Vodafone NZ And Ngahere Communities Myth-bust Global 5G Conspiracy Theories
Using humour to beat rumours is front and centre in
Vodafone’s latest 5G campaign, a three-part series of
online videos created by Ngahere Communities and online
influencer Torrell Tafa, featuring Nikora Ngaropo – an
industry tech expert, designed to help address
misinformation and uncertainty about the safety of fifth
generation mobile network technology (5G) particularly on
social media channels.
Following a spate
of arson attacks on cell sites (the towers that provide
mobile and internet connectivity) around Aotearoa during the
level four lockdown in April/May 2020, Vodafone NZ contacted
Ngahere Communities to help understand community concerns
around 5G, particularly with South Auckland where the
majority of the early attacks occurred.
Nicky Preston,
senior communications lead, Vodafone NZ explains, “We are
trying to address an information gap and help Kiwis better
understand the potential of 5G. New Zealanders increasingly
rely on digital infrastructure to keep us connected to the
internet, but as an industry we tend to over-complicate how
mobile network technologies such as 5G operate. The science
can be technical and confusing, so we’re trying to
translate complex topics on how phone and internet networks
work into easily digestible videos that will be shared on
social media – explaining electromagnetic frequencies and
the evolution mobile tech.
“We started working on
this kaupapa after the first NZ lockdown, when COVID-19
changed the landscape so dramatically and we realised we
needed to provide more accessible 5G education following the
arson attacks on cell sites, to combat conspiracy theories
online. Hopefully by busting some myths, and using humour to
beat the rumours, New Zealanders will feel more comfortable
that 5G isn’t something they need to worry
about.”
Kirstin Te Wao, head of Māori development,
adds, “Part of the challenge the tech sector has is a lack
of cultural diversity within key decision making roles that
can translate into messaging that doesn’t resonate with
many of the people within our communities. Partnering with
an organisation like Ngahere Communities means that we bring
community concerns, voices and solutions to the fore in a
meaningful way that resonates with them.
“As part of
our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, we’re working hard
to create meaningful, enduring and authentic relationships
with Māori innovators and entrepreneurs like Manawa and her
team.”
Manawa Udy, CEO of Ngahere Communities, who
led the campaign alongside her team including producer Jason
Manumu’a, says, “We partnered with Vodafone on this
project because we agreed with the kaupapa around more
inclusive and accessible 5G education, and the concept of
including our community in these bigger conversations. Too
often our communities are expected to just ‘get on board’
with new ideas and opportunities but we need to journey
through these big changes together, it helps to reduce the
amount of fake news and give facts, not
fiction.
“It’s no secret that South Auckland is
dripping with creative talent, and we were stoked to have an
opportunity to get our crew together, including creator and
social media influencer Torrell Tafa, to work on this
project. The result is three choice videos that we hope are
both engaging and informative.”
Nikora Ngaropo,
Member of the Digital Council for Aotearoa New Zealand,
adds, “I’m glad I’ve been able to bring a technology voice
to this piece, as a member of the Digital Council for
Aotearoa New Zealand. I think it’s important that our
communities understand facts and don’t get caught up in
misinformation which is so easy to do these days. Also
Ngahere Communities was great to work with, it’s important
that we have businesses involved that are connected to the
pulse of our communities and know how to engage
them.”
The first video, focusing on explaining the
potential of 5G, was shared by Torrell Tafa on Friday 20
November – with two myth-busting videos going live on
Torrell’s social media channels on Friday 27 November and
Thursday 3 December (video 3: 5G myth-buster on
environmental concerns).
Vodafone NZ will then share
from their social media channels (including Facebook,
Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Tiktok) both organically and
via paid adverts, as follows:
– Video 1: 5G
explainer, from 28 November
– Video 2: 5G myth-buster
on EMF, from 1 December
– Video 3: 5G myth-buster
on environmental concerns, from 8 December
For more
information about Vodafone NZ 5G, please visit www.vodafone.co.nz/5G.
For factual information about 5G, head to www.5Gfacts.org.nz,
which was created by the Telecommunications Forum industry
body and launched
in September.
Credits:
Video #1 – The G
Race
TALENT
Commentators Torrell
Tafa
Nikora Ngaropo
1G Braeden Bryers
2G
Amanda Kirkwood
3G Juanita Charlie
4G Torrell
Tafa
5G Fili Tapa
CREW
Exec. Producer
Vodafone, Nicky Preston & Kirstin Te Wao
Manawa
Udy
Producer Ngahere Creators
Jason
Manumu’a
Director Jason Manumu’a
Torrell
Tafa
Writer Torrell Tafa
Jason
Manumu’a
Camera/Audio Fia Roache
Taylor
Sturt
Production Asst Repeka Vilitau
Editor
Torrell Tafa
Video #2 – The Bus
stop
TALENT
Commentators Torrell
Tafa
Nikora Ngaropo
HAZMAT GUY Joe
Daymond
CREW
Exec. Producer Vodafone, Nicky
Preston & Kirstin Te Wao
Manawa Udy
Producer
Ngahere Creators
Jason Manumu’a
Director Jason
Manumu’a
Torrell Tafa
Writer Torrell
Tafa
Jason Manumu’a
Camera/Audio Fia
Roache
Torrell Tafa
Production Asst/Safety
Repeka Vilitau
Editor Torrell Tafa
Video #3 –
The Native Bush
TALENT
Commentators Torrell
Tafa
Nikora Ngaropo
RUNNER Judah Metu
Teau-Kura
THE KID Asher Masina
STRANGER
John-Perry Porter Te Anini (JP)
CREW
Exec.
Producer Vodafone, Vodafone, Nicky Preston & Kirstin Te
Wao
Manawa Udy
Producer Ngahere
Creators
Jason Manumu’a
Director Jason
Manumu’a
Torrell Tafa
Writer Torrell
Tafa
Jason Manumu’a
Camera/Audio Fia
Roache
Torrell Tafa
Jason
Manumu’a
Production Asst Manawa Udy
Repeka
Vilitau
Editor Torrell
Tafa
*** This article has been archived for your research. The original version from Scoop.co.nz can be found here ***
