Heft

In last week’s Sunday Star Times, our Director Emily Makere Broadmore wrote about the politics behind information release. It’s a timely topic, especially considering that later that same Sunday, Minister Bishop released an overview of the 384 projects that have applied to be listed in the government’s Fast-Track Approvals Bill. At Heft, we do a lot of work in the housing and infrastructure sectors, so the balance of industries and locations released in great detail by Minister Bishop was of particular interest to us. In this blog, our team shares their perspectives on the latest suite of changes to the Fast-Track Approvals Bill and the implications of the "regional deals" framework outlined at the Local Governance NZ conference last week. Victoria C. Gwynn Compton

The Mahi a Rongo | The Helen Clark Foundation recently published a report on transparency and corruption - specifically how it relates to the information flows in and out of parliament. Our Heft co-Director Emily Makere Broadmore responded with reminisces of her time as an “OIA Hunter” in a government department. As Emily says, our flexible and accessible democracy means you can just turn up at parliament and email Ministers. Amazing! But it also means some potential gaps that a whole host of decent people do already try to avoid. We agree with the call for a cooling off period for Ministers and MPs after leaving parliament and before starting as lobbyists, and a lobbying code of conduct. Check out what else she has to say here: https://lnkd.in/g9PtQE-A

We grabbed our new Executive Director, Victoria C., for a cuppa while she was in the Capital.    Together she and Emily Makere Broadmore lead Team Heft across the country, focusing on providing high-quality communications, government relations, and advocacy expertise for purpose-driven organisations and businesses looking to make an impact in their sector.   Vic brings extensive experience as a senior leader in organisations across the energy and housing sectors, including time as a Chief Executive in the not-for-profit sector. She is also the Chair of Arts Access Aotearoa and Convenor of the Coalition to End Women’s Homelessness.    In her private life, Vic wrangles one dog, two sheep, five chickens, and two kids from her Queenstown home, after a childhood in Hawke's Bay and years spent living in Wellington and overseas.

Writing well is essential in comms. Thats why we are proud to be a sponsor for this years Sunday Star Times Short Story Competition. So many communications consultants in our Heft community write fiction outside of work. And supporting the arts is more essential than ever to community cohesion. Emily Makere Broadmore Victoria C.

You are a writer if you write. That's why we decided to help sponsor the Sunday Star Times short story competition this year. As communicators, our power is in narrative framing, problem definition and finding the story - then telling it the right way to the right audience. It's a different type of writing. But not all that different to writing fiction. The best type is innovation is often the accidental type, forced upon you out of need or emerging before you like magic. That's been our experience since moving Heft into the Berry Building on Cuba Street two years ago. At our Heft HQ we are proud to provide a home for communicators - both those within our core team and other freelancers in need of desk space. And through our support of the Wellington Writers' Studio, a special community space on the upper floors of our building, we've seen the accidental alignment of a communications agency with the creative energy of other writers, creatives and freelancers. It's an honour and a pleasure to have a sense of community so firmly entrenched in our business - and a pleasure to be involved in supporting writers regardless of whether they're writing for love or money. Or both. Victoria C. Kelly Dennett Anna-Grace Somerfield

Join us next Wednesday at the Heft office for a chance to reconnect with fellow professionals and consultants over a glass of prosecco. Plus, update your online presence with a brand new, professional headshot with the talented Sabrina Barbara 📸 from Headshots.nz The photo session is complimentary, and if you love your new look, you can purchase your shots during a later viewing session. Sabrina is offering an exclusive rate of $100 for a digital photo for online use. Last time Sabrina was in the Heft office she took photos of our directors, Victoria C. and Emily Makere Broadmore. Check them out below, as well as some further examples from Sabrina's extensive portfolio. We look forward to welcoming you. Details below: 📅 Wednesday, 21 August, 4pm-5pm 📍 Heft Studio, Berry Building, 145 Cuba Street, Wellington 📷 Mini headshot sessions with the amazing Sabrina from Headshots.nz 🥂 Bubbling prosecco to sip while you shine 🤝 Catch up with fellow professionals 💥 Pop-Up LinkedIn profile photo price: Just $100! 💥 Event in comments

It’s our FIFTH year in business and boy, are we in business. We are now on the All of Government (AoG) panel for media and creative services!    If you are comms planning, stakeholder mapping, advocacy strategising, campaigning for purpose or for gearing for growth…we are your people.   Or maybe you just want to get stuff done, and get it done fast. We do that too. We are Heft.   We are head quartered on Cuba Street, with an office in Queenstown, and operating around the country. Drop us a line @ [email protected], pop into our HQ or check out our website at www.heft.co.nz Victoria C. Emily Makere Broadmore Anna-Grace Somerfield

Did you know our Heft office has a unique history? During WWI, it served as a photography studio where soldiers had their photos taken before heading off to war. As we navigate significant changes in both the private and public sectors, the need for community has never been more apparent. That's why we're drawing inspiration from our office’s past and hosting a special evening of networking, prosecco, and pop-up headshots with the talented Sabrina Barbara 📸 from Headshots.nz. Last time Sabrina popped into the office she took photos of our directors, Emily and Vic. Join us for a chance to reconnect with fellow professionals and consultants over a glass of bubbles. Plus, update your online presence with a fresh, professional headshot. Whether you're celebrating a new role or actively seeking your next opportunity, we'd love to see you there. The photo session is complimentary, and if you love your new look, you can purchase your shots during a later viewing session. Sabrina is offering an exclusive rate of $100 for a beautiful digital photo for online use. We look forward to welcoming you. Details below: 📅 Wednesday, 21 August, 4pm-5pm 📍 Heft Studio, Berry Building, 145 Cuba Street, Wellington What's popping? 📷 Mini headshot sessions with the amazing Sabrina from Headshots.nz 🥂 Bubbling prosecco to sip while you shine 🤝 Catch up with fellow professionals 💥 Pop-Up LinkedIn profile photo price: Just $100! 💥

Throwing stones. There is a lot of it going on, especially at a fractious political time. We often think about the impacts of misinformation, bad faith actors, and the algorithm at Heft. As communicators, we know stories are used to connect and to pass on important information about culture and context. It is the most ancient way of sharing wisdom and knowledge. Our brains are wired for it! But what happens when we use stories simply to throw stones? The sounds echo— but we don’t actually achieve a heck of a lot except noise. Like my son and husband trying to break the ice this morning…

Unsure if your organisation needs an impact report? Heft's Senior Government Relations Consultant Gwynn Compton provides some thoughts on how you can communicate your return on investment to decision-makers. #socialinvestment #returnoninvestment #impactreporting