Author: MIL OSI Publisher

Advertisers, media owners, production and advertising agencies commit to collaborative climate action

Ad Net Zero, has launched in Aotearoa New Zealand today, with a mission to accelerate the decarbonisation of the advertising industry.

Launched first in the UK in late 2020, New Zealand will become the fourth region globally to harness the Ad Net Zero framework to help the advertising sector reduce its greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) and support the transition to a sustainable economy.

Ad Net Zero is a five-point action plan* that supports the transition to net zero emissions for a $3.4b industry**. It has already garnered the support of major foundation partners ANZ, BNZ, EECA, Go Media, Google, Kiwi Bank, Meridian, One New Zealand, oOh!media, SCG, Sky and TVNZ and aims to:

1. Reduce emissions from advertising business operations

2. Reduce emissions from advertising production

3. Reduce emissions from media planning and buying

4. Reduce advertising emissions through awards and from events

5. Harness advertising’s power to support behaviour change.

Supporters are required to have created a greenhouse gas emission inventory within the first 12 months of becoming a Supporter and a science-based target in line with the Paris Agreement, as well as an emissions reduction plan by year two.

Additionally, Supporters are invited to participate in working groups that will collaborate on efforts to streamline industry efforts such as agreeing on a consistent measurement approach for ad-related emissions.

Hon. James Shaw, Minister of Climate Change, attended the special launch event in Auckland today.

“The launch of Ad Net Zero is a positive step towards bringing the advertising industry together to work towards a lower carbon future.”

“The climate crisis is the most pressing issue affecting us all. It is important we continue to elevate the sustainability conversation to drive lasting behaviour change and shape the world for the better,” says Shaw.

A steering group made up of representatives from across New Zealand’s advertising industry supply chain are leading the Ad Net Zero initiative***.

Steering group spokesperson, Simon Lendrum, Chief Executive of Commercial Communications Council, says “The advertising industry has proven time and again the power of collective creative thinking and innovation. Both will be essential in reducing carbon emissions across the entire advertising ecosystem.

“Individually, many organisations in the sector are already playing their part, but the Ad Net Zero initiative is about deep sector-wide collaboration – and supporting those just starting their journey,” he says.

As well as foundation partners, the initiative has early agency support from Acumen Republic, Clemenger Group, DDB, Dentsu, FCB, Federation, Harvey Cameron, Hearts and Science, Lassoo, MBM, Motion Sickness, OMD, PHD, Pitchblack, Quantum Jump, RUN, Saatchi & Saatchi, Spark Foundry, The Monkeys, True, Together, VMLY&R and YoungShand.

The advertising sector in New Zealand employs an estimated 44,000. The Ad Net Zero framework supports a future in which ads are made by sustainable businesses, using sustainable production processes, and distributed through sustainable media supply chains, while promoting sustainable products, services and behaviours.

Notes

*Ad Net Zero’s detailed five-point action plan:

Action 1: Reduce emissions from advertising business operations Action 1 aims to reduce emissions from the operations of advertising businesses. It calls for agencies and marketing services companies to annually measure consumption data, for example, electricity usage, business travel, waste production, so it can reduce operational carbon emissions.
Action 2: Reduce emissions from advertising production All agencies and production companies – with client support – will be encouraged to commit to reducing emissions from advertising production.
Action 3: Reduce emissions from media planning and buying Media agencies, media owners and clients will be encouraged to work together to develop and implement lower carbon media plans. Ad Net Zero is collaborating with GARM and the WFA to develop a consistent data framework and methodology to calculate the emissions from media planning and buying.
Action 4: Reduce advertising emissions through awards and from events Action 4 of the Ad Net Zero plan challenges industry awards bodies to ensure that the sustainability credentials and climate impact of campaigns inform judging. In 2023, sustainability criteria were introduced into every award entry at Cannes Lions, with Ad Net Zero working closely with the Cannes Lions team, to help analyse award entries and see how and where the industry is taking steps to be more sustainable.
Action 5: Harness advertising’s power to support behaviour change Our ambition is that agencies and their clients increasingly work together to measure the carbon impact of campaigns, use advertising to promote more sustainable choices between competing products and services, to back innovations that deliver greener solutions to people’s needs and desires, and to persuade society to adopt behaviours that reduce carbon emissions.

**Industry value: New Zealand Advertising Industry Revenue Report 2022

*** A steering group made up of New Zealand Advertisers Association (ANZA), Advertising Producers Association (APA), Commercial Communications Council (CCC), Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority (EECA), Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), Out of Home Media Association (OOHMA), Radio Broadcasters Association (RBA), and Television New Zealand (TVNZ) are driving the Ad Net Zero initiative in Aotearoa.

Leading water and land management consultancy Aqualinc is selling its neutron probe business in the North Island and in North Canterbury to two of its Irrigation Management Area Managers.

Neutron probes are radiation-based devices using very low levels of radiation to determine soil moisture content.  Readings are usually taken weekly, with the results and irrigation recommendations sent to the grower.

