Let’s have some impact, together.
Heft has earned a reputation for quick strategic thinking and collaborative problem-solving, thanks to our knack for finding innovative solutions.We’re communications specialists who understand communications challenges. By understanding your unique needs first, we create smart communications solutions that deliver immediate impact and long-term value.
You might need an interim communications or government relations leader, a subject matter specialist for a critical project, or a bespoke comms team who can adapt and scale to your changing needs. Our team of vetted specialists are ready to jump right in to solve your communications, reputation and engagement needs.
Our Services
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We solve complex communications problems with strategic thinking and practical delivery.
What This Means
Strat comms isn’t about writing a press release or managing social media. It’s about solving business and sector challenges through our expertise. We start with strategy, not tactics - to ensure we are adding long lasting value - before moving into execution.
With Heft we:
Drive impact through designing internal and external comms plans
Solve complex stakeholder issues
Navigate organisational change and crisis situations
Transform the capability of your team
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Effective PR in todays media environment isn’t about writing press releases - it’s about understanding what makes a genuine story and knowing how to tell it. Infact, we rarely write press releases. Instead we write pitches, strategically. Because we:
Find the real story worth telling
Position it for maximum impact
Target the right audiences
Support you to build meaningful media relationships
Deliver measurable results
Our Sweet Spot
We focus on coverage that matters, adding value for:
Complex announcements
Sensitive and crisis issues
Market positioning
Profile development and sector leadership
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WORDS MATTER
From snappy social posts to concise annual reports, we're writers who know the difference between good and great.
We craft:
Strategic annual reports that tell your story with impact
Engaging social content that cuts through the noise
Thought leadership that positions you as an expert
Grant reports that demonstrate your value
Public facing comms that builds your brand
Reports that make complex data clear and compelling
But here's where we're different: we combine deep strategic thinking with smart execution.
We harness AI tools strategically - not to replace human creativity, but to speed up the grunt work once we know how we want to approach your project. With your permission we can use our professional platforms to support execution of initial drafts, editing and proofing.
This means more of your budget goes toward what really matters: developing the strategic approach that makes your content work harder.
Because anyone can write words. We write words that work. And we love to do the strategy that lies behind the words.
Need content that delivers? Let's talk.
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Effective government relations relies upon strategic, carefully constructed policy positions to pitch to decisionmakers, and lasting relationships. At Heft we don’t just arrange meetings, we ensure those meetings count.
Working with Heft means:
Strategic stakeholder mapping
Clear policy understanding and bringing solutions to decisionmakers
Evidence based positioning
Long term relationships building, across multiple levels of decision making
This isn’t about quick wins or magic connections - it is about bringing solutions to the table and building sustainable influence through strategic engagement.
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We’re not recruiters, we’re communications specialists who understand exactly what great communications capability looks like. We work in comms and place people we trust, to provide you instant impact and better value than a traditional agency approach.
Our Difference
We are comms experts, and we know how to scope your role. Do you need someone ex-Beehive or ex-Journalism? Do you need a policy wonk who can craft prose, or a media gun who gets strategy?
We understand the real requirements of the role you are looking to fill - and know what good looks like.
Why Communications Leaders Choose US
Better value than a traditional PR agency
Deeper expertise than a traditional recruitment firm
Faster deployment than hiring
Wrap around strategic support from our in house comms team
Our Sweet Spot
This isn’t recruitment, it’s strategic communications and engagement capability delivered through exceptional talent and support.
Our Workshops
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We use AI to supercharge ideas, not create them.
At Heft, we believe AI is a tool to enhance human creativity and accelerate implementation - not replace human thinking.
Our approach prioritises client privacy while maximising the efficiency AI can bring to communications delivery.
Get your whole team working smarter with AI, with Heft’s insights and practical workshop options.
Why Book This For Your Team?
Right now, your comms team is probably:
Using AI inconsistently (or not at all)
Worried about privacy and security
Getting poor results
Working without clear guidelines
Missing opportunities to be more efficient
Transform this in one day, to provide you and your team confidence that they can use AI safely to be more efficient and effective - freeing up valuable budget and headspace for higher value strategic work.
The workshops are tailored to team size and availability, We suggest a minimum of one morning and one afternoon session, held on consecutive days ideally. This enables the workshops to cover Strategy and Safety Basics, before moving into Practical Application.
The Heft Difference
We are communication professionals who have cracked the code on practical, safe, AI use. Your team gets:
Real world applications
Proven techniques
Immediate results
Practical tips
Ongoing support
Location and size
Your office or our Wellington based HQ on Cuba Street.
Team size: Up to 16 people per training session.
Unsure where to start? Take our AI readiness survey first, to see where you and your organisation or business are on your AI journey.
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Beyond standard sound bites
This isn’t your standard ‘stay on message’ media training. We teach you and your team how to genuinely engage with media while protecting your reputation and delivering impact.
Why this is different
Our trainers have worked in newsrooms and managed complex issues in the Beehive and political contexts. We understand how to engage authentically and thoughtfully with media, approaching opportunities in a positive light with relationship building front and center.
We recommend pairing our media training with our Newsworthiness for Pitching workshop, to ensure your team understand the seven angles of newsworthiness and understand media engagement from pitching through to interview.
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Your story isn’t the story
At Heft we don’t do press releases, unless we have too. Instead, we follow a tried and tested method of audience focused pitches with clear framing for each outlet and journalist.
This workshop is grounded in our seven elements of newsworthiness - a basic 101 workshop that supports capability building for any communications professionals who value strong relationships with media.
Why Forward Thinking Organisations Choose Heft
Great communications isn’t just about content creation - it’s about solving complex business and sector challenges.
You need impact, not activity: We deliver outcomes that matter to your business.
You want strategic partners, not service providers: We solve problems alongside you, not just execution of tasks.
You value expertise, not just execution. We are specialists, not generalists. You receive the senior advice you need.
You need flexibility, not fixed fees: We adapt our support to suit your changing needs.
Where we’ve had impact
Contact us.
sarah@heft.co.nz
The Berry Building
145 Cuba Street
Wellington
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"Museums Aotearoa have partnered with Heft for strategic communications and government advocacy. They know the right people and are a trusted advisor."
Adele Fitzpatrick, Chief executive of Musuems Aotearoa
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"Their expertise has helped us build the relationships we needed in order to create the change we want."
Wendy Robertson, General Manager of The Driving Change Network
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The team at Heft were a vital part of our team from day one right through to export. Their skills in government relations, media management and strategic comms 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 Ltd
