WHY NEW ZEALAND SHOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO ENTER THE CAXTONS
Why aren't NZ agencies eligible to compete in the Caxton Awards?
CB contacted Tom Moult (left), chairman of the Caxton Committee as well as Martin Curnow from Caxton co-sponsor Fairfax, to ask the reason why. Both are new to their roles and both had no idea if there was any good reason why not.
It has been a brilliant Australia only institution for 30 years, but CB believes times have changed, the NZ and OZ ad industries are so much closer now, and besides, these days Fairfax has a big presence in New Zealand.
Both Moult and Curnow agreed a bit of trans Tasman rivalry would add spice to the awards, raise the bar creatively, and it would be good to have more Kiwis attending the weekend as delegates and/or speakers. Moult thought it was worth bringing up at the next Caxton Committee meeting in three weeks time. (There might be some long standing reason for excluding NZ but we will find out soon enough.)
Anyway, if the Caxton Committee agrees to allow NZ participation next year, would everyone welcome the change? Would NZ creative directors want to enter? Are there any objections from Australian CD's?
CB would be prepared to reinstate the Caxtons to the CB Creative Rankings, if New Zealand was allowed to participate. (The Caxtons were originally part of the Rankings, but was dropped after a Kiwi protest). This would probably lead to a vast increase in entries, and hopefully encourage a better standard of press advertising on both sides of the Tasman.
And you never know, if all goes well, the 2006 or 2007 Caxtons might be held in NZ. (As this year it's on Hayman Island, destined to be the greatest Caxton venue ever, no doubt a few Kiwis will come over as delegates anyway!) .
Feedback is wanted, post your comments now.
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Both Mike O'Sullivan, ECD of Saatchi & Saatchi NZ, Auckland and Richard Maddocks, CD of Colenso BBDO, Auckland want to compete in the Caxtons. Both responded to an email sent last night. Hopefully in the next few days, every NZ creative director will follow suit and endorse the Caxtons. Let's hope the Caxton Committee agree to their participation in 2006.
A comment emailed from Paul Catmur, ECD of DDB New Zealand....Michael,Sure, we'd enter (if we had anything worth entering) though I'm not sure that it deserves to go on the CB rankings when Axis isn't...? Anyway I'd be delighted to go to Hayman Island.CheersPaulMy response:The reason Caxtons would be on the Rankings (if NZ were included) and not Axis is that, like AWARD and The Work, both OZ and NZ are eligible to enter and therefore on equal terms. A Caxton would probably be worth 10 points, a finalist 3 points.
Rob Jack, CD of M&C Saatchi, emailed this comment:YEAH, AGREE - great idea. It's always looked like a good laugh to me from the reports you've printed.The CB rankings would certainly bring the top NZ agencies over.Rob
Denis Mamo, creative partner of URSA in Sydney, has this to say:YES, BRING ON THE KIWIS
Ron Weideman, creative director of George Patterson Partners, Brisbane, says....Yes, good idea.
Ant Shannon, ECD at Grey Worldwide, Melbourne doesn't mention Kiwis, but he emailed this comment...."The work that won at last year’s Caxton Awards was pretty woeful. It’s time to do a bit less scammy ambient and get Press Advertising back on the creative radar." Yes Your point above is relevant CheersAnt
Mark Dove, creative director of George Patterson Partners, Sydney is all for it:Yes. I like Kiwi's and I think their work would make ours better. Regards Mark
Kiwi Andrew Tinning, now the very successful creative director at Marketforce, Perth has an excellent comment:Kiwis...bring 'em on! Mind you by the time you discount all the Poms and extract the recent influx of Aussies and Yanks, there's not a lot of us pure bloods left across the ditch these days! Australians shouldn't in any way see NZ's involvement in the Caxton's as a threat because they're not. And they're not because they, like us, are not producing consistantly good press.Their involvement should be seen as an opportunity to raise the bar and focus on the work which, after the region's performance in press and poster at Cannes, definitely needs some serious attention. It's also a chance to breath some life into what runs the risk of becoming a tired old Aussie institution. Just think ...the first ever winter Caxton in Queeenstown sponsored by...
YES, BRING ON THE KIWIS.Anything that helps raise the standard of creative work in Australia shouldn’t simply be welcomed, it should be heartily encouraged.Cheers,Steve BrownCreative DirectorLinc, Perth
Mike Newman, creative director of DNA in Melbourne (we were waiting for a comment like this):Of course the kiwis should be allowed in the Caxtons; every Australian state should be eligible.
Couldn't agree more. Bring on the sheep-shaggers.So says Simon Collins, creative director of JWT Sydney.
Dale Rhodes, CD of Euro RSCG Worldwide, Sydney agrees that NZ agencies should be eligible.
Hi Mike,As an ex kiwi, I'm probably one-eyed but I think it would be a great idea,get a bit of rivalry going. Mike Rolfe Creative Director - Senior Partner EURO RSCG Worldwide - Brisbane
Again from Mike Newman....Seriously, why would the notion be opposed these days?M.
This from Adam Barker, creative director of Gatecrasher in Perth... even though Simon Collins said it first...YES, BRING ON THE SHEEP SHAGGERSCheers,Adam
Dave Johnson, creative director of The Campaign Palace, Sydney...YES, BRING ON THE KIWISDave
Yeah, sure.Darren SpillerRegional creative directorPublicis Mojo
Let them in, I say.M.Mark Lees, creative dirtector,The Takeaway, Sydney
Yes, bring on the Kiwis.Peter Nelson, national creative direc,The Brand Agency, Perth
No.Not important to WPP and Neil French.Todd McCracken, regional creative director,Grey Worldwide, Auckland
Frank Morabito, creative partner at Spinach, Melbourne would like to keep the Caxtons Australian....Michael,The Caxton Awards is a uniquely Australian advertising institution - let’s keep it uniquely Australian. If it’s time to do less scammy ambient ads then we should definitely keep the Kiwis out.Frank.
Darren Devlin, creative partner of Kastner & Partners, Sydney and current co-chairman of AWARD, is all for Kiwis being included in the Caxtons:As you might know I am all for stronger cross tasman ties, and if our NZfriends really want to spend more money on proving what a clever bunch oflads and laddies they are, then I am sure Mr Moult and Mr Curnow would behappy to accept their cheques.
Sho nuff