Auckland
Katie E.
Google Ads & Digital Advertising Strategist
Hire a freelance media buyer in New Zealand
Increase return on ad spend with targeted campaign planning, audience testing and platform negotiation across Google, Meta and programmatic channels.
- Free to enquire
- Local NZ freelancers
- You choose who to hire
Nelson
Ben S.
Email Marketing Expert (Klaviyo, Omnisend)
Nelson
Kirsten M.
Google & Meta Ads Specialist
Christchurch
Brooke H.
Digital Marketing Specialist
Christchurch
Amelia W.
Strategy, Brand and Marketing Consultant
Christchurch
Kathryn M.
Graphic / Motion Designer
What does a media buyer do?
Most media buyers handle some or all of this. Pick the parts you need and we'll put them in your brief.
Reach new customers efficiently
Build prospecting campaigns across search, social and display to find and convert people who match your target customer profile.
Lower acquisition cost for ecommerce
Use shopping, dynamic remarketing and audience testing to reduce cost-per-acquisition while protecting margin and ROAS.
Drive awareness for launches or events
Combine short-format video, display and targeted social buys to raise local or national awareness ahead of a product launch or event.
- Start a brief
Not sure which parts you need?
Tell us what you want to get done. We'll shape the brief with you and share it with freelancers who fit.
How we help you find the right media buyer for your business
We do the legwork of briefing and finding people, then step back so you work directly with the media buyer you choose.
Tell us what you need
Share your project, the help you need, and any timing or budget you have in mind.
Choose who to meet
Review interested freelancers and their work. Choose who you want an introduction to.
Agree the work together
Agree the scope, timing, and price with your freelancer.
- 1Tell us what you need
- 2We help shape the brief
- 3Relevant freelancers are surfaced
- 4You compare them
- 5You choose
Connect with our network of Kiwi freelance media buyers
The profiles shown are examples of media buyers in our network. Post a brief, relevant freelancers will apply, the business reviews applications, and Unicorn Factory makes warm introductions.
Katie
Google Ads & Digital Advertising Strategist
Auckland
Marketing & Growth
Ben
Email Marketing Expert (Klaviyo, Omnisend)
Nelson
eCommerce
Kirsten
Google & Meta Ads Specialist
Nelson
Marketing & Growth
Brooke
Digital Marketing Specialist
Christchurch
Marketing & Growth
Amelia
Strategy, Brand and Marketing Consultant
Christchurch
Branding
Kathryn
Graphic / Motion Designer
Christchurch
Design & Creative
Ross
E-Commerce Specialist
Auckland
Marketing & Growth
Ciaran
Brand + Communications Strategist
Wellington
Branding
How much does it typically cost to hire a media buyer?
What New Zealand media buyers typically charge, by type of work. Freelancers quote you directly after reading your brief.
Small: audit or one‑off campaign
Projects fromNZ$1,200
Performance audit, one-off campaign setup or a short test campaign. Does not include ongoing monthly retainer or ad spend.
- Typical rangeNZ$1,200–NZ$6,000
Medium: monthly campaign management
Projects fromNZ$3,000
Monthly management covering strategy, optimisation and reporting for multiple channels. Ad spend billed separately to platforms.
- Typical rangeNZ$3,000–NZ$12,000
Large: strategic programmatic & cross‑market
Projects fromNZ$12,000
Full strategy, programmatic (DSP) buys, creative testing and consolidated reporting for larger and multi‑market campaigns.
- Typical rangeNZ$12,000–NZ$45,000+
What affects the price
Freelancers quote after reading your brief. These move the price most.
- Monthly media budget — larger budgets usually need more management and reporting
- Campaign complexity — number of channels, markets and audiences to target
- Creative production — whether motion, video or personalised ads are needed
- Tracking and tech — server-side tagging, GA4 or CRM integrations increase scope
Estimates are indicative. Prices are in NZD, may exclude GST and ongoing software or platform fees, and final scope and rates are agreed directly with the freelancer. Request a tailored quote when you post your brief. Updated October 2026.
Media buying work delivered by Kiwi freelancers
Real projects by freelancers in the network — use these cards to see approaches and ask similar questions in your brief.
Marketing & Growth
22.4x ROAS and fully booked from $359 of Meta ad spend for a hotel in Kenya
- Website Development
- Marketing Strategy
- Media Buying
Ellie N.
Marketing & Growth
29.6x ROAS: $26,350 in bookings from $889 for a surf charter
- Website Development
- Marketing Strategy
- Media Buying
Ellie N.
Marketing & Growth
~1.5x sales in one month with Meta ads for a Dubai fitness studio
- Website Development
- Marketing Strategy
- Media Buying
Ellie N.
Marketing & Growth
30 hotel bookings from $487 with Messenger ads (9.24x ROAS)
- Website Development
- Marketing Strategy
- Media Buying
Ellie N.
Marketing & Growth
7.38x purchase ROAS and a full Black Friday campaign for a NZ skincare brand
- Website Development
- Marketing Strategy
- Media Buying
Ellie N.
Marketing & Growth
4.8x ROAS in month one for a beauty e-commerce brand (up from 2.38x)
- Website Development
- Marketing Strategy
- Media Buying
Ellie N.Don’t just take our word for it, hear from nextAdvisorys founder & CEO Luke Kemeys, “Burst has refined and improved our digital approach." Burst has refined and improved our digital approach across the many platforms we wanted to have a presence on.
Feedback for Roimata W.
Paid Ads Expert · Auckland
Questions about hiring a media buyer
Straight answers to what NZ business owners ask us most.
How do I start working with a media buyer through Unicorn Factory?
Post a clear brief describing objectives, budget range and timing. Relevant media buyers will apply, you review applications, then Unicorn Factory makes warm introductions so you can interview and hire directly.
Will the freelancer manage my ad spend and billing?
Freelancers set up and manage campaigns on your ad accounts, but ad spend is paid directly to the platforms (Google, Meta, etc.). Discuss billing and account access with the freelancer before work begins.
How long until I see results?
Timelines vary by campaign type. Search and lower‑funnel improvements often show within a few weeks; full optimisation for multi‑channel campaigns commonly takes 6–12 weeks of testing and iteration.
What budgets do freelancers work with?
Freelancers work across a wide range of budgets. Many can run tests on modest spends and scale as performance becomes predictable — include your monthly media budget in the brief so applicants can respond accurately.
How do I know a freelancer is right for my business?
Ask for case examples, platform experience (Google, Meta, TikTok, programmatic DSPs) and reporting samples during interviews. Confirm tracking requirements and success metrics before hiring.
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Ready to brief a media buyer?
We'll help you shape the brief, find New Zealand freelancers who fit, and introduce you.