Power cuts: spike in online chatter hurting NZ rep

PRESS RELEASE
Power cuts send spike in online chatter
15 June 2006

PRESS RELEASE

Power cuts send spike in online chatter hurting our international reputation

15 JUNE, 2006, AUCKLAND

Monday’s power cut has seen Internet blog chatter concerning Auckland hit levels not experienced since the Christmas Naked Santa fiasco, and has the potential to cause concern among international visitors and investors.

Analysis of blog chatter undertaken by Marker Limited indicates that this chatter was not limited to New Zealand bloggers. Marker’s General Manager, Ian Cooper, suggests that “clearly this chatter impacts on global impressions of New Zealand and in particular of Auckland”. Cooper goes onto say that “such an increase in chatter must concern local and central government particularly, given the recent increased investment in Tourism marketing”.

Some of the bloggers' comments include:
“This morning reminded me of Apocalypse as a massive power failure caused chaos in Auckland”
“What is it about Auckland that prevents it from having reliable power?”
“New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland, was without power without hours because ONE BLOODY SUBSTATION went down due to ONE CUT WIRE”
“AKL may have swanky new skyscrapers, but the underlying support systems and designs are clearly 3rd world”.

"The shabby little secret of our shabby infrastructure has gone worldwide to potential tourists and investors. I'll risk being labelled "unpatriotic" for pointing out these reports from offshore".

Blogs, or weblogs, are online logs created by independent writers. Some are personal journals, others resemble newsletters or columns. At last count there are 50 million blogs and this growth is a result of the growing desire by individuals to interact and participate with the Internet in a new way.

The blog analysis was undertaken using a number of blog research tools. Marker Limited is the exclusive New Zealand and Australia partner of Wavemetrix, an analytical service that focuses purely on understanding online opinion and helping clients to assess and prepare for its impacts.

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About Marker

Six years in the making, Marker blends the experience of leading design studio, Flux Design, with one of the countries fastest growing companies, The Outfit, and proven corporate marketing thinking and implementation. Marker promises to deliver a new level of measurable customer interaction for demanding, growth hungry organisations.

Web www.markerstudio.com

Blog www.markerblog.com

ENDS

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