The Convergence team has worked with numerous government departments, local authorities, health boards, SOEs and other government controlled organisations.
Central Government experience
Convergence can advise you on how central government works, how to make contact with the right people and the channels to use to present your case.
Janine Holland has worked in the Beehive for Government Ministers and knows from experience how best to contact MPs, how Parliament works, who the players are within the Beehive, and how Government Departments tick. Our collective experience will ensure you pitch your case to the right people and to those who have the leverage to influence your issue.
Regional Government experience
Understanding the requirements of regional government, including how to effectively work with the Resource Management Act and other laws that govern regional council activities, is another Convergence strength. Janine has worked both inside a regional council and for companies and community groups negotiating with councils. She advised Environment Canterbury on the development and launch of its successful Living Streams community partnership programme. Convergence clients benefit from Janine’s passion for resource management issues and her desire to help communities and regional councils better understand each other.
Convergence provides experienced hands to guide you through the complexities of the RMA and other consultation procedures, and will ensure you talk to the right council staff and affected community representatives when your project requires regional council support or approval.
SOEs, CRIs and other Government controlled organisations
Now, more than ever before, public-based organisations need to communicate effectively with their stakeholders and be prepared for events and crises.
Convergence and its team members have worked with the following companies on either a client or former employer basis: TVNZ, AgResearch, ASURE New Zealand (the former meat inspection SOE), Crop & Food Research, the New Zealand Wool Board and Tourism New Zealand.
City Council experience
City councils are more involved with their communities than ever before and you need to be aware of the range of activities and responsibilities they can cover. Janine has worked for a major city council and understands how they operate and what gets their attention.
Janine managed the communications around a number of large-scale water and waste projects in Wellington City. She worked to ‘improve’ ratepayer satisfaction and community awareness of council initiatives in this region.
If your project involves city or district council input or approval, talk to us about how you can better communicate your needs to local government.
Council owned companies, LATEs and Health Boards
Any organisation with public ownership faces a range of pressures that wholly private companies don’t have, particularly around risk and multiple accountabilties. Understanding the issues and pressures facing Local Authority Trading Enterprises which are accountable as businesses to publicly owned bodies is second nature to Convergence.
Erin Jamison and Leigh Harris worked with Lyttelton Port Company for four years drawing on Erin’s five years experience as LPC’s former communication manager. Convergence has also worked with council owned companies Orion and City Care as well as numerous South Island DHBs and Public Health Organisations. Individual project work has included communications associated with public referenda on fluoridation in Otago and Southland, and the Meningococcal B campaign in Canterbury.