BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//PRINZ - Public Relations Institute of New Zealand - ECPv6.3.4//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:PRINZ - Public Relations Institute of New Zealand X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://prinz.org.nz X-WR-CALDESC:Events for PRINZ - Public Relations Institute of New Zealand REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Pacific/Auckland BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1300 TZOFFSETTO:+1200 TZNAME:NZST DTSTART:20250405T140000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1200 TZOFFSETTO:+1300 TZNAME:NZDT DTSTART:20250927T140000 END:DAYLIGHT END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251105T170000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251105T190000 DTSTAMP:20261009T104206 CREATED:20250930T084023Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251102T210608Z UID:52142-1762362000-1762369200@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Podcasting: Producing\, Pitching and Promoting DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/podcasting-producing-pitching-and-promoting/ LOCATION:Kordia\, Level 3\, 162 Victoria Street West\, Auckland\, New Zealand ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2025-banners-35.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251104T120000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251104T133000 DTSTAMP:20261009T104207 CREATED:20251006T222514Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251029T032733Z UID:52418-1762257600-1762263000@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:PRINZ Awards 2026: What are the judges looking for? - Webinar DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/prinz-awards-2026-what-are-the-judges-looking-for-webinar/ LOCATION:Online ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/250528_PRINZ-1-scaled.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251028T093000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251028T123000 DTSTAMP:20261009T104207 CREATED:20250817T231818Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251217T040147Z UID:51508-1761643800-1761654600@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Down the Rabbit Hole: Understanding Government Relations DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/down-the-rabbit-hole-understanding-government-relations/ LOCATION:Online ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/alice.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251023T093000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251030T123000 DTSTAMP:20261009T104207 CREATED:20250710T041629Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250710T041822Z UID:47741-1761211800-1761827400@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Telling Our Stories Well DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/telling-our-stories-well-4/ LOCATION:Online ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/PRINZ-Gala-Dinner-Event-Cover-6.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251022T120000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251022T130000 DTSTAMP:20261009T104207 CREATED:20250926T060526Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251007T005920Z UID:52252-1761134400-1761138000@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:The Adoption of Communication Technologies in PR - Webinar DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/the-adoption-of-communication-technologies-in-pr-webinar/ LOCATION:Online ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/CommsTech2.jpeg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251016T093000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251021T110000 DTSTAMP:20261009T104207 CREATED:20250714T042203Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251210T200303Z UID:50634-1760607000-1761044400@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:AI Playbook for Behaviour Change DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/ai-playbook-for-behaviour-change/ LOCATION:Online ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Thinking-Fast-Wise-with-AI-2.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251014T121500 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251014T134500 DTSTAMP:20261009T104207 CREATED:20250910T035656Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251007T213338Z UID:51838-1760444100-1760449500@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Christchurch Event: Impact through Strategic Media Engagement DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/christchurch-event-impact-through-strategic-media-engagement/ LOCATION:Environment Canterbury\, 200 Tuam Street\, Christchurch\, 8011 ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2025-banners-30.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251014T093000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251014T160000 DTSTAMP:20261009T104207 CREATED:20250710T025459Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250710T031437Z UID:50640-1760434200-1760457600@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Issues and Crisis Management DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/issues-and-crisis-management-7/ LOCATION:EMA\, 145 Khyber Pass Road\, Grafton\, Auckland ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/isses-and-crisis-amangement.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251008T173000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251008T193000 DTSTAMP:20261009T104207 CREATED:20250919T052201Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251007T231737Z UID:52077-1759944600-1759951800@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Pathways to PR: From Student to PR Professional DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/pathways-to-pr-from-student-to-pr-professional/ LOCATION:GRC Partners + Porter Novelli Offices\, 100 College Hill\, Auckland\, Ponsonby\, 1011\, New Zealand ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2025-banners-34.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251007T093000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251008T120000 DTSTAMP:20261009T104207 CREATED:20250605T001656Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250605T001740Z UID:49447-1759829400-1759924800@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Speechwriting Essentials DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/speechwriting-essentials-3/ LOCATION:Online ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/PR-16.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250924T120000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250924T130000 DTSTAMP:20261009T104207 CREATED:20250817T222722Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250901T211201Z UID:51485-1758715200-1758718800@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Unlocking the Power of Podcasting for PR - Webinar DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/unlocking-the-power-of-podcasting-for-pr-webinar/ LOCATION:Online ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/podcasting-photo.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250923T093000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250923T124500 DTSTAMP:20261009T104207 CREATED:20250704T020636Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250704T020636Z UID:50311-1758619800-1758631500@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Sub-editing and Proofreading: Key writing and editing tips to make your copy sing DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/sub-editing-and-proofreading-key-writing-and-editing-tips-to-make-your-copy-sing-2/ LOCATION:Online ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/edit-scaled.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250916T100000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250916T120000 DTSTAMP:20261009T104207 CREATED:20250626T005025Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251205T031852Z UID:50239-1758016800-1758024000@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Communications and Governance DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/communications-and-governance-2/ LOCATION:Online ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/PR-12.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250904T073000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250904T090000 DTSTAMP:20261009T104207 CREATED:20250807T222636Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250814T022848Z UID:50718-1756971000-1756976400@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:SOLD OUT: Auckland Event: Rethinking Roles - AI\, Ethics and the Future of Communications Teams DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/auckland-event-rethinking-roles-ai-ethics-and-the-future-of-communications-teams/ LOCATION:Momentum Consulting Offices\, Shed 20\, Princes Warf\, Quay Street\, Auckland\, 1010 ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ai-transforming-pr-with-media-monitoring-predictive-analytics-and-enhanced-personalised-communication.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250901T080000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250930T170000 DTSTAMP:20261009T104207 CREATED:20250818T031408Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250819T015506Z UID:51437-1756713600-1759251600@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Auckland Coffee Connections Programme DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/auckland-coffee-connections-programme/ LOCATION:Auckland ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/coffee.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250820T093000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250820T120000 DTSTAMP:20261009T104207 CREATED:20250602T224057Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250818T030145Z UID:49430-1755682200-1755691200@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:SOLD OUT: Hands On with AI DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/hands-on-with-ai-3/ LOCATION:Online ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/PRKH-Hands-on-White-Phone-e1742172373898.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250805T173000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250805T210000 DTSTAMP:20261009T104207 CREATED:20250619T014124Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250803T214449Z UID:50012-1754415000-1754427600@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Auckland First Tuesdays Pub Quiz DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/auckland-first-tuesdays-pub-quiz/ LOCATION:Birdcage Tavern: 133 Franklin Road\, Freemans Bay\, Auckland\, 1011 ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/PRINZ-Auckland-Pub-Quiz.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250731T173000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250731T190000 DTSTAMP:20261009T104207 CREATED:20250625T012932Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250625T025907Z UID:49972-1753983000-1753988400@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Crisis Communications and Spillover Effects DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/crisis-communications-and-spillover-effects/ LOCATION:AUT WZ100\, Auckland University of Technology\, 55 Wellesley Street East\, Auckland\, 1010\, New Zealand ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/filters_quality80.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250730T170000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250730T193000 DTSTAMP:20261009T104207 CREATED:20250619T024826Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250729T224305Z UID:50045-1753894800-1753903800@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Waikato Event- He Ara Whakamua: Pathways in Comms DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/waikato-event-careers-in-communications-from-first-jobs-to-future-leaders/ LOCATION:University of Waikato – Waikato Management School\, Room MSB 1.36\, Hillcrest Road\, Hamilton\, 3216\, New Zealand ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/2025-banners-35.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250729T093000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250729T124500 DTSTAMP:20261009T104207 CREATED:20250410T235059Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250716T234151Z UID:47916-1753781400-1753793100@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:SOLD OUT: Press Release Writing and Media Pitching: Tips from a former newspaper editor on getting your story into the media DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/press-release-writing-and-media-pitching-tips-from-a-former-newspaper-editor-on-getting-your-story-into-the-media-2/ LOCATION:Online ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/megaphone.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250717T173000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250717T193000 DTSTAMP:20261009T104207 CREATED:20250614T013141Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250614T013909Z UID:49906-1752773400-1752780600@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Christchurch Event: Winter Networking Drinks with Podcaster Andy Rowe DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/winter-networking-drinks-with-podcaster-andy-rowe/ LOCATION:Ramble Bar at Drifter Hotel\, 96 Lichfield Street\, Christchurch\, 8011\, New Zealand ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/2025-banners-32.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250716T190000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250716T223000 DTSTAMP:20261009T104207 CREATED:20250615T214357Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250615T214357Z UID:49826-1752692400-1752705000@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Retirement Dinner in Honour of Margalit Toledano DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/retirement-dinner-in-honour-of-margalit-toledano/ LOCATION:Gothenburg Restaurant\, ANZ Centre\, 17 Grantham St\, Hamilton\, 3204 ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/2025-banners-31.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250716T170000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250716T180000 DTSTAMP:20261009T104207 CREATED:20250606T044217Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250707T020042Z UID:49733-1752685200-1752688800@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Wellington Event - AI in Communications: Maximising Benefits\, Navigating Challenges DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/ai-in-communications-maximising-benefits-navigating-challenges/ LOCATION:Wellington Club\, Wellington Club Building Level 4/88 The Terrace\, Wellington\, 6011\, New Zealand ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ai-transforming-pr-with-media-monitoring-predictive-analytics-and-enhanced-personalised-communication.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250716T163000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250716T183000 DTSTAMP:20261009T104207 CREATED:20250613T020914Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250715T044139Z UID:49837-1752683400-1752690600@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Cocktail Function for Margalit Toledano DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/cocktail-function-for-margalit-toledano/ LOCATION:Nancy Caiger Gallery\, Meteor Theatre\, 1 Victoria St\, Hamilton\, 3204 ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/2025-banners-30.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250715T073000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250715T083000 DTSTAMP:20261009T104207 CREATED:20250617T040445Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250617T223203Z UID:49974-1752564600-1752568200@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Waikato Internal Communicators Breakfast Mixer at Gallagher DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/waikato-internal-communicators-breakfast-mixer-at-gallagher/ LOCATION:Joe’s Place Cafe at Gallagher\, 181 Kahikatea Drive\, Melville\, Hamilton\, 3206 ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Waikato-Internal-Communicators-Breakfast-Mixer-e1750133207941.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250617T093000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250624T120000 DTSTAMP:20261009T104207 CREATED:20250317T010005Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250615T214118Z UID:47575-1750152600-1750766400@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Data-Driven Storytelling DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/data-driven-storytelling-2/ LOCATION:Online ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/data-driven-storytelling.jpeg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250612T180000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250612T203000 DTSTAMP:20261009T104207 CREATED:20250513T220228Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250605T022204Z UID:48626-1749751200-1749760200@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Media Leaders’ Briefing: The Future of New Zealand News DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/media-leaders-briefing-the-future-of-new-zealand-news/ LOCATION:Foodstuffs Landing Drive\, 35 Landing Drive\, Auckland\, 2022 ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/2025-banners-27.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250610T093000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250610T124500 DTSTAMP:20261009T104207 CREATED:20241204T021650Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250627T045924Z UID:45664-1749547800-1749559500@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Sub-editing and Proofreading: Key writing and editing tips to make your copy sing DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/sub-editing-and-proofreading-key-writing-and-editing-tips-to-make-your-copy-sing/ LOCATION:Online ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/edit-scaled.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250609T093000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250612T120000 DTSTAMP:20261009T104208 CREATED:20250414T025435Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250512T014858Z UID:48325-1749461400-1749729600@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Public Relations Strategy and Evaluation DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/public-relations-strategy-and-evaluation-6/ LOCATION:Online ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/PR-Strategy-and-Evaluation-Catherine-Arrow.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250605T170000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250605T183000 DTSTAMP:20261009T104208 CREATED:20250523T062559Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250523T062633Z UID:49478-1749142800-1749148200@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Tauranga First Thursdays DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/tauranga-first-thursdays-7/ LOCATION:Picnicka\, Elizabeth Towers Level 1/38 Elizabeth Street\, Tauranga\, 3110\, New Zealand ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/First-Thursdays.png END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR