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!) .
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