Page 56 - Print21 Nov-Dec 2020

Association News
A big year in NZ
2020 – the good, the bad, and definitely the ugly – that’s what we’re here for, says Ruth Cobb, CEO of PrintNZ.
As we near the end of the year, this is the time we normally take stock and analyse the events of the year, how they aligned to our goals and strategy, and look at what’s in store for next year.
This year, that is far from a straightforward task. In 2020 we have been presented with challenges that nobody could have foreseen, from a global pandemic, to forced business closures, border restrictions and beyond.
We came into January with our plans set for the year, most of which were out the window by the middle of March, when the World Health Organisation declared Covid-19 a global pandemic, and the government forced all but a small percentage of businesses to close their doors, in an effort to restrict the spread of the disease in
New Zealand.
For industry associations such as PrintNZ it has been an opportunity to showcase exactly what we are here for and what
Proud of team: Ruth Cobb, CEO, PrintNZ
“It will be PrintNZ’s job to represent the industry, and push back where needed.”
we come to work for every day – to work for the industry. Our main role this year has been to help the industry navigate the unchartered waters of all that 2020 has thrown at us.
Gone were the plans for training graduations, Pride In Print Awards, member visits, seminars, and in their place we have spent our time working directly with the industry
to help them understand
and access everything that was available to assist them during this time, and to guide them through processes and procedures that will help to protect them.
There has also been a strong requirement to act as a voice
for the collective industries we represent, and we have taken
on that role with relish. With
a government making rapid (and often changing) decisions we have had to be nimble and responsive, and then once decisions are made, it has
been our role to interpret that information, determine what is relevant, and get it out to the industry as quickly as possible. This will continue for quite some time yet – as we ride the wave of Covid-19 new issues arise – and we will continue to monitor and make noise as appropriate.
We also made the decision early on that we weren’t here just to help our members – it was important that our industry as a whole was represented and informed. Collectively print has continued to play a vital role through all the Covid levels and we wanted to make sure every business in the industry had an equal chance of success – we saw that as a prime function of the organisation.
As you read this the new Government will be into its
100-day plan, which is likely to include further challenges for business. Again it will be PrintNZ’s job to represent the industry, and push back where needed.
In 2020 we have had to react, respond, reconfigure and reimagine to keep up with the changes that have occurred to our businesses, our industry and our economy. When we come out the other side of this our businesses will be different, because we will have adapted both to what our customers want and how we need to operate to deliver that.
And therein lies one of the key strengths of our industry – adaptability. It is not the first time we have faced adversity, but we have always been able to adapt quickly – and we have proven that once again our industry is agile.
It has been a pleasure to lead the team at PrintNZ this year and we are proud to look at
the consolidated efforts of our industry in the face of challenge. A huge thank you to our members that make it possible to have an industry organisation to undertake this role.
As many in the industry
take a break to recharge the batteries, I think the most appropriate Christmas greeting this year is simply stay safe. 21
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