Friday 15 May 2020 – With New Zealand now in Level 2, many parents are returning to employment in their normal place of work. After many
weeks of sharing the kitchen table with the children in their house, NSPR took this unique opportunity to see what their
children think they do all day.
Managing director, Niki Schuck says, “We thought it would be a fun exercise to also know if their children had any
advice on what their parents could do better and to see whether lockdown has inspired them to follow in their parent’s
footsteps.”
NSPR approached some of their clients, and a handful of people working in media, with the option of either submitting
written answers or videoing their answers to set questions.
And the results?
Turns out from a child’s perspective, regardless of age, spending time talking and on a laptop is what consumes daily
work, and they certainly were not shy when it came to giving advice.
“Typing and talking too loudly were common areas to improve on and not using the internet so much to enable them to game
online was another helpful tip! As was not being in their PJs so much!
“My personal favourites are Jason Reeves’ son Max, aged seven, who suggested that Jase could help more people who listen
to the radio by talking to them more, because some of them might be lonely. Bless! I also loved the advice that Graham
Richie’s daughter Scarlett, aged 14, gives him, ‘Get more young people’s opinions – teenagers know a lot more than you
realise’. It’s priceless, as is their photo together.”
“It’s been a huge amount of fun producing this,” says Kate Barron, NSPR’s other director. “Our clients have told us it
has resulted in some hilarious dinner-time banter. Even those with older children were keen to get involved, although
House of Travel’s Brent Thomas is probably regretting asking his 26-year-old son, Nick for his comments. Nick thinks his
father gets Sunday between 1am and 4am off; I’m sure there’s a compliment in there somewhere about how hard Brent works!
“And those Van de Elzen girls are sure going to keep Mike on his toes once they are teenagers. I feel a great sense of
joy at how much sass the younger generation has.”
This video is a summary of some of those discussions, with the written answers and photos available hereMany thanks to all those that participated:
Michael Van de Elzen and his daughters Hazel and Ivy
Jase Reeves – Host of Coast Breakfast with sons Max and Olly
Pablo Kraus – Managing Director ecostore with son Lucien and daughter Claudia
Heather Saunderson – CEO Keep New Zealand Beautiful and her daughter Maddie and son Kris
Brent Thomas – Commercial Director House of Travel with son Nick
Jenine Colmore-Williams CEO Dimension GRC with her daughter Isabella and son Logan
Phil Clemas – CEO LUMO Digital with son Ethan and daughters Grace and Poppy
Graham Ritchie - CEO Rutherford, with daughter Scarlett
Bruce Gourley – Head of Brand Experience Stanley St and his son Brodie
Miri Alexander – Premium Content Editor NZ Herald with son Harry
Nadia Tolich – Head of Content Development NZME with daughter Violet and son George
Susan Edmunds – Business Editor Stuff and her son Liam
Robyn Brugh – PR consultant NSPR with her daughter Sophia, son Toby and Fudge the dog
Thanks also to Shannah Gibson for the video editing and Anna Schuck for the initial idea.