In this session, Kathleen will provide an in-depth demo of the LiveRem platform, showing how PRINZ organisations can access accurate, real-time market salary data. The session will cover how LiveRem works, the type of insights available, and how members can use the platform to benchmark roles, support remuneration reviews, and make more informed pay decisions.

This in-person workshop balances both the theory and practice involved in identifying and managing issues and crisis situations. The course will enable you to understand appropriate actions before, during and after a major incident as well as provide strategies around communications planning and practical guidance on working with the media and broader aspects of communication in times of crisis.

In an environment where communications professionals are expected to interpret complex information, advise leaders, and respond credibly to misinformation and emerging technologies, strong critical thinking skills are essential. This Christchurch PRINZ breakfast session offers a practical introduction to critical thinking, tailored to the realities our profession faces in today’s fast-moving landscape.

In this introductory session, Carl Davidson will draw from a range of social science perspectives to outline why critical thinking is much harder than you might expect and why most organisations make it much harder still. You’ll learn why we’re all wired to think like lawyers rather than scientists, and why most of us believe we're already above average thinkers. You'll be introduced to a range of tools to unleash your critical thinking, nurture your scepticism, and supercharge your decision-making acumen. If you're interested in improving your thinking and decision-making skills, or just worried about what all those LLMs are doing to our ability to think straight, this is the session for you!

Have you ever wondered what a day in the life of a Comms Manager actually looks like? Or how Social Media Strategy works at a large company?
The University of Canterbury and the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand (PRINZ) are teaming up to give you The Inside Track.

This is a fast-paced, small-group "rotation" event where you get direct access to industry leaders. You will have 10 minutes at each table to hear from the professionals and ask questions. Whether you’re interested in crisis management, social media engagement, PR agency life or what it’s like to make the jump from study to your first role, we have someone for you to speak with!

Learn how to get across your message – and to make it stand out from the hundreds of other pitches that editors and journalists see daily.

Lively and enjoyable, this course is suited for everyone: from those new to the industry to those who’d like a refresher (highly experienced practitioners usually get just as much out of it).

Thursday 7th May 2026 @ 5:00pm - 6:30pm Overview Calling all Tauranga-based PRs – what better way to celebrate nearing the end of the week…

Done well, internal comms is one of the most strategic levers an organisation has. It connects people to purpose, shapes culture, and helps employees connect to each other and understand how their work fits into the wider business. But too often it’s treated as a postal service – the person (or team, if you’re lucky) people call when they realise “we need to wrap some comms around that”! This course is designed for practitioners at any level who want to move beyond distribution and into a more strategic, people-centred practice. Across two practical workshops and 1:1 sessions you’ll learn to leverage (and tame!) all the channels available to you, understand your audiences, and design communication that supports alignment and connection.

Raise a glass to our local PR champions

This calls for a celebration! There are so many Waikato-based finalists for the PRINZ awards this year, your Waikato committee is hosting a get-together to congratulate them, and wish them luck for awards night.

We’ll also hear from previous winners and judges, Peta Goldsworthy and Heather Claycomb, who’ll briefly share insights into the PRINZ awards, along with some quick thoughts on the opportunities and challenges ahead for our industry.

All current members are invited to attend the 2026 PRINZ Annual General Meeting. 

In a year where there has been much change and uncertainty in our industry, join us to see how your industry body fared during these challenging times. This meeting will be conducted online with links sent to registered members the day prior. Election of new board members to replace those completing their current tenure will be included in the agenda.

Register below!

This Fellows & Life Members Dinner is a fantastic opportunity to get together with your peers and catch up on news and events for the year. As always, this dinner will be held on the night before the PRINZ conference and PRINZ Awards Gala Dinner and on the day of the AGM.

After the PRINZ AGM from 3pm to 5pm, the dinner will be at The Portland Public House at 463 New North Road, Kingsland, Auckland.

We hope you can join us!

What does it take to make the right call when trust is fragile, attention is scarce and change never slows down? We will address all this and more over one day of learning at the 2026 PRINZ Conference.

This conference will bring together industry experts, thought leaders and practitioners in related fields like politics, media and social science. Across a dynamic program of keynotes, panels and interactive discussions, we’ll unpack the critical challenges and opportunities in the current communications landscape. From navigating political and economic uncertainty to understanding global trends and market insights, you’ll walk away with a deeper perspective on the current state of the sector.

Join the celebration of the annual PRINZ Awards at the Hilton in Auckland.

This prestigious event will celebrate the achievements and excellence of our members in the field of public relations and communications. The awards gala dinner will be held on Thursday, 4 June 2026 at the Hilton and tables will seat groups of 10.

The evening will feature the presentation of the PRINZ Awards, announcing the Gold, Silver and Bronze winners of 14 main categories as well as PR Consultancy of the Year, PR In-House Team of the Year and the coveted PRINZ Supreme Award.

Join the PRINZ Awards finalists, APR graduates, the PRINZ Board and members of the PRINZ College of Fellows and catch up with your peers, learn from the best, and have a fabulous time!