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-ORIGINAL-URL:https://prinz.org.nz X-WR-CALDESC:Events for PRINZ - Public Relations Institute of New Zealand REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Pacific/Auckland BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1300 TZOFFSETTO:+1200 TZNAME:NZST DTSTART:20250405T140000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1200 TZOFFSETTO:+1300 TZNAME:NZDT DTSTART:20250927T140000 END:DAYLIGHT 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:20250901T080000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250930T170000 DTSTAMP:20261009T112745 CREATED:20250818T031408Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250819T015506Z UID:51437-1756713600-1759251600@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Auckland Coffee Connections Programme DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/auckland-coffee-connections-programme/ LOCATION:Auckland ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/coffee.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250923T093000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250923T124500 DTSTAMP:20261009T112745 CREATED:20250704T020636Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250704T020636Z UID:50311-1758619800-1758631500@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Sub-editing and Proofreading: Key writing and editing tips to make your copy sing DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/sub-editing-and-proofreading-key-writing-and-editing-tips-to-make-your-copy-sing-2/ LOCATION:Online ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/edit-scaled.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250924T120000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20250924T130000 DTSTAMP:20261009T112745 CREATED:20250817T222722Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250901T211201Z UID:51485-1758715200-1758718800@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Unlocking the Power of Podcasting for PR - Webinar DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/unlocking-the-power-of-podcasting-for-pr-webinar/ LOCATION:Online ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/podcasting-photo.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251007T093000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251008T120000 DTSTAMP:20261009T112745 CREATED:20250605T001656Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250605T001740Z UID:49447-1759829400-1759924800@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Speechwriting Essentials DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/speechwriting-essentials-3/ LOCATION:Online ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/PR-16.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251008T173000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251008T193000 DTSTAMP:20261009T112745 CREATED:20250919T052201Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251007T231737Z UID:52077-1759944600-1759951800@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Pathways to PR: From Student to PR Professional DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/pathways-to-pr-from-student-to-pr-professional/ LOCATION:GRC Partners + Porter Novelli Offices\, 100 College Hill\, Auckland\, Ponsonby\, 1011\, New Zealand ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2025-banners-34.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251014T093000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251014T160000 DTSTAMP:20261009T112745 CREATED:20250710T025459Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250710T031437Z UID:50640-1760434200-1760457600@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Issues and Crisis Management DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/issues-and-crisis-management-7/ LOCATION:EMA\, 145 Khyber Pass Road\, Grafton\, Auckland ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/isses-and-crisis-amangement.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251014T121500 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251014T134500 DTSTAMP:20261009T112745 CREATED:20250910T035656Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251007T213338Z UID:51838-1760444100-1760449500@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Christchurch Event: Impact through Strategic Media Engagement DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/christchurch-event-impact-through-strategic-media-engagement/ LOCATION:Environment Canterbury\, 200 Tuam Street\, Christchurch\, 8011 ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2025-banners-30.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251016T093000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251021T110000 DTSTAMP:20261009T112745 CREATED:20250714T042203Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251210T200303Z UID:50634-1760607000-1761044400@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:AI Playbook for Behaviour Change DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/ai-playbook-for-behaviour-change/ LOCATION:Online ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Thinking-Fast-Wise-with-AI-2.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251022T120000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251022T130000 DTSTAMP:20261009T112745 CREATED:20250926T060526Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251007T005920Z UID:52252-1761134400-1761138000@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:The Adoption of Communication Technologies in PR - Webinar DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/the-adoption-of-communication-technologies-in-pr-webinar/ LOCATION:Online ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/CommsTech2.jpeg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251023T093000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251030T123000 DTSTAMP:20261009T112745 CREATED:20250710T041629Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250710T041822Z UID:47741-1761211800-1761827400@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Telling Our Stories Well DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/telling-our-stories-well-4/ LOCATION:Online ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/PRINZ-Gala-Dinner-Event-Cover-6.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251028T093000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251028T123000 DTSTAMP:20261009T112745 CREATED:20250817T231818Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251217T040147Z UID:51508-1761643800-1761654600@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Down the Rabbit Hole: Understanding Government Relations DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/down-the-rabbit-hole-understanding-government-relations/ LOCATION:Online ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/alice.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251104T120000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251104T133000 DTSTAMP:20261009T112745 CREATED:20251006T222514Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251029T032733Z UID:52418-1762257600-1762263000@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:PRINZ Awards 2026: What are the judges looking for? - Webinar DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/prinz-awards-2026-what-are-the-judges-looking-for-webinar/ LOCATION:Online ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/250528_PRINZ-1-scaled.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251105T093000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251112T123000 DTSTAMP:20261009T112745 CREATED:20250710T234736Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251030T035709Z UID:50697-1762335000-1762950600@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-3/ LOCATION:Online ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/data-driven-storytelling.jpeg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251105T170000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251105T190000 DTSTAMP:20261009T112745 CREATED:20250930T084023Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251102T210608Z UID:52142-1762362000-1762369200@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Podcasting: Producing\, Pitching and Promoting DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/podcasting-producing-pitching-and-promoting/ LOCATION:Kordia\, Level 3\, 162 Victoria Street West\, Auckland\, New Zealand ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2025-banners-35.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251106T093000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251106T130000 DTSTAMP:20261009T112745 CREATED:20250926T060816Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251102T213750Z UID:52175-1762421400-1762434000@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Taranaki Event - Hands on AI: From Next to Now 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-ai-from-next-to-now/ LOCATION:Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill Street\, New Plymouth\, 4310 ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/09_2025-PR-Knowledge-Hub-Mount-Taranaki-and-AI.