About Acorn PR
Founded in 2018, Acorn PR is a communications, advocacy and government relations consultancy based in Christchurch.
Led by senior advisors with backgrounds in journalism, politics, public sector and advocacy roles, Acorn PR combines political understanding and media judgement with practical communications and engagement delivery.
We work with a wide range of organisations including industry and member associations, businesses, not-for-profits and public sector agencies.
Our experience includes working in and alongside government, including engagement with government ministers, Members of Parliament and public sector agencies.
We are also an All-of-Government Consultancy Services Panel accredited provider for policy, research and development and marketing and public relations services.
What Acorn PR is built on
Acorn PR was founded on a simple concept -
to make communications and government advocacy advice more accessible and more practical.
That still drives how we work today.
We focus on providing clear, grounded advice that organisations can actually use - rather than over-complicated strategies that sit on the shelf.
How we work
We don’t operate on expensive retainers. Instead, we bill for the work we actually do.
We work on clearly defined pieces of work or agreed periods of support depending on what’s needed. That might be short-term strategic advice on a specific issue, or working alongside a team through a campaign, policy process or reputational challenge.
In many cases, we effectively become an extension of our clients’ team - acting as their communications and government relations function where additional capacity, capability or senior expertise is required.
We agree scope, expectations and costs upfront so everything is clear from the start.
If you’re after people who are prepared to roll up their sleeves and get stuck in, you’ve come to the right place.
Rachael Cox
Rachael is a strategic communications specialist with 20 years’ experience across communications consulting, government advocacy and journalism.
With experience on both sides of the media - from political journalism to serving as a ministerial press secretary at Parliament and senior communications advisor roles including at the Commerce Commission - Rachael has helped a range of organisations in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors deliver real results.
Rachael has expertise in media relations, stakeholder engagement and complex issues management, and in recent years has added fundraising strategy to her specialties.
Hayden Cox
Hayden is a strategic communications, advocacy and government relations consultant with more than 20 years’ experience in providing support to sector organisations, charities and those in high-profile public facing roles.
With a background as a ministerial advisor and press secretary to senior politicians at Parliament including a former Prime Minister, Hayden has considerable government relations experience, including a hands-on knowledge of parliamentary and legislative processes.
He specialises in providing advice to senior industry leaders on communications and advocacy strategies.
