Failed bid for NZ heart researchers

By TOM CLARKE

The National Heart Foundation has had to fight off poachers from overseas to retain important heart research in New Zealand.

The foundation's new communications manager, Moira MacDonald, says Australian interests recently tried to entice away a group of researchers in Christchurch involved in ground-breaking research funded by the foundation.

"The Australians tried to buy the research unit lock, stock and barrel - staff and everything," she says.

"Fortunately, through innovation by the Heart Foundation and two other parties down south, they managed to retain the unit by convincing the researchers that they should stay in New Zealand."

Ms MacDonald says that incident underlines the enormous need for funds to maintain research work in New Zealand.

"I don't think people realise just how prevalent heart disease is in New Zealand," she says. "It's a leading killer - bigger that cancer or any other disease - and is responsible for 41 per cent of our deaths."

The need to raise money over the next year for research is a high priority for the foundation and, Ms MacDonald says, it has some "pretty creative ideas" to achieve that. It has some "phenomenally innovative" research it will soon publicise, to increase public awareness of the foundation.

Research accounts for 24 per cent of the foundation's expenditure and health education and promotion 50 per cent. Administration takes 14 per cent and fundraising, branch projects and publicity 12 per cent.

Ms MacDonald is part of a new team which recently developed some "great" marketing strategies and identified areas where more work is needed.

"There will be no dramatic change of direction for the foundation, but we do plan to really focus on raising our public profile," she says.

"Research indicates we have a strong brand and profile, but there are some areas where we need to improve."

Ms MacDonald is a public relations specialist with 15 years' experience with corporate organisations in New Zealand and Canada, including eight years with Air New Zealand.

She began her career in Alberta where she completed a diploma in public relations and journalism at Mt Royal College.