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:20260404T140000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1200 TZOFFSETTO:+1300 TZNAME:NZDT DTSTART:20260926T140000 END:DAYLIGHT END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260603T150000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260603T170000 DTSTAMP:20261008T162000 CREATED:20260420T040810Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260519T025816Z UID:55994-1780498800-1780506000@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:PRINZ Annual General Meeting 2026 DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/prinz-annual-general-meeting-2026/ LOCATION:Online ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2025-banners-Presentation-4-e1776657428584.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260603T180000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260603T210000 DTSTAMP:20261008T162000 CREATED:20260505T021729Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T021729Z UID:56351-1780509600-1780520400@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Fellows and Life Members Annual Dinner DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/fellows-and-life-members-annual-dinner-2/ LOCATION:The Portland Public House\, 463 New North Road\, Kingsland\, Auckland\, 1021 ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/2025-banners-24.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260604T080000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260604T170000 DTSTAMP:20261008T162000 CREATED:20260412T220914Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260525T001523Z UID:55703-1780560000-1780592400@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:PRINZ Conference 2026: Meet the Future DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/prinz-conference-2026-meet-the-future/ LOCATION:Hilton Auckland\, 147 Quay Street\, Auckland\, 1010\, New Zealand ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2025-banners-60-e1776200241779.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260604T183000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260604T233000 DTSTAMP:20261008T162000 CREATED:20260414T210700Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260527T044804Z UID:55782-1780597800-1780615800@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:2026 PRINZ Awards Gala Dinner DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/2026-prinz-awards-gala-dinner/ LOCATION:Hilton Auckland\, 147 Quay Street\, Auckland\, 1010\, New Zealand ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2025-banners-61.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260611T163000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260611T190000 DTSTAMP:20261008T162000 CREATED:20260508T005543Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260508T005543Z UID:56545-1781195400-1781204400@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:PRINZ Tauranga Winter Mix & Mingle DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/prinz-tauranga-winter-mix-mingle/ LOCATION:Picnicka\, Elizabeth Towers Level 1/38 Elizabeth Street\, Tauranga\, 3110\, New Zealand ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/406d16f7-3b27-4a8a-bc88-50591131f8c3.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260622T100000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260625T120000 DTSTAMP:20261008T162000 CREATED:20260302T033739Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260608T003818Z UID:54988-1782122400-1782388800@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Incorporating Tiriti-based Principles into Public Relations Practice DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/incorporating-tiriti-based-principles-into-public-relations-practice/ LOCATION:Online ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2025-banners-58.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260625T093000 DTEND;TZID=Pacific/Auckland:20260625T120000 DTSTAMP:20261008T162000 CREATED:20251212T033817Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260616T234935Z UID:53684-1782379800-1782388800@prinz.org.nz SUMMARY:Hands On with AI DESCRIPTION:29th October 2026 @ 7:00am - 9:00am \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n OverviewHow do you stand out when everyone is competing for attention online?Join us for an engaging conversation with former New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom and digital marketing specialist Shawn Thomas as they explore how the digital communications landscape has evolved and what it means for communications and marketing professionals today.Drawing on his experience as an early adopter of social media in campaigning and public engagement\, Neil – a former communications professional – will reflect on the changing role of digital communications and share insights from his time in community leadership.Shawn will bring a marketing and analytics lens to the discussion\, examining the evolution of social media\, how organisations can cut through the noise\, and what the data is telling us about effective digital engagement.This breakfast session is designed for communications\, marketing\, engagement and public relations professionals looking to understand emerging trends\, digital data and connect with others working in the sector across the region. Venue: Toi Foundation\, 121 Gill St\, New PlymouthCost: $20 for PRINZ members\, $30 for non-PRINZ members. Includes beverages and light breakfast. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Your presenter is..Shawn Thomas is a marketing lecturer and educator with a track record across content\, paid media\, and brand building. He works in marketing and communications at MAST Academy and teaches digital marketing at NZIE (now known as the Digital Marketing School\, covering content creation and paid advertising. He has grown a personal audience of more than 130\,000 followers across Instagram\, TikTok\, and YouTube\, turning content strategy into real-world results\, and he brings that hands-on experience straight into the classroom. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Neil Holdom is a washed up local body politician notorious for infuriating groups on both the far left and far right for initiatives including trying to sell off half of the public land at New Plymouth’s Fitzroy Golf Course to start a land development company\, staunchly advocating for Taranaki’s oil and gas sector and industry\, supporting cogovernance with mana whenua and jacking up rates to fund environmental initiatives\, walkways\, transport\, water and sporting infrastructure as well as economic development and the occasional cycle lane. While in politics\, the thing that irked Holdom’s detractors most was his habit of winning elections\, serving three terms as Mayor of New Plymouth\, having come into local government with no previous experience. Married to Melissa\, Neil originally trained as a journalist at Wellington Polytechnic’s School of Language and Communications in the nineties\, before that earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy\, Political Science and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington. Neil worked in media both as a journalist and community newspaper editor before switching to the dark side in 2003\, joining energy utility Powerco\, where he earned his accreditation in public relations from PRINZ and went on to study general and strategic management at Macquarie Graduate Management School in Sydney. Retiring from politics (of his own accord) in 2025\, Neil is currently completing a 12 month contract as Establishment Chief Executive for Wai Hononga Water Services Limited\, the New Plymouth District Council’s new water services entity and he also runs TX1 Insight\, a boutique management consulting business assisting businesses with strategy\, communications and complex challenges. Neil is living proof you don’t have to be particularly bright or interesting to get things done in the world\, you simply need to build high trust relationships\, pay attention to detail\, pick trends\, be optimistic and not be too worried about what people think about you.  URL:https://prinz.org.nz/event/hands-on-with-ai-4/ LOCATION:Online ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://prinz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/PRKH-Hands-on-White-Phone-e1742172373898.jpg END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR