Striking new publicity campaign

Last year Auckland-based consultants Townsquare Group offered their services pro bono to RNZRSA to assist the association in areas of advertising and general public communication.

London-domiciled Townsquare Group is an international multi-disciplinary strategy and creative agency working with leading corporate, social-cultural and not-for-profit organisations in over 10 countries world-wide.

Richard Carstens, Townsquare's Director and Strategy Planner for Australia and New Zealand, believes that the RSA movement occupies a key and honoured place in New Zealand society and says his organisation is privileged to help foster the association's ideals.

"We must never forget our national history," he says, "especially our military heritage which has cost our country so many young lives over the last century.

"Our aim is to link remembering and celebrating the involvement by past and current generations in military endeavours to the things we New Zealanders consider as great or unique about our culture and people today," he says. "RSA celebrates and works for that and the overall welfare of veterans and their families, and we are proud to be part of those endeavours."

Over the past months Townsquare, in association with National Headquarters, has developed an impressive and stunning campaign featuring both national and local newspaper advertisements and posters which will hit the streets in mid-April drawing the public's attention to the annual Poppy Day appeal and ANZAC Day commemorations.

"This is a first for RSA," says National President David Cox. "The spirit of generosity and co-operation from Townsquare and Richard Carstens has been absolutely wonderful, and has resulted in a striking initial Poppy Day/ANZAC Day campaign that we could never afford to undertake on our own.

"They have invested many thousands of dollars worth of research, creativity and media selection on our behalf, " he says. "This includes assisting in procuring sponsorships and obtaining the best possible space rates for us in the printed media."

Local associations will be informed shortly as to how they can become involved in this new and innovative public awareness initiative.

In thanking Townsquare, David Cox says, RNZRSA looks forward to a long and valuable association with the agency. "They are to be commended for their public-spirited benevolence for which we are extremely grateful."

The posters used in the campaign are available for download here