Innovation in media, music and entertainment

Kiwa Digital produces interactive books that read to kids, spell words, translate stories, and help dyslexic or hearing-impaired children.

FIFTEEN YEARS AGO, Rhonda Kite had already had two successful careers – as a film and television producer, and as founder of a post-production software company.

It wasn’t enough; Kite decided it was time to revolutionise digital books as well.

The premise was that the e-book format was basically boring, a replication of a paper-based model on screen. Technology could do better.

Kiwa Digital is now the world’s leading production house for experiential digital books. Swipe the text, and the words are read aloud; tap, and individual words are spoken; double tap and a voice spells them out.

Children can also colour in virtual illustrations and record themselves reading.

Meanwhile, audio and text are available in multiple languages, and the design supports special education needs, including for hearingimpaired and dyslexic readers and those reading at different levels.

“Our crucial difference is the contribution the books make to learning, Kite says.

“Kiwa is at the forefront of changes in the education sector as technology transforms the way reading and learning is experienced.”

Clients include international publishers Penguin and Hinkler Books, Sesame Workshop (the non-profit behind kids TV show Sesame Street), the Aboriginal Corporation for Languages, and the Ministry of Education.

Kiwa has recently been commissioned to create a series of graphic novellas that take Māori mythology into the contemporary world. It has also developed a two day learning programme for schools, Kiwa Slam, which engages young people in telling the stories of their own culture in digital books they then publish to the world. JUDGES COMMENTS: Great application of technology to an old subject. Real commitment to innovation as a platform, not a just a product. Good IP protection and growth in sales. rubbery products have less appeal. Hence the conundrum facing Fonterra (and other cheese producers). How to take fat out, but leave flavour and texture.

Now Fonterra’s Research and Development Centre in the Manawatu has succeeded where other cheese makers have failed, using its world class starter culture capability in conjunction with its cheese-making expertise to develop Noble Reduced Fat Cheddar.

Launched in September 2012 in Australia, and in April 2013 here, Fonterra sold 424 million tonnes of Noble cheese in the 2013-2014 financial year, adding $600,000 to its bottom line. JUDGES COMMENTS: This is a classic R&D-led innovative solution, that addresses a problem and creates an opportunity. There is exciting potential in global markets beyond Australia and Japan.