By 
Congratulations to Rod and his associates for undertaking the challenge to address New Zealand’s digital divide. As Rod has said to me, it’s not just about faster and more accessible broadband, it’s about addressing an alarming social and economic divide with the rest of the developed world. It will open up a gateway with the world unlike anything we’ve ever known.
We must take some pride in Hawke’s Bay’s involvement with Pacific Fibre. Rod initially shared his vision with me at Raffles Street Café, with a further meeting of founders flown in from each end of the North Island to little ól Napier. This meeting was to kick start the process of developing a brand of global proportions.
The combination of my marketing and telecommunications background, together with the design talent of the team at Tank Marketing, positioned us well to bring Rod’s vision to life. The team at Tank worked tirelessly in building a brand, proposition, and message construct that not only needed to have an excitement factor, but also install absolute confidence among business leaders, the investment community and government alike. This brand needed to punch above its weight!
Tank Marketing worked collaboratively with the founders in developing the story that is now manifesting itself in the media. Acknowledgement has to go to the team at Mogul who pulled together a temporary website in days (complete with blog). Rabbit and hat spring to mind – you guys are da bomb!
Being involved at such a formative stage, with numerous stakeholders spread throughout the country, not too mention tight timeframes, meant that we relied heavily on technology to aid our collaboration – what would we do without Google Docs and Skype? In 2013 we will without a doubt be asking ourselves what did we do without Pacific Fibre?
07:24, 12.03.2010
Thanks so much for all your hard work Hamish and the Tank team. It was a blast seeing all that hard work come to life yesterday. You really added value in bringing the concept to life and challenging our thinking.
Also thanks to Mogul for their ability to operate at the speed of light.
Go the Bay!
07:42, 12.03.2010
WOW!
This is fantastic news – just heard Rod on the radio. I now recall some of the questions/discussions that took place when Steven Joyce was here just prior to the small business expo – so it’s exciting to see this type of venture be announced.
Well done to everyone involved.
08:11, 12.03.2010
This is great news and it will be interesting to see how Southern Cross, Telecom, respond. To all involved, well done.
08:36, 12.03.2010
Great news. What talent in the Hawkes Bay!
11:31, 12.03.2010
Rod and Hamish – you’re welcome! It’s exciting being part of the juggernaut!
12:25, 12.03.2010
Does this mean the Vector ads should have storm drains instead of straws?
I admire your passion and vision. Something to aspire to guys.
10:31, 14.03.2010
If anyone else uses the term “punch above [its / our / their] weight” I will give up on everything and start barracking for a merger with Australia.
12:09, 16.03.2010
It would be great to see a cable landing station in Hawkes Bay Rod. Imagine what that would do for the local economy, probably a lot more than an international Airport!
16:43, 16.03.2010
It’s $70 a meter. Happy to connect you up.
21:03, 16.03.2010
Hmm $70 a meter you say… I take 3.5 meters please.
22:42, 16.03.2010
Cool only 12,999,996.5 meters to go. This is going to be easier than I thought.
If we made it an even $100 a meter I can give you a free tee shirt.
09:26, 19.06.2010
$70 sounds very reasonable, but I think the $100 with free t-shirt offer sounds even better. I might have to persuade the wife into this one…