What is it?

Celebrating successful Kiwi innovation is about to become a staple in our prime time television diet.

Many of the Knowledge Wave Conference recommendations centred around the need for an attitudinal change among Kiwis - a new confidence and pride in our abilities. Others sought to raise the profile of innovative organisations and individuals - to celebrate champions beyond the sporting arena and to illustrate what is meant by "Innovation" and a "Knowledge Society".

The "Innovation Wave" is a Knowledge Wave Trust project that addresses both of these needs by showcasing New Zealand researchers, business people, teachers and other innovators, through one minute vignettes on prime time television. One vignette will be played to 700,000 viewers every week night immediately prior to the weather on One Network News. A total of forty vignettes will be broadcast during March and November 2002.

Knowledge Wave Trust Director Bridget Wickham said that the series will be an invaluable opportunity to celebrate innovative New Zealanders and their successes. "Many New Zealanders see 'the Knowledge Wave' as something that breaks on the shores of other countries. We need to show them that we have what it takes."

The Executive Producer of the series, Mike O'Sullivan, has a wealth of experience at conveying complex information in an easily digestible format. Mike produces the Watties "Food in a Minute" and "Financial Secrets" series and was responsible for "Celebrating Successful Women", broadcast for the Centenary of the suffragette movement in New Zealand.

Mike says he is excited at the opportunity to explain to New Zealanders what the Knowledge Wave means for a range of people and organisations. "Too many Kiwis think it only applies to scientists and software engineers. If New Zealand is to move ahead we need innovation across all industries and in all walks of life. As well as the successful application of high-end research we need innovative business processes and new approaches to education. Celebrating successful innovators in these fields will hopefully point the way to many more".

The vignettes will be selected under 5 themes: 'Bright Futures', 'Clever Science', 'Knowledge Champions', 'Enterprising Ideas' and 'High Tech'. Along with Mike O'Sullivan, TVNZ and Tiger Films are major partners in the endeavour and a number of other organisations - including GlaxoSmithKline, Telecom New Zealand, IBM, Industry New Zealand and the Royal Society have already indicated a willingness to support the project.

In addition to the television broadcast, the vignettes will be archived on the nzoom.com website - one of the highest rating websites in New Zealand - and will serve as a resource for schools. The Sunday Star Times and Unlimited magazine will carry more detailed stories on the individuals and organisations featured in the vignettes and the intention is to publish a book of the series in December 2002.

The success of the series will depend on the quality of the vignettes so Mike is encouraging people with innovation success stories to contact the Trust by the end of November.

Contact Brendan Mosely for further information
b.mosely@knowledgewave.org.nz