UNICEF NZ (UN Children’s Fund)
Media Release
Thursday 29 November, 2012


Have You Been ‘Naughty or Nice’ This Year?

If you’ve been a little too badly behaved this year to warrant a visit from the man in red then fear not because, thanks to its new ‘Naughty or Nice’ Facebook app, UNICEF NZ is here to help you improve your chances of getting a packed Christmas stocking come December 25th!

Launching today (29 November) and available at www.unicef.org.nz , the ‘Naughty or Nice’ Facebook application uses Christmas magic to sort through your Facebook profile and come up with your naughty or nice rating. So, if you’ve volunteered or given your friends loads of compliments then your ‘nice’ rating will be high.

It’s those who have behaved rather more shabbily that have to worry about whether to buy a reindeer shaped cushion for the naughty step…. But, even if it’s bad news, then it’s not too late to make amends! The best way to improve your ‘nice’ score is by giving a UNICEF NZ Inspired Gift to someone you love.

A UNICEF Inspired Gift has the potential to change kids’ lives in countries all over the world. You just go to the UNICEF NZ website (www.unicef.org.nz ) choose from lots of items like polio vaccines, story books or water kits and UNICEF guarantees it will be delivered straight to a child that needs it. Your loved one then gets a personalised card in the post or e-card letting them know about the thoughtful purchase made in their name.

Richard Boyd, Digital Marketing Manager at UNICEF NZ, said “Whether you’ve been naughty or nice this year, the perfect way to show your caring side to your friends and family is to give a gift that will make a difference to a child’s life, long after the Christmas tree has been stuffed back into storage.

“And what’s more, whether you buy a water pump or school exercise books, your gift will be delivered straight to a child who needs it the most - we’ll even report back to you on where your life-saving gift has been sent.

“Inspired Gifts change the lives of children and their families in over 60 countries, all over the globe, from Cameroon to Cambodia. So don’t be naughty, be nice and give a gift with the potential to last a lifetime.”

Last year Kiwis partnered with donors around the world to help UNICEF deliver 18,000 family water kits, 400 hand pumps, 8000 packets of high energy biscuits and 114,000 mosquito nets, to children and their families in developing countries

For access to the ‘Naughty or Nice’ Facebook application and more information about Inspired Gifts, please go to www.unicef.org.nz

-ends-

About UNICEF

UNICEF is on the ground in over 190 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence.

The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS.

UNICEF is a charity funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

Every $1 donated to us is worth at least $10 in the field thanks to the way we work in partnership with governments, local NGOs and other partners - www.unicef.org.nz

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On The 2013 Budget

Among Thursday’s main talking points:

We are apparently on track for a margin-of-error $75 million surplus, now in sight for 2014/15. But this sickly creature is hobbling out of the lab on the basis of all kinds of facilitative conjuring: such as trimming by $200 million the amount of new spending next time around.

With this strictly nominal surplus in sight, the 1984-ish justification for eternal austerity will have a news talisman: namely, getting Crown debt down to 20% of GDP by 2020. More>>

Budget Report, Lockup Audio & Images: Budget Day 2013 As always and especially after the managerial mishaps of the past few weeks and months, (e.g. Aaron Gilmore, the Mighty River Power share float, the GCSB mishaps) Budget Day 2013 was always going to be a pageant of reassurance... More>>

Budget 2013 Comment: Plain Sailing, But It's No America's Cup Pattrick Smellie: Compared to the last four budgets, this year's reflects an economy moving out of recession and into calmer waters... Yet if the fastest annual growth rate we can expect over the next two years is 3 percent - with the Christchurch rebuild in full swing - then you'd have to say New Zealand's underlying low-growth problem is far from fixed. More>>

Auckland Discord: Govt’s Power Hungry Housing Approach A Threat - Labour

Last week the Government said this, ‘The Government commits not to use any proposed or existing powers ... to override the council's planning and consenting processes’. But its housing Bill says this; ‘If an accord cannot be reached in an area of severe housing unaffordability, the Government can intervene by establishing special housing areas and issuing consents for developers’. More>>

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Housing accords legislation passes first reading - Legislation For Housing Accords, Land Supply - Housing package improves affordability, access
• Greens - Budget numbers show National’s failure on home affordability
• Auckland Chamber of Commerce - Budget 2013: Housing intervention needed
• Out-Link - Gareth Morgan: Response to housing problem limp-wristed
• Earlier, Pre-Budget - Auckland Accord announced

Extending Protest Ban, Relaxing Permit Rules: Govt Abuses Urgency To Extend Anadarko Amendment

The Government is trying to pass legislation under urgency which would make the Anadarko Amendment – which limits protest at sea – apply to an additional 1.7 million square kilometres, the Green Party said today. More>>

ALSO:

• Parliament Today - Parliament Resumes To Pass Budget Bills
• Labour - Government to extend protest ban
• Greenpeace NZ - Oil Companies Lacking ‘Expertise’ and ‘Financial Ability’ Set to Be Handed Drilling Permits
• 2010 image via: Pacific.Scoop - Media watcher gives NZ press nil score card for China oil spill coverage