Blog Archives

Running a School – Who Does It Best…

December 18, 2008

Efficiency, Governance, New Zealand, Society

I’ve got two school-age sons and I’ve spent a fair amount of time observing the way New Zealand schools are run. By way of background, the Labour government of 1984 put in place the “Tomorrow’s Schools” ethos. Part of…

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Worker Available…

December 15, 2008

New Zealand

I’m a firm believer in the theories espoused by Malcolm Gladwell in Blink. To paraphrase, Gladwell contends that first impressions are generally accurate and gut instinct is worth following. A chap I’ve had a little bit to do with…

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Testing the Made from New Zealand widget

December 10, 2008

Economic Development, My businesses, New business, New Zealand, Strategy

I got an email from the [mfnz]Made From New Zealand[/mfnz] guys sayign that they have just released their new widget aimed at getting comapny information to show after blog posts (yup – much like crunchbase for for NZ companies.…

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We’re Not All Rogues!

December 10, 2008

Business, Economic Development, Efficiency, New Zealand, Society, Strategy

With the recent press around the proposed 90 day trial period for new employees in New Zealand (and well done to Rod for picking up on this as well), it seemed an opportune time to republish a piece I…

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Governance? What Governance?

December 8, 2008

Business, Efficiency, Governance, New Zealand, Strategy

I am astounded. I’ve just read the wrap up of the Otago District Health Board fraud case. For those of you who haven’t caught up with it – former CIO of the ODHB defrauded the board of close to…

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Diligent Nears the Deadpool

December 5, 2008

Business, Governance, IT, New Zealand, SaaS, Strategy

It had to happen – news that Diligent is close to out of cash, has fired a huge chunk of it’s staff and has no real idea if its search for cash will succeed. Apparently they; will run out…

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Bizchat is live….

December 4, 2008

Business, Economic Development, Efficiency, New business, New Zealand, Strategy, Web x.0

It’s been a long time coming! For some time now I’ve been alluding to a community site I was involved in creating. We’re finally ready to peel a few layers of the onion back. Bizchat has arrived on the…

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Diligent Shareholders Consider Fight

November 28, 2008

Compliance, IT, New business, New Zealand, Strategy

Around the same time that Xero listed on the NZX, fellow tech company Diligent Board Books did also. Diligent is a web enabled service that provides board members with all the information they require, while still meeting all the…

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LeftClick Scores a Coup

November 27, 2008

Business, Efficiency, New business, New Zealand, SaaS

Great to see some press time for LeftClick, a company I’ve had a bit to do with in an informal advisory role. LeftClick’s motto is “Make Every Click Count” and that’s what they do – increase the return on…

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Stink – Blame Winston and his Cronies for this one

November 26, 2008

New Zealand, Society

Christine posted about an unfortunate experience her young daughter had on a public bus in suburban Christchurch. It seems that xenophobia is alive and kicking – at least here in the Garden City. My parents were immigrants to New…

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