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:20260404T140000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1200 TZOFFSETTO:+1300 TZNAME:NZDT DTSTART:20260926T140000 END:DAYLIGHT END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260806T183000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260806T203000 DTSTAMP:20261008T185537 CREATED:20260703T023126Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260804T222128Z UID:57558-1786041000-1786048200@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:What Makes the News: Inside the Editorial Decision Room 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/what-makes-the-news-inside-the-editorial-decision-room/ LOCATION:Foodstuffs Landing Drive\, 35 Landing Drive\, Auckland\, 2022 ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2025-banners-74.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260806T070000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260806T090000 DTSTAMP:20261008T185537 CREATED:20260715T054428Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260805T005454Z UID:57957-1785999600-1786006800@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Kōrero Tika\, Kōrero Māia: Communicating with Māori and Iwi Stakeholders with Confidence and Purpose 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/korero-tika-korero-maia-communicating-with-maori-and-iwi-stakeholders-with-confidence-and-purpose/ LOCATION:Waikato Innovation Park\, 3 Melody Lane\, Hamilton East\, 3216\, New Zealand ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2025-banners-77.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260805T093000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260805T120000 DTSTAMP:20261008T185537 CREATED:20260703T054423Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260715T224834Z UID:57609-1785922200-1785931200@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Show Me the Money: Learning the language of Finance 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/show-me-the-money-learning-the-language-of-finance/ LOCATION:Online ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2025-banners-75.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260805T073000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260805T090000 DTSTAMP:20261008T185537 CREATED:20260715T050614Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260803T215741Z UID:57945-1785915000-1785920400@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Learn from a PRINZ Fellow: Insights for internal 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/learn-from-a-prinz-fellow-insights-for-internal-comms/ LOCATION:Black Betty Cafe\, 165 Madras Street\, Christchurch\, 8011\, New Zealand ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-banners-16.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260805T070000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260805T083000 DTSTAMP:20261008T185537 CREATED:20260708T023417Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260708T024021Z UID:57588-1785913200-1785918600@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Tauranga Breakfast Event with Mike Puru: Podcasting for PR 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-breakfast-event-with-mike-puru-podcasting-for-pr/ LOCATION:Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology\, Tauranga Campus\, 70 Windermere Drive\, Poike\, Tauranga\, 3112 ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Podcasting-Studio_2-scaled.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260728T180000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260728T210000 DTSTAMP:20261008T185537 CREATED:20260702T004258Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260702T004258Z UID:57577-1785261600-1785272400@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:PRINZ Taranaki Quiz Night 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-taranaki-quiz-night/ LOCATION:Ate Fortyone\, 41 Tukapa Street\, New Plymouth\, 4310 ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2025-banners-73.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260728T093000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260729T120000 DTSTAMP:20261008T185537 CREATED:20260520T012659Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260617T043954Z UID:56851-1785231000-1785326400@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-4/ 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:20260723T093000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260723T120000 DTSTAMP:20261008T185537 CREATED:20260430T045635Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260623T041140Z UID:56260-1784799000-1784808000@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-4/ 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:20260715T120000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260715T130000 DTSTAMP:20261008T185537 CREATED:20260618T051650Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260707T031042Z UID:57297-1784116800-1784120400@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:PassTheMic: Amplifying Voices that Need to Be Heard 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/passthemic-amplifying-voices-that-need-to-be-heard-webinar/ LOCATION:Online ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2025-banners-71.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260707T093000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260707T133000 DTSTAMP:20261008T185537 CREATED:20260429T031541Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260429T031541Z UID:56243-1783416600-1783431000@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Key Stakeholder 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/key-stakeholder-engagement-2/ LOCATION:Online ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2025-banners-45.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260625T093000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260625T120000 DTSTAMP:20261008T185537 CREATED:20251212T033817Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260616T234935Z UID:53684-1782379800-1782388800@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY: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-4/ 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:20260622T100000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260625T120000 DTSTAMP:20261008T185537 CREATED:20260302T033739Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260608T003818Z UID:54988-1782122400-1782388800@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Incorporating Tiriti-based Principles into Public Relations Practice 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/incorporating-tiriti-based-principles-into-public-relations-practice/ LOCATION:Online ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2025-banners-58.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260611T163000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260611T190000 DTSTAMP:20261008T185537 CREATED:20260508T005543Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260508T005543Z UID:56545-1781195400-1781204400@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:PRINZ Tauranga Winter Mix & Mingle 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-tauranga-winter-mix-mingle/ LOCATION:Picnicka\, Elizabeth Towers Level 1/38 Elizabeth Street\, Tauranga\, 3110\, New Zealand ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/406d16f7-3b27-4a8a-bc88-50591131f8c3.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260604T183000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260604T233000 DTSTAMP:20261008T185537 CREATED:20260414T210700Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260527T044804Z UID:55782-1780597800-1780615800@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:2026 PRINZ Awards Gala Dinner 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/2026-prinz-awards-gala-dinner/ LOCATION:Hilton Auckland\, 147 Quay Street\, Auckland\, 1010\, New Zealand ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2025-banners-61.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260604T080000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260604T170000 DTSTAMP:20261008T185537 CREATED:20260412T220914Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260525T001523Z UID:55703-1780560000-1780592400@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:PRINZ Conference 2026: Meet the Future 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-conference-2026-meet-the-future/ LOCATION:Hilton Auckland\, 147 Quay Street\, Auckland\, 1010\, New Zealand ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2025-banners-60-e1776200241779.