DWC named finalists at PRINZ Awards

02 May 2022
Development West Coast
The Public Relations Institute of New Zealand has announced the finalists for the 2022 PRINZ Awards, with Development West Coast in the running for two national awards.

DWC was named a finalist for the ‘Communicators PR in-house team of the year’ Award, and also a finalist for the ‘Best use of media relations’ Award - for media outreach with the Ōkārito GorseBusters project.

GorseBusters organiser Barry Hughes said “DWC’s advocacy of GorseBusters to media has been fantastic.”

DWC leveraged media relations to help GorseBusters feature on TVNZ 1 News, Seven Sharp, TV3’s AM Show, RNZ, North South Magazine, and various other national news outlets.

“Our small community project was only able to grow and reach so many volunteers and supporting businesses all over the country because of (DWC marketing and communications manager) Aaron’s enthusiasm and support in media outreach,” Mr Hughes said.

“DWC’s work with media was instrumental to the success of GorseBusters, benefitting the environment, and our small communities both socially and economically.”

Barry Hughes, Ōkārito GorseBusters

Judges for the PRINZ Awards assessed around 90 entries across all categories, with 38 finalists announced for the Awards.

The selection follows a rigorous three-stage judging model involving more than 80 senior public relations and communications professionals overseen by Chief Judges, Denise Mackay FPRINZ, APR and Andrew Pirie, FPRINZ.

Denise Mackay said it was an absolute privilege and pleasure to review such high-quality awards submitted this year.

“With the hangover of COVID prevalent in many of the submissions, it was inspiring to see so much innovation and ‘pivoting’ that took place – with the sole focus of driving towards those all-important outcomes.”

Winners will be announced at the PRINZ Awards Gala Dinner to be held at The Civic in Auckland on 20 May 2022.

GorseBusters TVNZ 1 News.jpeg

Ōkārito GorseBusters being filmed for a segment on TVNZ's 1 News (view video)