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Founder, Principal Consultant | Kaitūhono Ariki
Holly Suzanne Bennett
Te Arawa, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Pikiao
Holly is a zealous advocate of transparent, accessible government and has a keen interest in the effectiveness of New Zealand’s regulatory systems.
Graduating with a law degree from the University of Auckland Holly’s legal career started with the Ministry of Justice, where she worked at the coal face in New Zealand’s busiest court, before moving to Wellington to work in policy. Holly was admitted to the bar in 2013 and holds a current practising certificate.
More recently Holly worked on the other side of the industry in which she now operates: as a Ministerial Advisor and In-House Legal Counsel in the Beehive.
An avid networker and proud millennial, Holly continues to look for ways to innovate government relations in Aotearoa, ensuring the expert industry is something everyone can access.
Junior Consultant | Kaitūhono Mātāmua
Jesse Thompson
Ngāruahine, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngai Tahu
Born and raised in Tāmaki Makaurau, Jesse moved to Brisbane in 2011 to complete a Bachelor of Arts and Journalism at the University of Queensland. While studying, Jesse began his career in the Australian Parliament working across both communications and advisory roles. After graduating in 2015, Jesse decided to move home to Aotearoa to continue this mahi.
After seven years working across both the Australian and New Zealand Parliaments, Jesse turned his hand to strategic communications in the NGO sector. He has a keen interest in ensuring the promotion of effective, equitable and sustainable policy change at both local and national levels.
Consultant | Kaitūhono
Heloisa Hartuwig De Freitas
Heloisa is a Law and Arts graduate from the University of Auckland. She majored in law, politics and geography, which sparked her interest in public policy and government relations.
While at University, Heloisa was heavily involved in community outreach and advocacy projects through her role as Co-President of the University of Auckland Women in Law Society. As the first person in her family to attend University, Heloisa has a special interest in mentoring young people who wish to pursue careers in law or politics. Her work in the community saw her win the Auckland Women Lawyers Association Margret Wilson Award for service to the profession.
With roots in Brazil, Heloisa keeps involved in the Latin American community, serving as the Events Manager for the Latin American Business Council’s Young Professionals Network as well as a volunteer Portuguese interpreter.
Partner Provider | Kaitautoko Pākihi
Hunaara Waerehu
Ngāti Porou, Tūhoe, Ngai Tai ki Tāmaki
A staunch Nāti, Hunaara brings his experience and expertise of Te Reo Māori and Tikanga Māori derived from his strict upbringing by his elders in rural and remote Tikitiki, located in the heart of Ngāti Porou country two hours north of Gisborne. He currently runs his own translation and consulting business, Paronga Limited, a valued partner provider to the Awhi whānau.
Hunaara currently serves as Co-Project Lead of the Te Weu Carbon Farming Research Project, a project aimed at researching the effects of carbon farming on the local communities in the East Coast. He is also a member of the Institute of Directors New Zealand and is a Director of Hikurangi Enterprises Limited, a social enterprise focused on creating sustainable economic opportunities for whānau in Te Tairāwhiti. Hunaara has served on the Waiapu Restoration Project, a project funded by the Provincial Growth Fund to restore the Waiapu catchment. He is currently studying the Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Finance and Economics at Victoria University of Wellington.
Special Advisor
Mark Rehua Bennett
Te Arawa, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Pikiao
Mark is a 40 year veteran of New Zealand’s broadcasting industry, sharing his expertise as a specialist advisor to those who require support in public relations and communications.
When Mark joined New Zealand Broadcasting in the late 1960s, he was their youngest announcer at just 18 years of age. Career highlights include working as a news anchor with TVNZ, hosting long running entertainment shows such as I Like That One Two, and assisting in the establishment of Aotearoa Radio: a strong, commercially viable mouthpiece for Māoritanga.
A serial entrepreneur, Mark has built many businesses from scratch, including establishing the first-ever sales division for a Māori radio station in New Zealand through his company The Sales Machine.
Let’s Kōrero
Convinced we are the government relations firm for you?
If you would like to join us, kōrero mai.