Addressing New Zealand’s biggest planning issues

Convergence has provided media and communications support to the New Zealand Planning Institute’s (NZPI) annual conference since 2017. Our objective is to increase awareness of the event with potential delegates, stakeholders and industry leaders through strategic media relations.

Alongside NZPI members, delegates typically include iwi, resource managers, urban designers, scientists, environmental advocates, and local and central government.

In 2019 we worked with NZPI to highlight the biggest issues on the conference agenda, with the aim of generating topical news angles to attract media interest. Urban growth, climate change and water quality were labelled as the top three angles, alongside future food security and Maori involvement in freshwater planning.

By the end of the conference there were more than 30 news articles in mainstream and industry media – incorporating online, print, radio, magazine and television.

The media campaign began with NZPI Chair Karyn Sinclair partaking in a water reform panel discussion on Radio New Zealand’s leading Nine to Noon show, with high-profile host Kathryn Ryan.

This was followed by articles and interviews with leading media outlets including Newsroom, NZ Herald, Magic Radio and New Zealand Geographic. Mainstream media coverage was complemented by articles in specialist national and international industry publications including Asia Pacific Infrastructure, a cover feature in Local Government Magazine, and Asia Pacific Report.

The credibility and expertise of keynote speakers was also used to secure media coverage – for example former United States political candidate and international planning expert Sue Minter. Sue was a major drawcard for the event’s 600 delegates, and her international climate change expertise attracted the interest of The AM Show.

Convergence was also successful in getting media to attend the conference. Reporters and photographers from throughout New Zealand attended the three-day event in Napier.

News & Insights

Brewing up social goodness – a mystery campaign succeeds for Hummingbird Coffee

Working with two other agencies, Convergence helped devise a campaign for Hummingbird Coffee – the country’s leading specialty fresh coffee brand – where the first ‘teaser’ phase didn’t even mention the client.

Emma Maciaszek

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Tactical Communication Plan for complex organisation a rewarding challenge

Convergence Communications was pleased to work pro bono for the Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust (BPCT), a non-profit organisation that promotes the conservation and enhancement of indigenous biodiversity and sustainable land management on Banks Peninsula, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Steve Attwood

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Brewing up social goodness in Christchurch’s redzone

Convergence has had the privilege to assist Hummingbird Coffee in revitalising a section of Christchurch’s redzone. A year ago Hummingbird Coffee provided more than $60,000 to environmental green space experts The Green Lab to create a leading accessible sensory nature space in the city’s east – Te Kohanga Taiao Sensory Nature Play Park – which opened in June 2024.

Emma Maciaszek

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NZ Infrastructure shake up – Is a political compromise possible?

The Coalition Government has announced details of its National Infrastructure Plan envisaged to span a 30-year period¹. Our Government, Regulatory and Public Affairs specialist, Lisa-Marie Richan, explains how our Coalition Government may approach this and build trust across Parliament for all parties to feel they’ve been heard.

Lisa-Marie Richan (L-M)

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Shining a light on performance and learning through independent review

Convergence Strategic Consultant Dave Brash has both led, implemented, and reviewed a number of significant projects for central and local government including major transport and environment initiatives.

Dave Brash

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Bringing balance to a community discussion on mining

When TiGa Minerals & Metals announced in March 2023 that it intended to apply for resource consents for a minerals mine on the Barrytown Flats of the South Island’s West Coast, the company became concerned at what it perceived as the lack of balance in the public discussion through local news and social media.

Steve Attwood

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The next 100 days: How will government reforms affect your business or organisation?

The National Party has long considered itself the ‘party of business’ with a sharp eye on economic wellbeing and productivity. However, following New Zealand First and Act negotiations, the new National-led coalition government demands quickly enacted reform and it needs to deliver huge swathes of replacement legislation and policy change.

Lisa-Marie Richan (L-M)

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