I always remember a script writing tutor telling me that a brilliant pitch for a movie was this. “It’s called Twins. One actor is Danny De Vito, the other is Arnold Schwarzenegger.” Badaboom – of course nuts, but draws you in. To sum me up using this format in relation to my whakapapa. “I am the eldest child, of the youngest child of 22 Māori kids.”

I was fortunate to have a father who was very traditional, we regularly ate a Māori diet or fried bread, paua, pipi, muttonbirds and boil up. He worked at Te Māori Exhibition, and at 14, I worked there too as a guide.

After University, I was lucky enough to be offered a job at North & South Magazine and PR job, I choose the latter and embarked on a bit of a rough ride initially with a stint in a Devil’s Wear Prada agency, graduating to two wonderful agencies before launching Village PR 15 years ago.

Whare PR is now a full circle for me, a chance for me to connect up my culture with my mahi.

I studied a conjoint Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts at The University of Auckland before landing a role as a journalist with global media brand VICE. Since then, I have worked with a number of elite companies including Bauer Media, Māori Television, Sky TV, Red Bull, TVNZ, and NZME. I also spent two years living in Rarotonga, where I established my own full-service marketing agency. Aside from being an account manager with Whare PR, I am also a freelance journalist, writing for publications such as the NZ Herald and The Spinoff. I have always been passionate about Māori issues and helping to improve the circumstances of our people.

AIO ki te aorangi,
Ngā mihi ki nga huhua katoa o te atua,
Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa

I have dedicated much of my life to learning te reo and other aspects of the Māori culture. I have been fortunate to learn from my elders and I credit my late Aunt, Dr. Rose Rangimarie Pere, as being a significant influence in my life.

This journey has enabled me over the last two decades to provide cultural advice to many organisations. I also operate Rangi’s Reo, a community te reo programme where I teach tauira how to speak te reo and to connect back to themselves.

I studied graphic design at the Whanganui School of Design and graduated with Honours (high distinction) in 2004. From there, I gained employment at a prominent creative agency based in Mount Maunganui and transfered to their satellite office in Auckland for a few years. I now enjoy the flexibility of freelancing based in Christchurch and I’m excited to be involved with the Whare PR whānau and what they inspire.

I have a vast range of experience in graphic design – from high-profile corporate collateral, such as annual reports to start-up brand identities – Whare PR included, of course! With my creative skill-sets, I aspire to create visual communications that express the individuality of each client and marketing to their best advantages, to ensure success, both visually and purposefully.

I have a love of creating beautiful things out of nothing. I can visualise an end point and execute dreams to reality. I predominately have experience in the educational sector, with a degree in Bachelors of Education. For the past several years I have managed networked communities and understand the need to create captivating content to encourage online engagement through a number of social media channels. I am also an accomplished author with a range of digital design skills most suited to marketing and communications. I have completed level 2 certificate in Te Ara Reo Māori at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and am continuing reo classes with Rangi Ahipene.

Jenna is an experienced senior communication and public relations director, with more than a decade of experience in strategic communications, internal and external communication, change management, digital experience, project management and stakeholder relations. At Village and WharePR, Jenna is the key project/client manager.

She has spearheaded multiple award-winning, integrated communication campaigns across Australia and New Zealand that promote reputation building, strategic positioning and behaviour change.With a refined understanding of the intricacies underpinning operational decision-making, she has proven record of providing strategic and creative communication advice to C-suite leaders and executive teams, often in complex political environments.

Jenna is particularly passionate about working with organisations towards positive and ethical social outcomes. She holds a Bachelor of Media and Communication (with distinction) and a Masters of Management with Distinction that she completed via thesis, where she undertook a quantitative research project.

With more than two decades of communication experience, Aimee is a practised PR practitioner with strong social media skills, managing multiple disciplines for clients. Aimee has worked across various PR disciplines, from corporate to consumer and social media and has managed charity events and fundraisers. She has honed skills across communications Strategy Development, marketing management, consumer communications and event management.

Kahira is an experienced Graphic Designer with a demonstrated history of working in the international affairs and education industry. Skilled in Adobe Photoshop, Marketing, Microsoft PowerPoint, Graphic Design she brings a strong arts and design background. Prior to working at Whare PR, Kahira worked with MFAT as a graphic designer, and then Toi Ohomai ITP. She is passionate about working within the kaupapa Māori space and understands the complexity of working with clients in both education and government environments.