Māori PR Firm Launches to Support Growing Iwi Economy

A growing Māori economy is now boosting demand for more specialist services, prompting one Tauranga agency to launch a Māori-focused public relations firm.

Whare PR was officially launched this month by Tauranga business owner, Bridgette Tapsell.

Tapsell is a corporate communications specialist with tribal links to Te Arawa (Ngāti Whakaue/ Ngāti Pikiao) and Tainui (Ngāti Raukawa). She says her new agency offers strategic advice, planning and guidance to businesses all over the country.

“My existing public relations agency Village PR has now been running more than 15 years, and we already advise several long-standing Māori clients,” she says.

“The aim of Whare PR is to partner with like-minded businesses and organisations to advance Māori culture in the commercial world. We also see a need to foster more Māori engagement throughout the communications industry.

“We desperately need to develop our people’s capability in communications. In 25 years of working in the communications industry I’ve met a lot of Māori writers but very few strategic communications experts who can walk in both worlds. If we want to tell our narratives, we need to train and empower Māori PRs.

“The Māori economy is booming. My clients are telling me they enjoy working with specialist consultants who understand Māoritanga, and share their values.

“I’m thrilled with the consultants who have joined Whare PR; they have decades of experience between them and are passionate about the kaupapa of the business.”

Around New Zealand, Māori enterprises are continuing to make a big impact on the economy.
More than 21,000 Māori currently run their own business, and more than 200 new Māori businesses have launched since 2013.*

Tapsell worked alongside Māori Women’s Development nearly 20 years ago as communications advisor for their awards. Her first agency, Village PR, was chosen by Te Arawa to manage the huge contingent of local and international media covering the Royal visit at Ohinemutu in Rotorua last year. More than 80 journalists from the UK, Australia and North America travelled for the event. An additional 300 New Zealand journalists were also registered to cover the tour.

To learn more about Whare PR head to www.wharepr.com
1. https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/104060829/the-maori-economy-continues-to-grow

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