To any expats that are considering
returning home there is not a lot to get excited about when the news is constantly portraying us as a nation of child molesters and serial killers. Media don't seem to be able to identify
some of the great achievements that are happening out there and the very worthy people that deserve news columns. According to the latest nationwide
American Express Dining, more than a third (35%) of Kiwis who use social media to rate their dining experiences will post a negative review within hours of the meal – 27% will do so immediately. Traditionally, if consumers have an unpleasant dining experience, they're inclined to tell more people, says Marisa Bidois, Chief Executive, Restaurant Association of New Zealand. "Diners are going online to vent their
frustration; which means bad news now travels faster than ever before, and to a much bigger audience – it's definitely an emerging trend."
WHY IS THE GOOD STUFF SECONDARY NEWS? New Zealand is keen to attract expats and
their skills back home so why not paint the country in a great light? After all, it truly is a great place to live. And not only expats, but retaining
those who are considering leaving as well as attracting doctors, educators, academics and other people who we want in this environment who have the skills to fill the places of those leaving. If they were researching New Zealand, all
they'd find are news sites dredging up all the bad that we have. It's time we took it about face and celebrated what is great by reporting the good stuff with the same energy and enthusiasm as we do the bad stuff. During the Olympics, with all the success
we were achieving, all anyone was reporting was the oversight of Valerie Adams. It was
"...I found that 52 percent of the total front page story headings highlighted stories of a negative nature ..."
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blown out of proportion. With all the great Kiwi achievements we
had to celebrate they received only about half as much attention as something that was negative. Stop the exodus and get people thinking about why this is such a great place to live! Nakita Ardern
