It’s undeniable that the public relations industry is having a growing influence on the media industry, despite it not being in the forefront. Last month, the New Zealand Herald recognised Deborah Pead, from Pead PR, as one of Auckland’s most influential women, yet “she wields this influence so nicely that it is almost unnoticeable”. And while PR folk are usually providing stage directions from the wings, they take centre stage every year during the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand (PRINZ) Awards.
This year, the 42nd edition of the event, twenty-seven finalists have been announced, from a record 69 entries hoping to be awarded ‘highly commended’ or named the winner of one of 12 categories.
The ‘Internal Communications’ and ‘Sally Logan-Milne Young Practitioner of the Year’ received the most entries with 11 and 10 respectively.
Jenha White from Shine PR and Laura Barlow from Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) have been named finalists for the Young Practitioner of the Year award.
The other finalists are listed in alphabetical order below:
- Able Products – Clean for a Cause by Sarah George and Cassie Arauzo, AUT University
- Anzac Day 2015 Combined Civic Service Commemorating 100 years, together by Amanda Weatherley, Tauranga City Council
- Audi quattro bistro by Angela Spain and Laura Douglas, FCB
- Ben & Jerry’s Mooo-ves In by Amber Conroy, Spark PR & Activate
- Bringing our people leaders together by Michelle Quirke, Inland Revenue
- But it’s always been free! – Communicating the introduction of paid parking at the University of Waikato by Peta Goldsworthy, Mike Watson and Megan Burton-Brown, University of Waikato
- Countdown Free Fruit for Kids by Sarah Williams, Louise Wright, Morgan Bailey and Kaya Arai, Porter Novelli New Zealand; James Walker and Charlotte Haycock, Countdown
- Crave and rave – golden praise drives results for golden arches by Claudia Macdonald, Mango; Gina McKinnon, Fuse; Simon Kenny, McDonalds New Zealand
- Dance Till Dawn – saving the Auckland dance scene by Rob Warner, Communication By Design
- Defining Architectural Design by Rebecca Kinraid and Jackie Curtis, Cherry Red Consulting
- Dirt is the new Gold – the Crankworx Rotorua Journey by Jacky James, Jenha White, Rebecca Roling, Madeleine Moore, Shine PR
- Dogs with jobs…and business cards by Michael Richards, Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand (CAANZ)
- Helping New Zealanders play a part in shaping ACC by Michael Player and Laura Barlow, Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC)
- Human Walkies by Sharon Buckland, Auckland Council
- It All Starts Here – Challenging public perceptions of SkyCity by Colin Espiner, Kelly Armitage, Rebecca Foote and Jade Lucas, SkyCity Entertainment Group
- Jetstar spreads its wings – Announcing Jetstar’s regional expansion plans by Gemma Doughty, Spark PR & Activate
- Making haste slowly with God on our side by John Durning, Perception Public Relations & Marketing
- Microsoft phone scammer response by Brad Pogson, Sarah Williams, Natasha Gillooly, Porter Novelli New Zealand; Brendan Boughen, Microsoft
- Not just another onboarding scheme – using graduate recruitment as a marketing and communications tool by Louise Poppelwell, Simpson Grierson
- Paper Plus Father’s Day by Joanna James and Jessica Edward, FCB
- Recovering Christchurch’s Heritage by Susan Gibson, Heritage Hotel Management Ltd
- SPCA Cupcake Day 2015 by Sarah Williams, Morgan Bailey and Kaya Arai, Porter Novelli New Zealand
- The Game Changer by Kirsten Robinson and Emilia Mazur, Lotto New Zealand
- The New Zealand International Convention Centre – an exercise in crisis management by Colin Espiner, Kelly Armitage, Rebecca Foote and Jade Lucas, SkyCity Entertainment Group
- Vodafone New Zealand – A journey to pride by Marie Hodson and Sarah Newcombe, Vodafone New Zealand
The winners will be announced at the PRINZ Award Gala dinner in Auckland on 12 May.
