2026 is gearing up to be a big year for Ōtautahi and what better time to catch up with industry connections - and make some new ones - than at our first Southern Division event of 2026. Join us from 5:30pm on Thursday 12 March at Dux Central for a relaxed after‑work get together. This free event is open to both PRINZ members and non‑members - everyone is welcome.

All organisations have a wealth of data to draw upon to create engaging content, but knowing where to start is a challenge.

This interactive workshop has been designed for communications professionals who want to incorporate charts, graphs, and infographics into their content, but do not have a background in statistics. The workshop includes individual and breakout activities to immediately apply what you’ve learned.

A highly practical TV and radio course for company spokespeople and the communications professionals who prepare them.
Designed to help you understand what it really takes to make people shine on air — whether that’s you, or the clients, leaders, and spokespeople you’re responsible for preparing for media interviews. Facilitated by award-winning broadcaster Mary Lambie and held at TVNZ studio, this immersive experience gives you first-hand insight into the realities of broadcast interviews: the pressure, the pace, and what separates a solid appearance from a standout one.

Diana will present on a community engagement framework that she developed to be used internally (Board) to demonstrate what community engagement is (and isn’t) and how it can be measured in a meaningful way. The framework has six phases and links with a simple Excel spreadsheet for KPIs to demonstrate engagement and can simply demonstrate success.

Community engagement can often be seen as a ‘tickbox’ exercise which it definitely is not. Trust is the currency of the community.

If you’re lost in the maze of AI - you can’t afford to stay lost any longer. Hands on AI is your escape route, sharing with you the best ways to use AI in daily practice. It is a session designed to equip you with practical, actionable techniques so you can find your way.

AI is embedded in our daily activity and we’re now moving in to the realm of agentic AI, where the technology becomes your active collaborator, capable of automating tasks, interpreting complex data and supporting strategic decision-making in ways not possible just a few months ago.

Step into the world of government relations through the lens of Alice in Wonderland. In this hands-on workshop, you will understand and demystify how to plan for and engage with government personnel and departments.

Knowing how to edit writing – whether it’s your own or someone else’s – is a crucial skill to have, yet it’s rarely taught. This fun and practical course covers the essentials, including how to tighten sentences, writing in the active voice and using positive phrasing.

As we shift into Generation AI, mastering public relations strategy and evaluation is crucial. Over four mornings, this online course explores the latest methodologies for crafting and assessing effective strategies. With generative AI models reshaping our professional landscape, acquiring these skills is not just beneficial, it is essential if we are to guide organisational leadership with expertise and insight.

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.

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).

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.

If you are new to public relations, get ready to enter a profession undergoing a seismic shift.

The purpose of public relations remains the same - building and sustaining the relationships that organisations need to maintain their licence to operate. What has changed are the methods of practice. Artificial intelligence, new communication challenges and stakeholder expectations of transparency and accountability mean practitioners now need broader capabilities and stronger judgement than ever before.