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260603T180000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260603T210000 DTSTAMP:20261008T185537 CREATED:20260505T021729Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T021729Z UID:56351-1780509600-1780520400@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Fellows and Life Members Annual Dinner 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/fellows-and-life-members-annual-dinner-2/ LOCATION:The Portland Public House\, 463 New North Road\, Kingsland\, Auckland\, 1021 ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/2025-banners-24.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260603T150000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260603T170000 DTSTAMP:20261008T185537 CREATED:20260420T040810Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260519T025816Z UID:55994-1780498800-1780506000@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:PRINZ Annual General Meeting 2026 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-annual-general-meeting-2026/ LOCATION:Online ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2025-banners-Presentation-4-e1776657428584.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260519T160000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260519T173000 DTSTAMP:20261008T185537 CREATED:20260504T040947Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260504T040947Z UID:56336-1779206400-1779211800@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Waikato Event: Raise a glass to our local PR champions 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-raise-a-glass-to-our-local-pr-champions/ LOCATION:Reggies\, Made Hamilton\, 401 Grey Street\, Hamilton East\, Hamilton\, 3216\, New Zealand ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2025-banners-65.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260513T090000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260520T120000 DTSTAMP:20261008T185537 CREATED:20260203T000920Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260617T045446Z UID:53825-1778662800-1779278400@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:The Inside Scoop: Strategic Internal Comms for Your Organisation 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-inside-scoop-strategic-internal-comms-for-your-organisation/ LOCATION:Online ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2025-banners-47.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260507T170000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260507T183000 DTSTAMP:20261008T185537 CREATED:20260501T045628Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260501T051920Z UID:56319-1778173200-1778178600@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-9/ 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 BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260505T093000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260505T124500 DTSTAMP:20261008T185537 CREATED:20260114T215535Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260428T105512Z UID:53843-1777973400-1777985100@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-3/ 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:20260430T173000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260430T193000 DTSTAMP:20261008T185537 CREATED:20260417T050535Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260420T044057Z UID:55952-1777570200-1777577400@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:UC Student Networking Event: The Inside Track 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/uc-student-networking-event-the-inside-track/ LOCATION:James Logie Room 613\, 20 Kirkwood Avenue\, Upper Riccarton\, Christchurch\, 8041\, New Zealand ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2025-banners-63.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260430T073000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260430T090000 DTSTAMP:20261008T185538 CREATED:20260330T040931Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260330T040931Z UID:55472-1777534200-1777539600@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Breakfast for the brain: Critical thinking 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/breakfast-for-the-brain-critical-thinking/ LOCATION:Environment Canterbury\, 200 Tuam Street\, Christchurch\, 8011 ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2025-banners-1.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260429T093000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260429T160000 DTSTAMP:20261008T185538 CREATED:20251218T010712Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260323T030523Z UID:53814-1777455000-1777478400@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-8/ LOCATION:GRC Partners + Porter Novelli Offices\, 100 College Hill\, Auckland\, Ponsonby\, 1011\, New Zealand ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Untitled-design-4-scaled.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260421T120000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260421T130000 DTSTAMP:20261008T185538 CREATED:20260326T012209Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260326T012209Z UID:55421-1776772800-1776776400@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Unlocking Real-Time Salary Insights with LiveRem - 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-real-time-salary-insights-with-liverem-webinar/ LOCATION:Online ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/liverem-1-e1774479532123.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260420T093000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260423T120000 DTSTAMP:20261008T185538 CREATED:20251218T003435Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260416T214134Z UID:53803-1776677400-1776945600@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Public Relations Strategy and Evaluation - SOLD OUT 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-7/ 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:20260416T073000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260416T091500 DTSTAMP:20261008T185538 CREATED:20260324T045154Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260413T043218Z UID:55353-1776324600-1776330900@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Auckland Breakfast Event: New Zealanders love podcasts - Here's how to make it work for your organisation 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-breakfast-event-new-zealanders-love-podcasts-heres-how-to-make-it-work-for-your-organisation/ LOCATION:Hays Recruitment\, Level 36\, ANZ Centre\, 23-29 Albert Street\, Auckland\, New Zealand ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2025-banners.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260414T093000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260414T124500 DTSTAMP:20261008T185538 CREATED:20251217T222657Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251222T093305Z UID:53788-1776159000-1776170700@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-3/ 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:20260325T120000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260325T130000 DTSTAMP:20261008T185538 CREATED:20260302T034656Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260304T003515Z UID:55010-1774440000-1774443600@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Community Engagement: What it is and how to measure its value - 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/community-engagement-webinar/ LOCATION:Online ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Imageof6phases_DianaWolkenCommunity-Engagement-e1772584454642.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260317T093000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260324T123000 DTSTAMP:20261008T185538 CREATED:20251211T043505Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251222T092906Z UID:53669-1773739800-1774355400@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-4/ LOCATION:Online ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/data-driven-storytelling.jpeg END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR