Strategic communications | Media relations | Thought leadership | Member communications | Event communications
Keeping infrastructure on the national agenda
Town Hall partnered with Infrastructure New Zealand from 2022 to 2023, providing strategic communications advice and hands-on support across media relations, policy communications, member engagement and industry events.
As the industry association representing New Zealand’s infrastructure sector, INZ needed to communicate clear positions on complex policy issues while maintaining a strong public profile through an election year, severe weather events and a change in chief executive. We worked alongside its leadership to bring consistency to its messaging, respond to emerging issues and connect sector priorities with decision-makers, members and the wider public.
A panel at Building Nations 2023, which Town Hall supported communications and promotion for. Image from INZ.
Our Approach
-
We developed INZ’s Communications and Engagement Strategy 2022-2025, supported by a live Key Message Bank to keep communications aligned with its strategic priorities. We also developed concise policy position papers to help explain INZ’s recommendations on complex infrastructure issues, including private capital and local government.
-
We managed media enquiries, identified opportunities for commentary and prepared spokespeople for interviews across national television, radio and print. During the Auckland Anniversary floods and Cyclone Gabrielle, we supported timely, considered communications on infrastructure resilience. We also helped incoming chief executive Nick Leggett establish his public profile, supporting national media appearances within his first month.
-
We led communications for Great Decisions Are Timely: Benefits from more efficient infrastructure investment decision-making, a report quantifying the economic cost of delays in infrastructure decision-making. Through targeted launch content, materials and media engagement, we secured coverage on Three’s AM Show and Newstalk ZB, bringing the research and its implications to a wider audience.
-
We produced InfraRead, INZ’s monthly member magazine, and supported its communications across LinkedIn, email newsletters and the website. These channels provided a consistent way to share policy developments, sector news and INZ’s priorities with members and stakeholders.
-
We supported communications and promotion for Building Nations 2022 in Wellington and Building Nations 2023 in Christchurch. Speaker profiles, digital content, coordinated advertising and targeted LinkedIn promotion helped extend the events’ reach and keep infrastructure issues in front of the sector.
The Impact
Our work helped INZ maintain a consistent voice and strong visibility across national media, member channels and the wider infrastructure sector.
National media coverage: 29 external, organic media items in one reporting period of just over two months, across national and industry outlets.
Growing digital audience: 12% increase in LinkedIn followers, from approximately 12,000 to more than 13,500.
Consistent member engagement: InfraRead reached around 12,000 members and key stakeholders per issue.
Greater event visibility: A boosted LinkedIn campaign for Building Nations generated more than 306,000 impressions and 3,900 video views.
Research reaching wider audiences: Good Decisions Are Timely featured on Three’s AM Show and Newstalk ZB.
By combining strategic advice with hands-on communications delivery, Town Hall helped INZ communicate its priorities clearly and maintain momentum for infrastructure conversations during a period of significant national and organisational change.
