Using AI for Impact.

Imagine if your communications team could double their output, and increase the time spent on creative problem solving?

The AI era is here. Have you started the journey?

In February 2025, New Zealand plummeted from 9th to 40th place in global AI readiness rankings. While the OECD average AI readiness score stands at 89.47, New Zealand's score of zero for AI vision serves as a wake-up call. The resistance to AI adoption in communications isn’t just about fear of change—it’s about a fundamental misunderstanding of how AI can enhance rather than replace human expertise.

At Heft, we're championing a new approach—one that transforms how communications professionals work and deliver value for their clients and organisations.

As an early adopter of AI in our everyday work, we partnered with an AI trainer in Wellington to develop a practical AI for Productivity Gains and Impact workshop. This workshop was designed for teams, to enable curious minds to learn and take those learnings more widely throughout their organisations.

Get Heft’s AI Playbook

This free Heft playbook provides a starting point for communications professionals, leaders, and businesses navigating the AI revolution. From the transformation of traditional agency models to the emergence of new value propositions, discover how embracing AI isn’t just about retaining your jobs in communications—it’s about creating unprecedented value for your organisations and clients.

Get your copy by filling out our form below.

  • For leaders across organisations and businesses in New Zealand, AI isn't a technology investment—it's a strategic priority that will improve the productivity and impact of your communications team – opening space for your people to be more innovative and impactful for your organisation.

    Our work with executive teams across New Zealand has demonstrated that organisations who have enabled their communications team to embrace AI are:

    • Improving productivity by upskilling their teams, without expanding headcount

    • Delivering campaigns faster with lower resource requirements

    • Enabling the focus on high-value strategic work, by supercharging the basic daily tasks with AI

    • Gaining measurable competitive advantages over less AI-ready competitors

    AI is fundamentally disrupting the traditional pathway into communications—creating an opportunity to elevate every role from content creator to strategic thinker from day one.

  • Where does your organisation stand? Our quick assessment provides personalised insights on your current AI readiness and identifies your biggest opportunities. Check it out here.

  • We offer small sessions as well as larger, longer term upskilling workshops for communications teams.

    Our group workshop has been developed in collaboration with Wellington leadership trainer Lawrence Green, who is the founder of the AI Leadership Forum. Using his programme, we have developed a practical six week course for communicators and people whose work is based in the comms and engagement fields. The workshop aims to:

    • Upskill in the use of Large Language Models or LLMs (AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Co-pilot) - effectively as the foundation for sustainable AI adoption.

    • Balance immediate impact (quick wins) with long-term capacity building (knowledge sharing and champion development).

    • Improve productivity, strengthen decision-making, critical analysis and enhance productivity

    • Address ethical concerns (e.g., bias, transparency) while setting standards for future projects.

    The workshop aims to move people to an AI Success Mindset, to enable greater business impact and innovation.

    If this is a workshop that could be of value for your organisation, as part of ongoing education and training of your team, you can contact Heft to receive the full workshop summary and programme details.

  • We're passionate about freeing up communications teams to focus on strategic work. While other communications professionals publish pieces titled "Why AI Won't Replace Your Comms Business," we're showing clients how to harness AI to create unprecedented value.

    Our approach is practical, not theoretical. We've used AI to help not-for-profit campaigns achieve goals with half the budget they would have needed just 12 months ago. We've supported clients to accelerate the way they support their thought leaders and drive profile through their digital marketing.

    The future of communications isn't about defending the status quo—it's about evolving to create unprecedented value for our clients and our profession.

    Ready to lead the AI revolution in communications?