Blog
TalentNZ Newsletter Issue 11 Out Today!
In this issue we provide an update on our TalentNZ project, including Wendy's reflections from her sabbatical, an interview with Dame Julia Cleverdon (co-founder of Step Up To Serve) and share some interesting resources that we've found while researching. We also...
2013 TalentNZ Journal: Two years on – David Band
It has been two years since the launch of our 2013 TalentNZ Journal. To mark this anniversary, each day over the next month we will share an interview with one of the 30 kiwis interviewed. Today we share David Band's full interview which you can read here. David Band...
2013 TalentNZ Journal: Two years on – Rik Athorne
It has been two years since the launch of our 2013 TalentNZ Journal. To mark this anniversary, each day over the next month we will share an interview with one of the 30 kiwis interviewed. Today we share Rik Athorne's full interview which you can read here. Rik is the...
Kevin Simpkins was a great man
I had some very sad news this week - New Zealand lost Kevin Simpkins. I have known and worked with Kevin over the length of my career. He was also a patron of the McGuinness Institute. I valued his intellect, patience, wisdom and ethics. He worked hard to ensure that...
Report 15: Improving Strategy Stewardship in the Public Service launch
On Thursday, 22 October, the McGuinness Institute launched its Report 15: Improving Strategy Stewardship in the Public Service. This event saw public servants, academics and other interested parties come together to engage with speakers as they discussed the report...
Join us this Thursday for the launch of Report 15: Improving Strategy Stewardship in the Public Service
There are now only three nights until the launch of Report 15: Improving Strategy Stewardship in the Public Service. If you would like to attend the launch at 5.30pm Thursday, 22 October 2015, please RSVP to 22october@mcguinnessinstitute.org. Please also share this...
Civics and Media Project Workshop 1 summary published
The first workshop of The Civics and Media Project was held in Wellington on Wednesday, 2 September 2015. The workshop was hosted by Victoria University of Wellington and it saw 40 people come together to survey the current civics and media landscape in New Zealand....
Terrific Initiative by the Office of the Auditor-General
On Wednesday, 14 October, OAG held a morning tea to discuss their recent project to increase accountability in the public sector. As part of this project, they have compiled a list of the agencies that New Zealanders can contact when they need help from, or want to...
Small spills, big impact: New Zealand’s sobering oil spill record
Since the Rena disaster in October 2011, New Zealand has recorded 363 spill-related incidents in our harbours and oceans. Most of the spills have been small; however, the frequency is cause for concern with almost four tonnes of oil spilled in total. Marine Biologist...
FAQ about the Institute – Sophia Faure asks eleven questions
Below is a series of questions posed to me by Sophia Faure as part of an assignment for her Government and Public Policy paper. Sophia is studying a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Politics at the University of Otago. I think they are excellent...
National Statement of Science Investment (NSSI) – Our response
On Monday, 5 October the Minister of Science and Innovation, Hon. Steven Joyce, launched the National Statement of Science Investment 2015-2025 (NSSI). Following the release of the NSSI the Science Media Centre asked me to provide observations on the final document....
Q: What would it take for New Zealand to be a leader in ocean management? … a Pacific and Southern oceans institute
Hon. Dr Nick Smith's statement that 'New Zealand's ambition is to be a leader in oceans management' is to be congratulated. This, combined with the creation of the Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary on 29 September, puts New Zealand on a trajectory to make real progress at a...
TalentNZ promotional video published today!
This video was launched during our presentation at the World Future Society conference in July 2015. It showcases the journey the TalentNZ project has taken since Sir Paul Callaghan first shared his vision of New Zealand as ‘a place where talent wants to live’ at...
TalentNZ Newsletter Issue 10 Out Today!
In this issue we share the video that we released at the WFS conference – TalentNZ: Creating a place where talent wants to live – and thoughts from Wendy’s travels through Europe. We provide an update on the TalentNZ Journal: Grow talent edition and share some...
Wendy’s Travels: Prague
This is a city I had always wanted to go to because the buildings are not very high - about four or five stories in the historical part of the city - and it is a city that has lasted the test of time. It is also a creative city where the arts are alive and well. My...
Wendy’s Travels: German Parliament
The German Parliament was a complete highlight! As I understand it, the German system was the basis for our system of democracy in New Zealand. There are a few nuances that are different but the basic framework is similar. I will be doing some more reading on this...
Wendy’s Travels: Automobiles
I was taken by a comment someone made at the World Futures Conference in San Fran that cars have become computers on wheels (e.g. Google's self-driving cars, self-driving trucks etc.). This will have a number of implications - here are a few thoughts: 1. Demand for...
Wendy’s Travels: Hacking and Friction
How quickly the meanings of words change. Two examples were apparent at the World Futures Conference held in San Francisco. ‘Hacking’ is no longer a negative pursuit. Instead, to be a hacker can be positive, as explained to me by three young designers and futurists...
