RUSH’s Covid Tracer App

RUSH

New Zealand’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic is widely regarded as one of the best in the world, largely due to our robust and effective contact tracing system.

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government began looking for a tech solution to support the country’s contact tracing processes that were still in its infancy. Kiwi technology company RUSH was promptly brought into the fold and began working with the Ministry of Health to minimise the impact of the virus in the community.

The RUSH team quickly developed the New Zealand COVID Tracer app, a simple yet effective way for Kiwis to keep track of where they have been and to be easily identified when they may have been exposed to the virus. Following the success of the app, RUSH also built a Bluetooth Tracer app for the Cook Islands, CookSafe Plus, which is compatible with New Zealand’s Tracer app.

Anthem was asked to generate a number of news stories to raise awareness of RUSH as leaders in New Zealand’s technology sector and their crucial role preventing the spread of COVID-19 within the community. Later, the media strategy also focused on sharing how their technology is bringing New Zealand and the Cook Islands closer to a safe travel bubble.

Our media relations plan included pitching interviews with Danushka Abeysuriya (Founder and CTO), Pavan Vyas (CEO) and Terry Williams-Willcock (Creative Director) to business and technology reporters.

The result: RUSH received positive media coverage in national media across both television and online.

One highlight was securing two interviews on TVNZ’s Breakfast. On the first occasion, Danushka and Pavan spoke with John Campbell about their journey developing the New Zealand Tracer app. A few months later, Danushka returned with Terry to speak with Indira Stewart about how their Cook Islands tracer app will soon make travel to and from New Zealand safer and easier.

Pavan was also interviewed by senior business and technology journalists at Stuff and the NZ Herald, resulting in articles that positioned both Pavan and RUSH as experts in developing profound solutions to complex problems.

The earned media coverage resulted in a 350% increase in quality leads into RUSH’s technology offerings.

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