Solutions for organisations shaping the future.

We specialise in bringing heft to the complex challenges that come with navigating Aotearoa-New Zealand's political and media landscape. When clients face stakeholder pressure, policy complexity, or need to influence outcomes, we understand these situations require more than standard communications approaches - they need strategic thinking, deep networks, and practical expertise from people who have “been there, done that”.

Where we have impact:

  • Shaping your government relations and engagement strategies, so you are heard.

  • Telling your story with sharp media relations to improve and increase your brand and profile.

  • Thought leadership, media relations and narrative change, so you’re in control.

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Heft: A trusted partner

  • ‘Heft were a vital part of our team from day one right through to export. Their skills ensured we spoke to the right people, told the right story and controlled the narrative as we introduced a new business to Aotearoa.’

    Ray Mudgway, Managing Director of WMS Group

  • ‘From a PR perspective, the real gold was in Heft's journalist networks. When I started fielding calls from friends in London who had seen our story in the industry bible FinExtra, it felt like we had made it!’

    Adrian Smith, BlinkPay

  • The team at Heft walks alongside us as true partners, understanding that effective advocacy must be grounded in the lived experiences of the people and whānau we support, creating pathways for sustainable policy change that enables all people to flourish, in permanent and secure homes.

    Rami Alrudaini, Programme Manager at Housing First Auckland

A model made for flexibility.

Our in-house team is complemented by a nationwide network of independent consultants who bring specialist skills and subject matter expertise to client projects and retainers as needed. This “network agency” model means clients can leverage the collective strength of a nationwide network without the larger agency overhead.

Our team

  • Vic Crockford

    Executive Director, Tāhuna - Queenstown

    Email: Vic@heft.co.nz

  • Sarah Johnson

    General Manager, Te Whanganui a Tara - Wellington

    Email: Sarah@heft.co.nz

  • Anna-Grace Somerfield

    Advocacy and Communications Advisor, Te Whanganui a Tara - Wellington

Some of our People with Heft

  • Black and white photo of a smiling woman with long hair and earrings outdoors.

    Mary Baines

    Wellington

    Strategic communications, crisis and media

  • Black and white portrait of a woman with shoulder-length hair, wearing earrings and a leather jacket, smiling at the camera.

    Kirsten Smith

    Wellington

    Advocacy and Engagement

  • Kate Oktay

    Dunedin

    Media Relations

  • Black and white photo of a smiling man with styled hair wearing a scarf and a jacket.

    Sean O'Brien

    Wellington

    Government Relations and Media

  • Black and white portrait of a woman with shoulder-length blonde hair, wearing a dark button-up shirt, sitting indoors near a window with a cityscape view in the background.

    Hanna Butler

    Napier

    Strategic communications and engagement

  • A woman with shoulder-length dark hair smiling at the camera in a black and white photo.

    Polly Hauraki

    Currently based overseas

    Strategic communications, investor communications and sustainability.

Got a question?

Reach out to us today

Get in touch
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