Auckland
Connor Amor-Bendall
Senior Copywriter and Marketing Strategist
Hire a Public Relations Consultant in New Zealand
Grow media coverage and protect your reputation with experienced PR support, including media relations and stakeholder communications.
Nelson
Rachel Moffitt
Marketing Consultant & Community Connector
Gisborne
Sandra Groves
Content Writer
Wellington
Tanya Piejus
Communications Specialist
Christchurch
Amelia Williams
Strategy, Brand and Marketing Consultant
Dunedin
Simon Wong
Writer and communications specialist
What this service is for
What can a public relations consultant help you build?
Public relations consultants help you win media coverage, shape messages for customers and stakeholders, and protect reputation during change or incidents—often combining press outreach, thought leadership and stakeholder communications.
Secure media coverage
Develop and pitch news angles, brief spokespeople, and place stories in national, trade or local outlets to raise awareness.
Manage issues and incidents
Prepare holding statements, Q&A and a short response plan so your team can act quickly if an issue escalates.
Strengthen stakeholder communications
Clarify messages for investors, funders and partners and create materials that build trust and support decision-making.
How Unicorn Factory works
A simple way to find the right freelancer.
Create one project brief, compare applications from relevant freelancers, and choose who you would like to meet.
Step 01
Tell us what you need.
Use the guided brief to explain the outcome, timing, budget, and context. You do not need to prepare a technical specification.
Freelancers in our network
Example profiles from our network
Below are example PR and communications specialists from the Unicorn Factory network; they illustrate the kinds of skills available. To hire, create a project brief, relevant freelancers apply, the business reviews applications, and Unicorn Factory makes warm introductions.
Tell us about your projectIdeas for your brief
Project ideas you can brief
Three practical engagements you can post as briefs — each shows likely deliverables to discuss and agree with the freelancer.
Media launch and press kit
A short campaign to announce a product, event or funding milestone and secure earned coverage.
- One press release and two short pitch variants for different outlets
- Targeted media list for agreed titles (national, trade, local)
- Spokesperson briefing and key messages document
- Sample social post copy and one media follow-up email
Reputation and issues response plan
A compact crisis-ready plan so your team can respond consistently when problems occur.
- Issues heat-map and priority stakeholder list
- Holding statement templates and Q&A for likely scenarios
- Roles and contact checklist for internal response
- One-hour media training or run‑through for spokespeople (remote or in-person)
Ongoing media relations and thought leadership
Monthly support to shape narratives, place opinion pieces and maintain media relationships.
- Monthly editorial calendar and pitch plan
- Preparation and pitching of one op‑ed or feature per month
- Monthly coverage report and recommended next actions
- Drafted bylines, spokespeople notes and follow-up outreach
Proof lives in the work
Real related work
These are real case studies from freelancers in the Unicorn Factory network; their summaries are provided below.
See PR & Communications Projects
Marketing & Growth
Event Coordinator / Poster Designer at Gizzylocal
- PR & Communications
- Content Marketing
- Event Coordination & Logistics
Clare Milne
Branding
Content Writing Partner for McKenzie & Co. - Land Development
- Brand Identity & Visual Identity
- Copywriting
- PR & Communications
Michelle Joe
Design & Creative
CANON MEDIA AWARDS (Now known as The Voyager Media Awards).
- Copywriting
- PR & Communications
- Editorial & Layout Design
Emma Norton
Writing & Editing
Advocacy Article for Metastatic Breast Cancer Drug Funding
- Copywriting
- PR & Communications
- Blog Writing
Megan Horsburgh
Marketing & Growth
Comprehensive Communications & Event Strategy for THINK Hauora Relocation
- Brand Identity & Visual Identity
- PR & Communications
- Content Marketing
Kylie Bensemann
Writing & Editing
Conversational Content Creation for First National Real Estate
- Copywriting
- PR & Communications
- Blog Writing
Kelly TebbuttPricing guidance
How much does public relations work cost?
Indicative NZ$ ballpark ranges to help plan budget. Final scope and freelancer rates are agreed directly with the freelancer.
Small project (single announcement)
One-off tasks such as a press release, media list and spokesperson briefing. Price varies with distribution, research time and specialist spokespeople.
NZ$600 - NZ$4,000
Strategic project
Short strategy, issues planning or multi-channel launch work that includes stakeholder mapping, messaging and implementation support.
NZ$2,500 - NZ$12,000
Ongoing monthly support (retainer)
Regular media relations, thought leadership and reporting. Monthly retainer depends on activity level, seniority of consultant and response requirements.
NZ$3,000 - NZ$9,000 / month
What affects the price
- Senior experience and sector expertise (crisis or specialist topics cost more)
- Speed and availability (urgent out-of-hours work raises cost)
- Scope: research, number of spokespeople and number of outlets targeted
- Ongoing monitoring, distribution or paid media/press distribution fees
Estimates are indicative, may exclude GST and ongoing software or platform fees, and final scope and rates are agreed directly with the freelancer. Request a tailored quote through your project brief.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions before you hire.
Answers to the questions clients commonly ask before starting a brief.
Still deciding what you need?
Start with the outcome and the context you already have. A polished specification is not required.
How do I start hiring through Unicorn Factory?
Write a short project brief with goals, budget range and timeline. Relevant freelancers will apply, you review applications, and Unicorn Factory makes warm introductions so you can interview and agree terms.
How long does PR work usually take?
Timelines depend on scope: a press release and pitches can be done in days, a strategy or stakeholder plan usually takes a few weeks, and ongoing media relations is scheduled monthly; agree exact timelines with the freelancer.
Is this right for a small business or community group?
Yes. Freelancers can scope work to suit small budgets (one-off projects) as well as ongoing retainers—be clear about priorities in your brief so applicants can propose a suitable approach.
How do I check a freelancer’s experience and trustworthiness?
Review applicants’ profiles, work history, case studies and client references where available. Ask for examples of similar NZ media placements or sector experience before you agree terms.
Will Unicorn Factory negotiate fees for me?
No. Unicorn Factory makes warm introductions. You review applicants, interview freelancers and agree scope, timing and fees directly with the freelancer.
Ready to get moving?
Ready to hire PR help?
Write a brief with your goal, approximate budget and desired timeline to start receiving applications from PR freelancers in New Zealand.