"Public relations is essentially about developing and maintaining structured communications with stakeholders important to a business or organisation's operational and financial performance so they continue to support the business in their own ways."
Paul Hemsley
I’ve not been there, but New Chums Beach on the eastern side of the Coromandel has now become a political cause celebre. I suspect that this is not so much for its beauty but its value as political leverage on the part of the opposition parties, Labour and Greens.
Beautiful I’m sure, but New Chums is far from as unique as its protagonists would have us believe. If you don’t believe me, just get out and look around.
That the Greens and Labour have formed some sort of coalition to save the beach is a communication triumphant for the initial advocate for banning any human habitation in sight of the beach, one Linda Cholmondeley-Smith. This New Chums champion is a descendant of a former owner who obviously received their 30 pieces of silver, but didn’t have the wit to place a caveat on building, which would of course reduce the value of the land to them.
Cholmondeley-Smith’s strategy was invite media up to the beach and wax eloquent and tearful about its uniqueness. Of course, everyone likes a day at the beach on full pay, so they were quickly on board.
The Greens will subscribe to anything that dips into the public purse without seeming self interest, while at the same time poking a stick in the eye of the obviously wealthy and vehicle-loving owners, so they could definitely be counted in on this campaign.
Labour was more cautious and wanted to see which way the wind was blowing. Understandable given they’d declined to buy the beach when in government – something we need a better explanation of. Out of government it’s a whole new ball game, and the objective now is to points-score at any cost to the taxpayer.
The question I can’t resolve is, why New Chums? To claim uniqueness is simply rhetoric.
What Cholmondeley-Smith and her new found political friends are "selling” is the concept of unique – something few of us will ever visit and fewer of us could afford. While the deficit grows by the day, I can think of a dozen other unique beaches our money could also be spent on. These I expect would be more affordable and probably easier for most of us to access.
Previous Posts
Futile ground for creating spokespeople (12 June 2013)Is it time to retire the EQC? (21 May 2013)
Too big to communicate (1 May 2013)
CEOs less trusted- why might that be? (4 March 2013)
Talking is not communicating (21 February 2013)
Cats and postal deliveries (31 January 2013)
The creeping disease of our language – hyperbole (6 December 2012)
Some lessons in media relations (29 November 2012)
Get with it, Mr Cunliffe, porkies are fine (21 November 2012)
Our own enquiry time as Sandy creates havoc (1 November 2012)
Communicating the poverty message (12 October 2012)
Politics, a game for the superhuman – or the Nixon solution (5 October 2012)
The potent weapon of bullying claims (29 August 2012)
All for one and one for all (31 July 2012)
Greenpeace a global business with the eye for the bottom line (26 July 2012)
The script for higher prices is written in the weather (20 July 2012)
A crass publicity stunt (12 July 2012)
Communication support for families in need (5 July 2012)
Descending to the depths of meanness (21 June 2012)
No thanks Minister (18 June 2012)
We’ve got a problem – let the shouting begin! Or is there a better way? (8 June 2012)
Speaking in headlines, merely for headlines (30 May 2012)
Exposés and rebuttals – are we any the wiser? (30 May 2012)
“The government should do something about that…” (7 May 2012)
Another Kiwi world champion (2 May 2012)
An abuse of power (27 April 2012)
Watch that, or I’ll get YouTube on to you (17 April 2012)
A perverse form of logic (16 April 2012)
Celebrity endorsements play to our laziness (29 February 2012)
Keeping their own counsel may be best course of action (22 February 2012)
The tatty remnants of Occupy (26 January 2012)
Media relationships - it’s important to make them work (20 January 2012)
The spirit of communicating (21 December 2011)
Lessons from a “private conversation” (22 November 2011)
Never mind policy, what’s on the tape? (18 November 2011)
Good on you, Vector (2 November 2011)
A cardinal rule of crisis management lies in the dirt (9 June 2011)
Some French madness – surely? (7 June 2011)
Something to tweet about (2 May 2011)
Litany of apologies, but no humility (13 April 2011)
The tendency to editiorialise – knock it off (7 April 2011)
A campaign to help the country... (29 March 2011)
A storm in an outhouse (9 March 2011)
Cyclone Yasi – the new reality TV show (25 February 2011)
Shredding your reputation for a headline (29 October 2010)
Communications shouldn't mean altercation (14 October 2010)
Finding fairness for all victims is what will define us (24 September 2010)
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The age of intolerance (17 August 2010)
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How you respond is a measure of your mettle (30 July 2010)
The perplexing topic of food pricing (15 July 2010)
Lying as part of your strategy (9 July 2010)
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The revenge of the people with red hair (27 May 2010)
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The fashion of rebranding (28 April 2010)
The tale of two media interviews (24 March 2010)
Clear messages from the golden age of advertising (4 March 2010)
Plenty for the Commerce Commission in the holiday homes market (18 February 2010)
Food Inc only a point of view (23 June 2009)
A budget for feeding the chooks (4 June 2009)