From the President

June 2017

Emma Harding

The ultimate in user testing for technical communicators involves testing your own deliverables. We've got a webinar and workshop lined up to help you do just that. And while you're being exceptionally awesome, how about throwing your hat in the ring to be Plain English Technical Communicator of the Year?

How usable is your documentation?

We slave over the documents and hope the users will like them, right? Rebecca Cox, an Auckland-based UX analyst, is running July workshops for technical communicators in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch.

Bring your laptop and learn about user-centred design methods which can help you to assess your documentation. Rebecca will arm you with the reasons for investing in DocUX, and give you techniques to both carry it out and present the results to your team.

Not sure? Register for Rebecca's 1-hour webinar UX Methods for Technical Writers, running at lunch-time on 28 June. It's free for TechCommNZ members and is a great opportunity to "meet" Rebecca with time left over to book for her workshop.

Who will be Plain English Technical Communicator of 2017?

Are you a plain English champion? Do you care enough to help eliminate gobbledegook? Of course you do!

Last year, the amazing WriteMark Plain English Awards team were very busy helping to bring Clarity2016 (the international plain language conference) to Wellington. This meant that the awards focused on just two very popular People's Choice award categories.

Having succeeded in this mission, WriteMark is bringing the full awards back!
TechCommNZ is proud to be a sponsor of the
Plain English Technical Communicator of 2017

Year Winner Finalists
2017 Who will it be? Will it be you?
2016

Only 2 categories in 2016: People's Choice — Best Plain English Communication and People's Choice — Worst 'Brainstrain' Communication

2015 Meredith Evans, Synlait Milk Sarah Wilcox, Descipher
Emma Adcock, OSPRI
2014 Janet Green, Ministry of Social Development Kylie McGrath, Xero
Laura Southgate & Ros Black, Xero
2013 Kylie Mason, Ministry of Health Chloe Hooper, Statistics New Zealand
Ros Black, Xero
2012 Sarah Burns, Telecom New Zealand Limited Allanah Kalafatelis, Commerce Commission
Kylie McGrath, Xero
2011 Sarah Grundy, Department of Conservation Jon Hertzig, Electric Ink Limited
Meredith Evans, Streamliners NZ Limited
2010 Meredith Evans, Streamliners NZ Limited Erwin Timmerman, Dynamic Controls
Lesley Hanes, Statistics New Zealand

This year, there's a fee to enter – $125 +GST or $65 +GST for non-profits. Don't let the fee put you off – the glory for you and your organisation is worth it. Ask our previous winners and finalists!

It's subscription time again

Soon you'll be receiving your renewal notice from TechCommNZ. There are many reasons to be part of the TechCommNZ community, so when the email arrives, renew straight away or join up if you’re not already a member! We love your continued support.

Until July, stay warm and full of wintr'y cheer,