We weave good wairua, Te Ao Māori and top level communications expertise together to form a dynamic agency ready to work with like-minded businesses and organisations to further the game of our culture within the commercial world.
Established in 2018, Whare PR combines passion with purpose while aligning values and cultural knowledge to help bring together the two worlds of corporate business and te ao Māori (the Māori worldview).
We partner with clients to build internal and external reputational trust with an authentic, inclusive and empowering approach.
By embedding te ao Māori into our services, we create meaningful strategies that are unique and purpose-driven.
Alongside our long-standing sister agency, Village PR & Marketing, established in 2001, our capacity extends beyond your average independent communications agency.
Through fearless leadership, we build bridges between worlds and facilitate transformational change.
Excellence
Te Taumata is the summit of a mountain; therefore, it speaks to the highest level of performance.
Challenging the Narrative
Whakatumatuma means to be outspoken and speak into the space of challenging outdated or adverse narratives.
Speed and Agility
Puhoro is a traditional Māori design element originally applied to waka (canoes) to imbue speed and agility in the waka.
Cultural creative – Ideation and concept design – Cultural communication strategy – Translation services (Te Reo Māori) – Māori engagement
Tikanga Māori for Business workshop – The Treaty of Waitangi / Te Tiriti o Waitangi workshop – Organisational Values workshop – Rangi’s Reo – Te Reo Māori Online Courses
Integrated campaigns – Stakeholder relations – Crisis and issues management – Media training
Influencer marketing – Social media strategy – Editorial – Copywriting
Creative concept – Design – Video development
Event management – Brand launches and activations – Roadshows – Stakeholder engagement – Community relations
Weaving strategic communication expertise with senior Māori Kaiārahi leadership, our agile team at Whare PR brings a diversity of experience that results in different perspectives and ideas to reach every audience.
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 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.
We meet (hui) to form a deep understanding of your vision and purpose, your objectives, and your audiences. We want to know where you want to be – so we know how to help get you there.
We know that insights and data help us to ensure a fit-for-purpose approach.
Comprehensive review and co-development of a brief that ensures we provide cost-effective ideas and the most value to reach your goals.
We bring ideas to life through concept development and creative storyboarding.
We expertly deliver on campaigns and work while ensuring a meticulous approach to project management including providing regular updates, so we are all on the same page.
As we monitor our work closely, we provide an impact review and recommendations for further projects.
Whare PR provided all communications support to the Te Arawa 2018 Royal Visit Committee who were asked by NZ Government Internal Affairs Visits Office to provide a marae welcome, showcasing the best of Te Arawa to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Megan Markle. This took place on 31st October 2018 at Te Papaiouru Marae, Ohinemutu.
This included all liaison with the large national and international media contingent, the preparation of media kits and ensuring that all cultural messaging and enquiries were prepared, delivered and managed. Media accounts of what took place, had experienced royal tour media professionals recounting that it was the most culturally profound and professional experience they had witnessed or been part of.
Mark TantrumMonty Morrison JP Co-Chair, Te Arawa 2018 Royal Visit Committee:
Members: Dr Sir Toby Curtis, Mr Pita Anaru ED, MNZM, Whaea Norma Sturley, Trevor Maxwell, MNZM (Co-Chair)
When I first engaged Bridgette’s team to help us better communicate what we do, she told me that "in a year's time, you will not recognize your organisation." She was spot on! Our Trust has seen a major transformation from a relatively unknown entity to a dynamic and successful tribal Trust with a local and national profile.
Katie Paul - Former Chair, Ngāti Whakaue Assets Trust
Paula Dudley - 5+ A Day Charitable Trust, General Manager
Bridgette has a deep understanding of how difficult it is to promote Māori issues in a positive light. In addition, she is a pleasure to work with.
Māori Women’s Development held the inaugural Māori Women’s Business Awards in Aotearoa. At the time, there was little to no public awareness of Māori women in business, let alone their successes.
Vanessa Scott
E ngā rangatira ma tenei te mihi atu ki a koutou katoa.
Over the last 18 months Te Runanga o Ngāti Manawa Trust (TRONM) have worked very closely with Bridgette and her team on a number of key projects within the rohe of Ngāti Manawa.
MuruparaKani Edwards - Chairman, Te Runanga o Ngāti Manawa.
