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 our culture within the commercial world.
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.
Our founder Bridgette Tapsell has been in the PR industry assisting Māori organisations and businesses for more than 20 years.
A pioneer Māori PR agency owner, she also owns the well-known agency Village PR with clients including New Zealand Avocado, Destination Rotorua, Tatua Dairy Co-op, Live+, Golden Homes and 5+ A Day.
Bridgette wanted to create a sister brand to Village, that would service clients who wanted to access a specialised skillset of iwi communications and to tap into our collective networks.
Cast a stone across waters to create many ripples.
Whare PR is a hub for communication specialists to hui and hone
their talents and be amongst people who are like-minded.
We are advocates for Māori culture, have a commitment to te reo
and strive for excellence in our māhi.
We can provide te reo copy for your marketing communications including presentations, speeches, annual reports, newsletters and social media platforms.
Our videographer is fluent in te reo and a highly experienced film maker.
Our design is fresh, relevant and has a proven commercial track record for hitting the mark. From social media platforms, online marketing to brochures and the creation of new brands, Kim always delivers designs that connect with, and inspire your audiences.
We are experts at successfully aligning your values and goals to create a communications plan – and then executing it seamlessly.
We create engaging posts, manage responses and keep your brand top of mind with your consumers.
For more than 20 years we have been providing these services. They include news release creation, distribution and follow up as well as media management for news stories.
Through tapping into our sister company Village PR, we are able to advise on suitable influencers for your projects and deliver original concepts, with flawless execution to the influencer community.
Iwi politics are complex. We understand them and are adept at working with legal teams and advising on the most effective communications strategy for your individual situation.
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.
After being abroad for 17 years I returned home with the desire to connect my children to their Ngāi te Rangi, Ngāti Porou and Te Whakatōhea whakapapa. I never imagined this would set the trajectory of my own personal journey and desire to create positive outcomes for my whānau, hapū and iwi. On the final stretch of my Masters in Māori & Indigenous Leadership I am inspired about the future for Māori and Aotearoa alike.
An inclusive, empathetic, and pragmatic approach to mahi has supported over twenty years’ experience in effective people and project management, with companies, trusts and not-for-profit organisations.
With a solution focused, proactive, and resilient attitude, my best asset is undoubtedly my ability to connect with people and grow that connection to achieve positive outcomes from all.
Tenā koutou katoa
Te Ao Māori has always been a big part of my life. I am a graduate of Kohanga Reo and Kura and it was in these environments that my Te reo was nurtured. After completing Year 13 at Mount Maunganui College I was lucky to secure a kaiawhina job at my former school Te Kura o Matapihi (a full immersion kura), during that year I also worked part time with Whare PR learning the ins and outs of agency life. In 2018, I completed my Diploma in Marketing and Communications and continued working with Whare PR and excited to be part of the Whare PR whānau.
Ko Ngāti Ranginui (Ngāti Hangarau), Ngāi Te Rangi (Tauwhao Te Ngare) me Ngāti Whakaue (Ngāti Tunohopu) ōku hononga whakapapa.
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.
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.Monty 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.
Kani Edwards - Chairman, Te Runanga o Ngāti Manawa.