand initiatives
and current issues. Well done team at NZEDGE !!!"
Teacher, Whitianga, NZ
"Live every
moment to the fullest, you never know when it might end!"
Web Agent,
London, England
Thanks very much for
your help. Kiwi networking does it again! Enjoying your site a lot. Feel
free to call on any help I can offer from this part of the world.
Wales
"This is a great
site!"
Administration
Officer/Musician, Hamilton, NZ
"Wonderful
concept and ideas. Very impressed with the content and is something that
needs to be promoted nationally and internationally. Let the power of
email do its work!!"
Accountant,
Auckland
"Great. How can I
help?"
Lawyer, Auckland, NZ
"Good work!"
New Media Producer,
London, UK
"Hi Kevin, I was
lucky enough to hear you speak at the Auckland Sheraton last week - a
hearty hear hear for your inspirational vision. Thanks for the site and
for bringing some... NEW ZEAL to our wonderful LAND cheers."
Marketing
Co-ordinator, Auckland, NZ
"A fantastic site
full of outstanding acheivements. A real inspiration for us all. From a
Proud Kiwi"
Exporter,
Hawkes Bay, NZ
"Fell across your
site while looking for NZ info. Mailbox looks interesting so let’s see.
Cheers"
Medical
Scientist, Perth, Australia
"Very interesting
concept. Good luck with it."
Tinker,
Auckland, NZ
"Great to see the
stars of the past bought together under "one roof". I didn't
know half of them. What about a stars of the future?"
Business
Adviser, Christchurch, NZ
"Wonderful
concept and ideas. Very impressed with the content and is something that
needs to be promoted nationally and internationally. Let the power of
email do its work!!"
Accountant,
Auckland, NZ
"I am an
optimistic person who wants to believe the New Zealand has a viable
future. I am deeply concerned about the lack of hope there is in many
sectors of our country. I believe that we need a strong, positive vision
for our country- one that is inclusive enough to make a difference."
Webmistress,
Christchurch, NZ
"Anything that
can inspire New Zealanders to get off their butt, stop whingeing has to be
good for you!"
Commercial Real
Estate Salesperson, Wellington, NZ
"Don't leave town
till you've seen the country... through its people and their achievements
and tribulations. Without me blowing a trumpet or waving a flag, this is
STILL a great place to be."
Warehouseman,
Auckland, NZ
"Great to see the
stars of the past bought together under "ne roof". I didn't know
half of them. What about a stars of the future?"
Business
Advisor, Christchurch
|
|
