CEO Welcome

Kia ora koutou - and a belated happy new year to all our contributors! 

We're sending this to everyone on our contributors' email database this time because we're not sure how many of you have ever been asked if you wish to receive our biannual newsletter. If you have formally declined in the past or wish to now, please use the 'Unsubscribe' button below and we will never send the newsletter again – and our apologies for troubling you. Otherwise, we'll assume that you do wish to continue to receive our newsletter. 

It's been a busy seven month since we last emailed you. The quality work that we do – with your input – has been recognised with a number of awards. They include a PANZ Design Award and a CLL Educational Publishing Award for two issues of the School Journal that focused on the Moriori. We told you the background to their publication in the last issue of this newsletter. 

Our business unit CWA New Media has also been successful in winning several awards for their innovative and effective online design and development - a TUANZ Education Award for their work for the University of Waikato's Science Learning Hub and a Netguide People's Choice Award for Best Student Site for studyit.org.nz.

I know a number of you have been hard at work writing and designing for several overseas projects – as well as the contributions that you make to ongoing publications such as the School Journal and our Māori-medium periodicals. We couldn't do our award-winning work without you – thanks!

Nga mihi

David Glover
Chief Executive

School Journal changes

Changes in School Journals arriving in schools from August 2011 onwards have been designed to align the series more closely with the NZ Curriculum and to clarify the reading levels and target audiences for each Journal. You can read more about the changes here. 

The changes have some implications for writing submitted for the Journal so we've updated the writers' guidelines available from our website. Check them out... 

Intellectual Property Advice - Email Address

Need help to understand a contract or agreement you've got with Learning Media?  If so, just send an email to ipinfo@learningmedia.co.nz and we'll respond with whatever support we can give you.

Please note, however, that we are not able to give you legal advice - you should always contact your own intellectual property lawyer/legal counsel to make sure you have the best and most appropriate legal protection.

Winning work!

Two issues of the School Journal won Best Book or Series in Primary Education in the Copyright Licencing Limited (CLL) Educational Publishing Awards awarded in November 2011.

School Journals Part 4 Number 3 2010 and Part 3 Number 3 2010 were dedicated to telling the stories of the Moriori people. Susan Paris is the editor of the Level 3 & 4 (formerly Part 3 & 4) journals.

The judges commented: "These two issues exemplify the School Journal at its best.  (They) provide students with rich content using a range of illustration styles and genre which will both engage and encourage students to want to know more. These Journals make a significant contribution to our knowledge and understanding of an important group of New Zealanders".

School Journal Part 3 Number 3 also won the Publishers' Association of New Zealand (PANZ) Best Educational Design Award in August 2011. Of Senior Designer Jodi Wicksteed’s winning design, the judges said – “This journal impressed us with the creative use of the white feather behind the masthead and the mystical illustration on the cover. The design gives the journal a sense of liveliness and maintains the individuality of stories and articles, whilst upholding the distinctive feel of the School Journal.”

The illustration on the cover by Andrew Burdan depicts the escape of Moriori children from invading tribes Ngāti Mutunga and Ngāti Tama. The white feather symbolises the Moriori commitment to non-violence.
 

Tax Compliance

As part of current tax law, invoices to Learning Media that include GST must meet the following requirements:

• Words “Tax Invoice” in a prominent place.
• Name or trade name of supplier
• GST number of supplier
• Name and address of recipient (Learning Media Ltd)
• Date invoice issued
• Description of what was supplied
• Quantity or volume of supply. Either:
  - GST exclusive amount, GST amount and GST inclusive amount; or  
  - A statement that GST at 15% is included in the total price.

If there is an error in the amount of the invoice, you will need to provide a credit note and re issue the invoice.  When re issuing an invoice you need to use a different invoice number.

Withholding Tax
If you are a freelance writer, photographer or artist contributing to publications you will have withholding tax taken from your invoice at the standard 25% rate, unless you provide a valid exemption certificate from Inland Revenue, or you are operating as  a limited company.

For more information, go to www.ird.govt.nz or email our Finance section.

Get social with us

We've joined the world of social media! If you want to get our Tweets, follow @learningmedia or go to our Twitter page. We're also on LinkedIn.

A number of our staff are also blogging regularly on a range of topics:

• David Glover on international trends in education 
• Darren Gammie on educational leadership 
• Jill Wilson on e-learning technologies
• Jane Thomsen on health literacy
• Angela Miller on inclusive teaching and learning