Wendy’s Travels: Embedding talent
Travelling is fabulous for observing and thinking – and there is ample to observe. I thought I would post a few stories that are relevant for ‘creating a place where talent wants to live’. This post is the story about the Van Gogh family and the Van Gogh museum in...
Wendy’s Travels: Palo Alto, Paris and Berlin
See some photos and thoughts from my time in Palo Alto, Paris and Berlin.
TacklingPovertyNZ: Exploring ways to reduce poverty in New Zealand – Workshop programme and flyer available
It is a pleasure to announce that a flyer and the first version of the workshop programme have been added to the TacklingPovertyNZ website (also see below). The workshop will bring together 30 young New Zealanders, who will work together to prepare a youth perspective...
Inspiring Stories launch Future Fund campaign
Today Inspiring Stories CEO and the 2015 young New Zealander of the Year, Guy Ryan, launched the Future Fund. The Future Fund campaign aims to fundraise $1,000,000 to provide seed funding grants and tailored support for young social entrepreneurs in New Zealand. The...
The Asia New Zealand Foundation’s opportunity for social entrepreneurs
Applications are now open for The Asia New Zealand Foundation's Philippines trip for social entrepreneurs. The five successful applicants will take part in an eight-day programme from 29 November to 8 December 2015. This is an exciting opportunity for five New Zealand...
Connect with TalentNZ
Throughout the month of August, the Institute has showcased the TalentNZ Menu of Initiatives by featuring one initiative each day. The Menu showcases four integrated work-streams – grow, attract, retain and connect, with seven initiatives per work-stream, making 28...
TalentNZ Newsletter Issue 9 out today!
In this issue we share our observations and insights from the World Future Society conference in San Francisco as well as books and articles that were recommended at the conference. We provide an update on the TalentNZ Journal: Grow talent edition and showcase what...
TalentNZ: Menu of Initiatives – Connect 7. Manage logistics by aligning people, data, products and services
Each day of August, the Institute will feature one initiative from the TalentNZ Menu of Initiatives. The Menu showcases four integrated work-streams – grow, attract, retain and connect. Today we are showcasing ‘Connect 7. Manage logistics by aligning people, data,...
TalentNZ: Menu of Initiatives – Connect 6. Create an online presence
Each day of August, the Institute will feature one initiative from the TalentNZ Menu of Initiatives. The Menu showcases four integrated work-streams – grow, attract, retain and connect. Today we are showcasing ‘Connect 6. Create an online presence’. For examples of...
TalentNZ: Menu of Initiatives – Connect 5. Create hubs
Each day of August, the Institute will feature one initiative from the TalentNZ Menu of Initiatives. The Menu showcases four integrated work-streams – grow, attract, retain and connect. Today we are showcasing ‘Connect 5. Create hubs’. For examples of this initiative,...
The Civics and Media Project Workshop One: What is happening with civics and news media in New Zealand?
New Zealand ranks highly when compared internationally in terms of governmental transparency, media freedom and civic engagement. However, our media landscape is in a state of flux and our voter turnout is in decline, and the impacts of these changes on our nation's...
Watch Peter Bishop’s presentation from the World Future Society Conference
On 26 July at the annual conference of the World Future Society in San Francisco, Peter Bishop ran a session about his organisation, Teach the Future. Teach the Future aims to encourage and support educators to introduce futures thinking into their classes and schools...
Watch our TalentNZ presentation from the World Future Society conference
On 26 July 2015 at the annual conference of the World Future Society in San Francisco, we ran a session discussing TalentNZ and the idea of building a talent-based economy in New Zealand. We shared our understanding of where New Zealand is now and where we see New...
TalentNZ: Menu of Initiatives – Connect 4. Embrace diaspora
Each day of August, the Institute will feature one initiative from the TalentNZ Menu of Initiatives. The Menu showcases four integrated work-streams – grow, attract, retain and connect. Today we are showcasing ‘Connect 4. Embrace diaspora’. For examples of this...
Introducing The Civics and Media Project
New Zealand’s civil society, businesses and branches of government all need to be armed with the appropriate tools to respond to the complex and changing needs of the media landscape in the future. The Civics and Media Project consists of three workshops and...
TalentNZ: Menu of Initiatives – Connect 3. Create twinning opportunities
Each day of August, the Institute will feature one initiative from the TalentNZ Menu of Initiatives. The Menu showcases four integrated work-streams – grow, attract, retain and connect. Today we are showcasing ‘Connect 3. Create twinning opportunities’. For examples...
World Future Society Conference – Sun’s Reflections
After the WFS conference in July we decided to each write blog posts describing the sessions we attended. You can read Hannah's reflections and our observations from the master classes we attended here. To find out more about the conference see our website. Wendy is...
