Government, Regulatory & Public Affairs Service

Working with central, regional and local government is second nature to us. We won a Gold Award in the Government Relations and Public Affairs Category of the 2021 NZ Public Relations (PRINZ) Awards, as well as the overall PRINZ Supreme award winner for the 2020/21 year for the same project. Our 2022 entry was also awarded Gold in the Government Relations and Public Affairs Category.

Convergence is one of only a few public relations consultancies in New Zealand with a full-time, Wellington-based government relations specialist, while another is based in Auckland. Drawing upon extensive contacts throughout the public service and with ministers on both sides of the house, we help open political and public sector doors for our clients, according to their specific needs. We know who does the decision-making and can tap into the many layers within government and regulatory organisations.

In addition to government lobbying and issues management, we are adept at making Official Information Act requests, producing research and policy papers, drafting submissions and preparing clients for Select Committee appearances.

Convergence is an approved Professional Services provider to the New Zealand Government, featuring on the All-of-Government (AoG) PR Consultancy Panel.

Our wider team has a wealth of experience working with elected officials, councils, government departments and publicly owned companies. Two Convergence consultants have also worked full-time for local authorities in former roles.

If you want the country’s decision makers and influencers to know what your business is doing, or you are trying to achieve change in central, regional or local government policy, we can help to get your message across.

Approved Government Contractor - Convergence meets all the requirements of the all-of-government supply panel, which means we are pre-approved to offer specialist consultancy advice and professional services to agencies using the government procurement process. This offers a level of assurance to all potential clients – government and non-government.

News & Insights

Brewing up social goodness – a mystery campaign succeeds for Hummingbird Coffee

Working with two other agencies, Convergence helped devise a campaign for Hummingbird Coffee – the country’s leading specialty fresh coffee brand – where the first ‘teaser’ phase didn’t even mention the client.

Emma Maciaszek

Full article

Tactical Communication Plan for complex organisation a rewarding challenge

Convergence Communications was pleased to work pro bono for the Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust (BPCT), a non-profit organisation that promotes the conservation and enhancement of indigenous biodiversity and sustainable land management on Banks Peninsula, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Steve Attwood

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Brewing up social goodness in Christchurch’s redzone

Convergence has had the privilege to assist Hummingbird Coffee in revitalising a section of Christchurch’s redzone. A year ago Hummingbird Coffee provided more than $60,000 to environmental green space experts The Green Lab to create a leading accessible sensory nature space in the city’s east – Te Kohanga Taiao Sensory Nature Play Park – which opened in June 2024.

Emma Maciaszek

Full article

NZ Infrastructure shake up – Is a political compromise possible?

The Coalition Government has announced details of its National Infrastructure Plan envisaged to span a 30-year period¹. Our Government, Regulatory and Public Affairs specialist, Lisa-Marie Richan, explains how our Coalition Government may approach this and build trust across Parliament for all parties to feel they’ve been heard.

Lisa-Marie Richan (L-M)

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Shining a light on performance and learning through independent review

Convergence Strategic Consultant Dave Brash has both led, implemented, and reviewed a number of significant projects for central and local government including major transport and environment initiatives.

Dave Brash

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Bringing balance to a community discussion on mining

When TiGa Minerals & Metals announced in March 2023 that it intended to apply for resource consents for a minerals mine on the Barrytown Flats of the South Island’s West Coast, the company became concerned at what it perceived as the lack of balance in the public discussion through local news and social media.

Steve Attwood

Full article

The next 100 days: How will government reforms affect your business or organisation?

The National Party has long considered itself the ‘party of business’ with a sharp eye on economic wellbeing and productivity. However, following New Zealand First and Act negotiations, the new National-led coalition government demands quickly enacted reform and it needs to deliver huge swathes of replacement legislation and policy change.

Lisa-Marie Richan (L-M)

Full article