Why we’re different
In today's era, ideas have value. We thrive off creative solutions - ensuring longevity for your projects, purpose and passions. As communicators, our links to creativity begin at our headquarters at the beautiful Berry Building on Cuba Street, a historic treasure in the heart of Wellington’s artistic community. Our business exists not just to provide excellent client service and a community for the best communications practitioners in the country, but also to return meaningful impact to social initiatives driven by the passions and expertise of our directors, Victoria Crockford and Emily Broadmore.
By choosing Heft as your communications partner, you're not just accessing exceptional strategic talent – you're contributing to a purpose-driven organisation that amplifies social impact through everything we do. Read more about our impact here.
We take pride in building bespoke, scalable teams that deliver.
We understand every communications challenge deserves the right approach, so we take time to understand your needs before proposing the most effective solution - Whether that's by placing expert talent placement or a fully managed approach in house with our team. By transforming the agency model, our clients receive the best advice across strategy, advocacy, media management and social.Our fresh perspective takes a load off you, by:
Scoping your needs
Selecting a specialist or build your ‘plug in’ team
Integrating with your team to manage or support your communications workstream.
You’re then wrapped in a supportive community of practice, because we are active communicators working in the field. We will ensure you and your team access the right support as your organisation grows, your project develops and your goals shift.
Our Directors Vic Crockford and Emily Broadmore are active communicators working in the field. They know good comms and will ensure you and your team access the right support as your business grows, your project develops and your goals shift.
When you need exceptional communications talent, you need more than a recruitment agency. You need a partner who understands the nuances of communications work and can match you with professionals who will deliver immediate impact. Our network of vetted and hand picked senior consultants are available for short to medium term roles. These people support our in house agency work, making them trusted safe hands for your projects.
Our Team
At Heft HQ
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Vic Crockford
Executive Director - Queenstown
Vic leads the agency side of Heft, supporting our core team and extended network of consultants who are placed into client roles. Vic is a skilled and empathetic communications and government relations leader in energy and housing, and a former chief executive in the not-for-profit sector.
Outside of Heft, Vic leads the Coalition to End Women's Homelessness, and is the Chair of Arts Access Aotearoa. She is also a member of Queenstown Lakes District Council's Climate and Biodiversity Reference Group.
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Sarah Johnson
General Manager - Wellington
Sarah’s career has spanned the UK, the Middle East, and New Zealand, where she has worked with major brands and government agencies, including Red Bull, Virgin Atlantic, Marriott International, the Department of Corrections, and the Ministry for the Environment. She has a proven track record of delivering strategic campaigns, managing complex communications challenges, and shaping narratives that drive action.
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Emily Broadmore
Founding Director - Wellington
Emily moved from a background in parliament where she was a political advisor and press secretary under the Key/English government to the private sector, before co-founding Heft in 2020. Alongside managing Heft from the Wellington office, she runs several social enterprises in the arts and creative community, founded the founder of The Wellington Writers’ Studio and is the founder and Editor of Folly Literary Journal, an independent print publication.
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Anna-Grace Somerfield
Communications Coordinator - Wellington
Anna-Grace is a Communications and Advocacy Advisor, entering her third year working with Heft. She specialises in social media activation, stakeholder engagement and communications, supporting our senior team to implement and deliver for a large range of clients.
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Marianna Czibere
Accounts Manager
Marianna has a background supporting fast moving agencies with their finance and accounts. She’s our point of contact for our team and clients when it comes to the business end of delivering exceptional results for our clients, and supporting our wide network of contracting consultants.
Our People with Heft
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Sean O'Brien
Wellington
Government relations and Media
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Mary Baines
Wellington
Strategic communications, crisis and media
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Gwynn Compton
Wellington - Kapiti
Government Relations
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Kirsten Smith
Wellington
Advocacy and Engagement
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Kate Oktay
Dunedin
Media Relations
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Anthony Clearwater
Christchurch
Strategic comms, media and engagement
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Mel Weddell
Napier
Strategic Communications
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Hanna Butler
Napier
Strat communications and Engagement
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Kim Thomas
Christchurch
Media Relations
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Polly Hauraki
Currently based overseas
Strategic communications, investor comms and sustainability.
The Heft Difference
In a dynamic communications landscape, organisations need specialist expertise, while still having the security of a full agency on hand as projects pivot and scale.
At Heft, we hand select senior communicators and strategists to stand up bespoke teams for one-off projects and retainers, as well as recruiting and placing consultants for fixed term roles with businesses and organisations nationwide.
By combining the best of recruitment with the best of a public relations agency we match our clients with the specialist expertise they need from our community of vetted consultants.
By leading with strategy that suits you, we deliver:
Solutions shaped by your needs, not our services
Senior expertise that matches your challenge
Flexible support that scales with your requirements and changing needs
Value that extends beyond the immediate placement
Heft was born from a simple observation: that the traditional agency model wasn't best serving our clients.Hear it from our partners
“Museums Aotearoa have partnered with Heft for strategic communications and government advocacy. They know the right people and are a trusted advisor.”
Adele Fitzpatrick, Musuems Aotearoa
“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