TalentNZ: Menu of Initiatives – Connect 2. Connect existing entrepreneurs with a purpose
Each day of August, the Institute will feature one initiative from the TalentNZ Menu of Initiatives. The Menu showcases four integrated work-streams – grow, attract, retain and connect. Today we are showcasing ‘Connect 2. Connect existing entrepreneurs with a...
World Future Society Conference Day Two – Hannah’s Reflections
This post discusses the second day of the WFS conference, Sunday 26 July 2015. You can read about the sessions I attended on day one of the conference here and about the master classes we attended here. Sun will be publishing her blog post later this week. The morning...
World Future Society Conference Day One – Hannah’s Reflections
After the WFS conference in July we decided to each write blog posts describing the sessions we attended. As I was writing, I found I was struggling to contain my learning from such interesting sessions into short summaries. So I decided to split my blog post in two,...
TalentNZ: Menu of Initiatives – Connect 1. Take responsibility for connecting
Each day of August, the Institute will feature one initiative from the TalentNZ Menu of Initiatives. The Menu showcases four integrated work-streams – grow, attract, retain and connect. Today we are showcasing ‘Connect 1. Take responsibility for connecting’. For...
TalentNZ: Menu of Initiatives – Retain 7. Share community goals
Each day of August, the Institute will feature one initiative from the TalentNZ Menu of Initiatives. The Menu showcases four integrated work-streams – grow, attract, retain and connect. Today we are showcasing ‘Retain 7. Share community goals’. For examples of this...
TalentNZ: Menu of Initiatives – Retain 6. Communicate future intentions
Each day of August, the Institute will feature one initiative from the TalentNZ Menu of Initiatives. The Menu showcases four integrated work-streams – grow, attract, retain and connect. Today we are showcasing ‘Retain 6. Communicate future intentions’. For examples of...
TalentNZ: Menu of Initiatives – Retain 5. Combine talents to build effective teams
Each day of August, the Institute will feature one initiative from the TalentNZ Menu of Initiatives. The Menu showcases four integrated work-streams – grow, attract, retain and connect. Today we are showcasing ‘Retain 5. Combine talents to build effective teams’. For...
TalentNZ: Menu of Initiatives – Retain 4. Focus on creating a good entry and exit
Each day of August, the Institute will feature one initiative from the TalentNZ Menu of Initiatives. The Menu showcases four integrated work-streams – grow, attract, retain and connect. Today we are showcasing ‘Retain 4. Focus on creating a good entry and exit’. For...
TalentNZ: Menu of Initiatives – Retain 3. Deliver a caring and enjoyable environment (Manaaki)
Each day of August, the Institute will feature one initiative from the TalentNZ Menu of Initiatives. The Menu showcases four integrated work-streams – grow, attract, retain and connect. Today we are showcasing ‘Retain 3. Deliver a caring and enjoyable environment...
TalentNZ: Menu of Initiatives – Retain 2. Provide clear career pathways for individuals
Each day of August, the Institute will feature one initiative from the TalentNZ Menu of Initiatives. The Menu showcases four integrated work-streams – grow, attract, retain and connect. Today we are showcasing ‘Retain 2. Provide clear career pathways for individuals’....
TalentNZ: Menu of Initiatives – Retain 1. Use the talent we have
Each day of August, the Institute will feature one initiative from the TalentNZ Menu of Initiatives. The Menu showcases four integrated work-streams – grow, attract, retain and connect. Today we are showcasing ‘Retain 1. Use the talent we have’. For examples of this...
TalentNZ: Menu of Initiatives – Attract 7. Provide an appropriate rewards package
Each day of August, the Institute will feature one initiative from the TalentNZ Menu of Initiatives. The Menu showcases four integrated work-streams – grow, attract, retain and connect. Today we are showcasing ‘Attract 7. Provide an appropriate rewards package’. For...
TalentNZ: Menu of Initiatives – Attract 6. Showcase soft infrastructure
Each day of August, the Institute will feature one initiative from the TalentNZ Menu of Initiatives. The Menu showcases four integrated work-streams – grow, attract, retain and connect. Today we are showcasing ‘Attract 6. Showcase soft infrastructure’. For examples of...
TalentNZ: Menu of Initiatives – Attract 5. Showcase hard infrastructure
Each day of August, the Institute will feature one initiative from the TalentNZ Menu of Initiatives. The Menu showcases four integrated work-streams – grow, attract, retain and connect. Today we are showcasing ‘Attract 5. Showcase hard infrastructure’. For examples of...
TalentNZ: Menu of Initiatives – Attract 4. Showcase existing talent
Each day of August, the Institute will feature one initiative from the TalentNZ Menu of Initiatives. The Menu showcases four integrated work-streams – grow, attract, retain and connect. Today we are showcasing ‘Attract 4. Showcase existing talent’. For examples of...