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251113T120000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251113T130000 DTSTAMP:20261009T112745 CREATED:20251104T030039Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251104T230510Z UID:53027-1763035200-1763038800@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Delicate interactions: relational skills in public relations consulting - 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/delicate-interactions-relational-skills-in-public-relations-consulting-webinar/ LOCATION:Online ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/relational-skills.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251119T120000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251119T130000 DTSTAMP:20261009T112745 CREATED:20251023T004055Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251023T011845Z UID:50873-1763553600-1763557200@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:What Makes a Gold Award-Winning Submission: Pead 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-a-gold-award-winning-submission-pead/ LOCATION:Online ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/250528_PRINZ-297-scaled.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251125T120000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251125T130000 DTSTAMP:20261009T112745 CREATED:20251023T011542Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251117T021054Z UID:52787-1764072000-1764075600@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:What Makes a Gold Award-Winning Submission: Special 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/what-makes-a-gold-award-winning-submission-special-pr/ LOCATION:Online ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/250528_PRINZ-113-scaled-e1761181180399.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251127T150000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251127T180000 DTSTAMP:20261009T112745 CREATED:20251104T015458Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251118T030752Z UID:52898-1764255600-1764266400@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:A PR Industry Celebration of Resilience and the Importance of Communications 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-communicator-of-the-year/ LOCATION:Grand Millenium Hotel\, 71 Mayoral Drive\, Cnr Vincent Street\,\, Auckland\, 1010\, New Zealand ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2025-banners-43.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251127T173000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251127T193000 DTSTAMP:20261009T112745 CREATED:20251024T033520Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251024T033821Z UID:52850-1764264600-1764271800@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Celebrate the Season with PRINZ Southern 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/celebrate-the-season-with-prinz-southern-2/ LOCATION:Muy Muy\, 44 Welles Street\, Christchurch ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2024-banners-4.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251202T103000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251202T130000 DTSTAMP:20261009T112745 CREATED:20251106T231826Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251208T024617Z UID:52886-1764671400-1764680400@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Making Data Work for You: Critical Thinking for Communicators 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/making-data-work-for-you-critical-thinking-for-communicators/ LOCATION:Online ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2025-banners-39.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251202T173000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251202T190000 DTSTAMP:20261009T112745 CREATED:20251106T230557Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251106T230557Z UID:53108-1764696600-1764702000@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:PRINZ Internal Communicators Mixer 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-internal-communicators-mixer/ LOCATION:Auckland Transport\, Ground Floor\, 20 Viaduct Harbour Avenue\, Auckland\, 1010 ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2025-banners-42.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251203T120000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251203T130000 DTSTAMP:20261009T112745 CREATED:20251023T201422Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251023T201507Z UID:52814-1764763200-1764766800@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:What Makes a Gold Award-Winning Submission: Hamilton City Council 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-a-gold-award-winning-submission-hamilton-city-council/ LOCATION:Online ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/250528_PRINZ-169-scaled.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251205T153000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251205T170000 DTSTAMP:20261009T112746 CREATED:20251105T233609Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251112T230549Z UID:52910-1764948600-1764954000@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:PRINZ Touch Tournament 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-touch-tournament/ LOCATION:Victoria Park\, 203-271 Victoria Street West\, Auckland Central\, New Zealand ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-banners-38.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251210T120000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251210T130000 DTSTAMP:20261009T112746 CREATED:20251023T202835Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251023T204628Z UID:50885-1765368000-1765371600@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:What Makes a Gold Award-Winning Submission: Great Scott 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-a-gold-award-winning-submission-great-scott/ LOCATION:Online ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/250528_PRINZ-147-scaled-e1761251303885.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251210T163000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20251210T183000 DTSTAMP:20261009T112746 CREATED:20251130T222638Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251130T225043Z UID:53404-1765384200-1765391400@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:PRINZ Waikato Christmas Catch Up 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-waikato-christmas-catch-up/ LOCATION:Hamilton Hotel Bar\, 198 Victoria Street\, Hamilton Central\, New Zealand ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2024-banners-5.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260128T100000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260128T120000 DTSTAMP:20261009T112746 CREATED:20251209T015537Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251209T015537Z UID:53509-1769594400-1769601600@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-3/ 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:20260202T080000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260227T170000 DTSTAMP:20261009T112746 CREATED:20260202T030903Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260203T025909Z UID:54398-1770019200-1772211600@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:PRINZ Coffee Connections Programme DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/prinz-coffee-connections-programme/ LOCATION:Auckland and Wellington ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/coffee.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260210T093000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260210T120000 DTSTAMP:20261009T112746 CREATED:20251209T003736Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251222T093815Z UID:53533-1770715800-1770724800@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Reputation\, Risk and Ethics with AI - Imperatives for Action 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/reputation-risk-and-ethics-with-ai-imperatives-for-action/ LOCATION:Online ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/AI-Ethics-cover-Catherine-Arrow.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260218T093000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260218T133000 DTSTAMP:20261009T112746 CREATED:20251209T002019Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260429T025901Z UID:53536-1771407000-1771421400@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/ LOCATION:Online ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2025-banners-45.png END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR