Get the shot bro

Tommy Wilson in front of one of the billboards. Photo: John Borren

A series of large electronic billboards around Tauranga will be carrying a simple and powerful message encouraging people to get vaccinated.

'I created these designs as positive relevant messaging to get to the challenging sectors of our community who we need to get vaccinated,” says Te Tuinga Whanau Chief Imagination Officer Tommy Wilson.

Tommy's passion to connect with and protect every single person within the reach of his community has inspired him to create the designs, and with help from sponsors cover the cost of projecting the giant messages.

'We need to get to those marginalised sectors of the community – the gangs and homeless - who are now the most important to see they get vaccinated,” says Tommy.

'To do that we need the right messaging to connect and engage with them.”

One of the billboard messages. Photo: Supplied.

Four large billboards around Tauranga, including the Bethlehem roundabout, the corner of Fraser St and 15th Ave, and at Mount Maunganui, will carry a range of simple messages such as ‘One love two shots', ‘No Covid no cry', ‘The Mighty All Vax, be part of the team', ‘Make it a double', ‘One small prick for man, one giant jab for mankind', and ‘Imagine life without lockdown'. Some of the graphics will also carry the words ‘Shot bro'.

'It's a positive message. Imagine a life without lockdown. People get that. It's a warmer lighter message that connects better with those areas and people that we must see get vaccinated.”

These are people that Tommy's team works with every day, extending love and compassion.

'They need to know we care before we tell them what they need to know. We need to sit down, have a kai and a kōrero with them. That's when the message will get through. You must take manaakitanga with you in your kete.”

One of the billboard messages. Photo: Supplied.

The billboards will be up in place for at least seven days over Labour Weekend, and Tommy is hoping to find sponsorship so the messages can run longer.

'The more we can connect with messages that don't preach but teach, the more chances we have of getting our vaccination rates up to where they need to be. It's beholden on all of us to make every effort in our own back yard,” says Tommy.

'Me and my mates have paid for the first week to get the signs rolling. Perhaps there are others who can support the kaupapa and keep the positive kōrero of the Shot Bro billboards going on for a few more weeks yet.”

To contact Tommy and to help sponsor the Shot Bro billboards for a second week and beyond email tommy@ttw.org.nz

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1 comment

Childish

Posted on 21-10-2021 06:20 | By Slim Shady

It’s like trying to persuade toddlers to brush their teeth. Stop the childish pandering and just put up a sign saying lockdown ends on 1st December and borders open to vaccinated “team members” so the choice is yours. And hospitals will prioritise people accordingly.


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