Government relations and advocacy
Acorn PR helps New Zealand organisations make their case to ministers, MPs and government agencies. We know how Wellington works, we understand parliamentary and legislative processes, and we turn complex issues into clear, persuasive messages that decision-makers act on.
Based in Christchurch, we work nationwide with charities, industry bodies, member associations, start-ups and businesses across a range of areas including health, infrastructure, housing, energy and conservation.
We are proud to be a trusted All-of-Government Consultancy Services Panel provider for policy, research and development and marketing and public relations services.
How we help
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Navigating the parliamentary process, including select committee submissions
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Engaging with ministers, MPs, government agencies and regulators
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Building an advocacy strategy and a case that gets heard
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Aligning media, stakeholder and political engagement so your message lands consistently
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Ongoing, embedded support as an extension of your team.
What our clients say
Endometriosis New Zealand values our partnership with Acorn PR. They are exceptional at what they do, bringing a high level of media expertise, strategic advocacy capability and valuable sector relationships that significantly strengthen our ability to raise awareness, influence decision-makers and effectively promote the impact of our work. Their expertise provides ENZ with a level of reach, credibility and influence that would be difficult to achieve internally. They are a pleasure to work with and a trusted part of our communications efforts.
Tanya Cooke, CEO, Endometriosis New Zealand
Both Hayden and Rachael offer supreme strategic and practical communication services. I’ve used Acorn PR for a number of years in the association space and have never been disappointed with the quality of advice or speed of their output. Acorn’s experience working at the intersection of political, public and private sectors from their South Island base is second to none.
Nick Leggett, CEO, Infrastructure New Zealand
Why organisations choose Acorn PR
Our team has worked both inside government and in direct engagement with Ministers and agencies, providing insight into how decisions are made and how policy outcomes are influenced.
Hayden Cox has worked in Parliament for a number of politicians including a former Prime Minister and leader of a minor party and now specialises in providing government relations and advocacy support to sector and member organisations and leaders in high profile public roles.
Rachael Cox has worked in Parliament as a journalist and as a Press Secretary to senior government ministers, as well as at a number of government agencies including the Ministry of Health and the Commerce Commission.
We understand how decisions are made and what officials and politicians need to see.
When you engage Acorn PR, you work directly with Rachael and Hayden, not junior staff.
We are known for being highly practical, reliable and fast. With Acorn PR you get clear advice, quick turnaround and no jargon.
We are also highly flexible and can assist organisations with one-off projects, or ongoing support without the cost of a full-time hire.
Case study: Endometriosis New Zealand
Turning a single submission into a sustained advocacy programme.
The opportunity
In 2023 the Ministry of Health consulted on New Zealand's first Women's Health Strategy. For Endometriosis New Zealand it was a chance to put a condition affecting an estimated 120,000 New Zealanders in front of decision-makers.
What we did
Acorn PR helped Endometriosis New Zealand prepare its submission, which called for endometriosis to be included in the strategy and for a national endometriosis action plan. The process gave the organisation a clearly defined set of advocacy priorities.
Since then we have worked as an extension of the Endometriosis New Zealand team for around five hours a week, supporting engagement with ministers, MPs, officials and media to keep those priorities on the agenda.
The results
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Pharmac has funded more treatment options for endometriosis
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Public and political awareness of the condition has grown
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The Government has announced that Health New Zealand will adapt the RANZCOG Australian Living Evidence Guideline: Endometriosis for use in New Zealand.
Common questions
What does a government relations firm do?
A government relations firm helps organisations understand and influence government decisions. That includes advising on strategy, preparing submissions and briefings, and arranging and preparing for engagement with ministers, MPs and officials.
Do we need government relations support if we already have a communications team?
Government advocacy needs specific knowledge of Wellington and parliamentary and legislative processes, which in-house communications teams don’t always have. Many clients use us alongside their own team on an ongoing basis.
How much does government relations support cost?
It depends on the scope of the work, so we agree costs with you upfront before anything starts. Acorn PR doesn’t operate on expensive retainers. We bill only for the work we actually do. Some clients need short-term strategic advice on a single issue, such as a select committee submission or a ministerial meeting. Others want support through a campaign or ongoing help as an extension of their team. In each case we define the scope, expectations and costs at the start, so you know exactly what you’re paying for and there are no surprises. For many clients in the member and industry association space, engaging Acorn PR for 5-10 hours a week ongoing can adequately cover their advocacy function.
Can you work with organisations outside Christchurch?
Yes. While we are based in Christchurch, we work with organisations across New Zealand, including the rest of the South Island and in Wellington.