Awhi

Awhi is a government relations and communications firm based in Auckland, New Zealand, founded in 2017. The agency primarily serves organizations that need to navigate political, regulatory, and media environments—including startups, non-profits, charities, and enterprises operating in regulated sectors. Awhi positions itself as a bridge between clients and the complex ecosystems of government and media, with a stated emphasis on social and economic good through accessible engagement. The firm works with clients who require support in understanding and influencing public policy, building relationships with stakeholders, and managing communications in politically sensitive contexts.

Core Focus: Government Relations and Lobbying

Awhi specializes in government relations and lobbying, helping clients understand and engage with New Zealand's political system. The firm’s work includes policy development, regulatory advocacy, and bipartisan support building. Awhi assists organizations in crafting messages that resonate with policymakers and in navigating the legislative process. The agency launched its own set of Lobbying Principles in April 2024, emphasizing integrity and transparency in an unregulated sector. This commitment to ethical conduct is a distinguishing feature of Awhi’s approach, as it aims to provide value for money while ensuring clients can advocate effectively for their interests. The firm’s services in this area cover everything from mapping the political ecosystem to developing strategies for regulatory change.

Communications and Media Engagement

Beyond direct lobbying, Awhi offers communications and media engagement services. These include media relations strategy, media campaign management, crisis communication, and media relations training. The agency provides a media climate overview to help clients understand current narratives and opportunities for coverage. Awhi also offers media engagement tools and support, helping organizations build relationships with journalists and manage their public profiles. For clients facing reputational challenges or needing to communicate complex policy positions, the firm’s crisis communication expertise is particularly relevant. Awhi’s media engagement support is designed to complement its government relations work, ensuring clients have a coordinated approach to both political and public audiences.

Stakeholder Engagement and Strategy

Another core service area for Awhi is stakeholder engagement. The firm helps clients identify and connect with key stakeholders, including community groups, industry bodies, and government officials. This work often involves developing engagement plans, facilitating consultations, and building coalitions to support policy goals. Awhi also provides broader strategy development, helping organizations align their public affairs efforts with their business objectives. The firm’s approach to stakeholder engagement is grounded in its commitment to accessibility and ethical practice, aiming to ensure that diverse voices are heard in policy discussions. Awhi’s services in this area are particularly relevant for organizations operating in complex regulatory environments or seeking to influence public policy at multiple levels of government.

Services Overview

• Government relations and lobbying
• Policy development and regulatory advocacy
• Bipartisan support building
• Media relations strategy and campaign management
• Crisis communication
• Media relations training
• Media climate overview and engagement tools
• Stakeholder engagement and consultation
• Strategic communications planning
• Reputation management

Awhi is a good fit for organizations that need to navigate New Zealand’s political and media landscapes but lack in-house expertise or resources. This includes startups and charities seeking to influence policy, enterprises facing regulatory challenges, and non-profits looking to build stakeholder support. The firm’s location in Auckland, New Zealand, positions it well to serve clients across the country, with a focus on both central and local government engagement. Awhi’s emphasis on ethical conduct and value for money makes it particularly suitable for organizations that prioritize transparency and want to avoid the pitfalls of an unregulated lobbying environment. For any client needing to build influence, manage communications, or engage with stakeholders in a politically complex setting, Awhi offers a practical and principled approach.