Warroom pandemic live7/21/2023 ![]() ![]() While some content was well received - including the black and yellow kiwi in heart with the words "Be kind, stay home, save lives" that was posted and retweeted by celebrities and influencers - much of it was not. ![]() The firm spent less than two weeks working with police before the contract was passed to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC), which gave it only a further six days' work before terminating it altogether. The contract stated five staff would deliver between "40-50 pieces of content daily" - though RNZ understands this KPI was only added when the contract was retrospectively signed in June and was not an actual requirement - between 1 April and 23 June 2020 up to a maximum value of $552,600 plus $80,400 expenses.ĭespite signing a three-month contract, the work only lasted three weeks. Like several other contracts at that time commissioned in response to the pandemic, the usual procurement rules were waived. The agency was producing its first social media memes for police and other government agencies four days later.īush used his delegated financial authority to approve the appointment. On 20 March 2020, the day before Jacinda Ardern announced the 'alert level' Covid-19 response system, Topham flew to Wellington and set up shop at the Covid Operations Command Centre. "He agreed TG could provide valuable additional communications support at the early stages of the Covid response, due to the unpredictable nature at that point of the communications demands that would be required to respond to the pandemic, and TG's proven expertise in creating engaging and targeted social media content," police told RNZ. He appears to have made an impression.Īs New Zealand's borders closed, Bush consulted with the police director of strategic communications Paul Comer, who was seconded to the Covid-19 Response Operational Command Centre. It has just been rehired to run the National Party's social media campaign this election.Īt some stage prior to 2020, Topham met then-Police Commissioner Mike Bush at a "professional engagement event". The creative agency, founded by former 'Young Nats' Sean Topham and Ben Guerin, is known for creating viral social media content and delivering successful, if controversial, election campaigns for right-leaning political organisations. The contract with Topham Guerin was meant to run for three months, but instead lasted just a few weeks. Photo: RNZ The advertising agency Topham Guerin - which did political marketing for the Australian Liberal Party and the British Conservatives - was hand picked by former Police Commissioner Mike Bush for a $500,000 contract making memes in the fight against Covid-19.
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