Melanie Smith (Aqualinc’s Irrigation Management North Island Area Manager) is purchasing the neutron probe business across the North Island and Hamish Maxwell (Aqualinc’s Irrigation Management North Canterbury Area Manager) is buying the North Canterbury business.

The change follows an Aqualinc review of all its services, which concluded that the neutron probe service no longer formed part of the company’s core business.

“We are really pleased to be able to turn this decision into an opportunity for two of our staff to become owner operators,” says Jim Herbison, Aqualinc General Manager.

“Melanie and Hamish will ensure all existing clients have uninterrupted access to the service when the change takes effect at the end of July (North Island) and the end of June (North Canterbury).  They are also keen to expand their client base.

“We’re very sorry to lose them, but we are delighted to be able to help two team members to move into business ownership.  We’ll still work closely with them – referring clients to them and providing their clients with additional services.

“It’s a win-win situation, we get to focus on our core business, Melanie and Hamish get to buy a business that they already know inside out, and their clients get a familiar face and a service they know and trust,” says Jim Herbison.

Melanie Smith says this is something she has been wanting for a number of years and is excited to be taking this step. “I feel privileged to have learnt from the best, Tony Davoren under HydroServices and know he would be proud of Hamish and I with these business purchases.  I look forward to continuing to work with our clients under Tipu Services Ltd.”

Hamish Maxwell says he is thrilled to be taking over the neutron probe business. “It’s a great progression opportunity for me and I’m looking forward to continuing the service in the same business as usual manner.”

Aqualinc’s neutron probe clients in Mid and South Canterbury and in Central Otago have already been offered the opportunity to switch to Aqualinc’s telemetered soil moisture probe service.

The Aqualinc sale leaves the company free to focus on its resource consultancy, consenting and telemetry work with farmers, irrigation schemes, central and local government, as well as its applied water and soil research for clients.

“We use our water and soil research combined with our knowledge of what happens on farms to help government agencies develop good water and land management policies.  Then we help the water users to operate within the rules while running a profitable business,” says Jim Herbison.

About Aqualinc

Aqualinc is one of New Zealand’s leading water and land management consultancies.
Established in 2003 by John Bright and Ian McIndoe (both still Executive Directors), it has grown into a national company, with more than 30 staff working on land and water resource management, research, and irrigation design and development in New Zealand and overseas.
It offers expert advice to farmers and growers on irrigation management, design and monitoring; resource consents and consent compliance; land management and groundwater investigation; and effluent storage and discharge.  It also offers advice and technical expertise to district, regional and central government.
Aqualinc’s advice and support helps its clients to make wise, environmentally sustainable water and land management decisions.
The company has offices in Hastings, Christchurch, Ashburton and Cromwell.

CareHQ, the online GP service and joint venture between ProCare and Southern Cross Health Society, is delighted to announce the appointment of Brett Butler as General Manager.

Butler is currently General Manager of Health Services at ProCare, where he has spent about 20% of his role leading the CareHQ team. Prior to joining ProCare, Butler was a senior manager at Southern Cross Health Society where he led a team in the development and delivery of health insurance products.

Butler’s appointment comes after a year of significant growth for the online GP consultation service, with consultations more than doubling in the year 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023.

Kerry Boielle, Chair of CareHQ and Chief Sales & Marketing Officer at Southern Cross Health Society said after a year of significant growth for the service, it was the right time for CareHQ to secure a leader to take the business forward, and Butler’s experience made him a natural choice for the role.

“We are really starting to see momentum now as more and more New Zealanders become aware of the benefits of using virtual GP consultation services such as CareHQ and this has been evident by the month on month increase in the number of consultations carried out by CareHQ over the past year, versus the previous year.

“In this period of growth, it was clear we needed an experienced general manager who can focus entirely on leading the CareHQ team and taking the business forward. Brett was a natural choice given his current experience working with CareHQ team, and prior to this leading teams in the delivery of products of value to Southern Cross members. We’re delighted to have him on board in this role,” she said.

Earlier this year CareHQ launched new services to support the needs of more patients, adding injury management clinics and after-hours clinics for New Zealand patients, and international visitor clinics for students and visitors to New Zealand. These clinics have contributed to the significant growth achieved in the last 12 months and CareHQ expects to hit the 40,000 consultation mark next month.

Bindi Norwell, Chief Executive at ProCare said, “the growth in online consultations over the last year has exceeded our expectations as patients have continued to value the chance to see a doctor virtually when they are unable to see their usual GP face-to-face. We expect that level of growth to continue in the next 12-24 months and are excited about the strategic focus Brett will be able to bring to CareHQ to support this.

“General practices in our network tell us they have appreciated having the option to offer their patients the ability to use CareHQ during busy periods such as Christmas, Easter, school holidays, after hours, or when they’re just on holiday themselves. It means they know their patients are in good hands, that continuity of care will be provided to the patient and there will be no ‘clawback’ for their patient seeing another provider,” she continued.

Brett’s role will be effective as of 14 August 2023.