Down to the Wire: 21 years up, 2010 is down to you

Media Release – 01.11.10

Down to the Wire –
21 years up... but 2010 is down to you

Down to the Wire, the digital project which tells the story of New Zealand's Internet, reached its 21st anniversary milestone yesterday by publishing content for the year 2009. It is now calling on its fans to write the current 2010 year chapter over the coming weeks.

Each day for the past 21 days – starting in 1989 with the nation's connection to the Internet – Down to the Wire has published annual content and built a chronological account of the Internet's impact on Kiwi lives.

Using video, editorial, statistics and a wealth of contributions from site visitors, downtothewire.co.nz has grown into a rich and entertaining resource for all New Zealanders.

To keep those contributions coming and to grow the resource, Down to the Wire wants people to tell the story of 2010 themselves. They are also being asked to recommend Internet personalities of the year who should be filmed for the chapter. Previous years' personalities – more than 50 in all – have included Geoff Ross, Richard MacManus, Helen Baxter and Alastair Thompson.

Project Lead Thomas Scovell says: "The contributions we've received from visitors for each year have been fascinating and insightful and have added tremendous depth to our coverage. We've said that Down to the Wire is New Zealand's resource and now we're out to prove it again. We want 2010 to be told entirely by New Zealand's netizens. And that really means almost everyone these days".

Today's 2010 page on downtothewire.co.nz includes all the information about how contributions can be made. Down to the Wire will aim to accommodate all worthwhile content and, of course, contributors will be credited. The 2010 year chapter will be uploaded to the site on 23 December.

As for the future, on 11 November, Down to the Wire will announce a major national competition for students in higher education called '20:20 Foresight', as well as plans to grow the project through 2011.

Down to the Wire is a project created by digital agency Heyday to celebrate the 21st anniversary of New Zealand's Internet. The project is a resource for the nation and all content on downtothewire.co.nz is published under a Creative Commons licence.

ENDS

Heyday

Heyday is a digital agency based in Wellington, New Zealand. It employs 20 staff and drives the online presence of brands through insight, ideas, design, delivery and improvement. Clients include Weta, Meridian Energy, GIB, Telecom and Pink Batts. Please visit our website for further information.

Note for Editors: Heyday was formerly known as Doubleclique.

Further Information

www.heyday.co.nz

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