Arriba PR & Communications

31/08/2025

Suffering in silence

I felt pretty chuffed to be asked for interview by The Post's education reporter Hana McCallum on the major issue with thousands of tamariki in Aotearoa who haven't developed the oral communication skills required when they start school.

In 2024, an ERO report highlighted concerns about the impact of Covid-19 on oral language development in children aged up to 7. The pandemic limited children's social interactions and increased screen time, reducing opportunities to develop oral language. In fact, a child's vocab at age 2 is strongly linked to their literacy and numeracy achievement at age 12.

As a speech, drama and public speaking teacher of 70 students, I was asked by The Post for my thoughts on oral communication for young people and how it sets them up for excellent skills they can use during their teen years (leadership opportunities, confidence, empowerment, job interviews) and in the workforce ( speaking at work events, dealing with clients, co-workers, and promotional opportunities). I only wish every child was given these opportunities. Speech New Zealand is doing wonderful things with trying to deliver oral communication in primary schools and teacher training.

I also encouraged The Post to interview Aaliyah Middleton who has been working for me teaching a year 7 class and at the same time studying to complete her Speech and Drama teaching qualification. Aaliyah, a former student of mine, who went all the way up to Diploma level, sums it all up really with "If I had not taken speech and drama classes, I don't believe I would have taken the opportunities that led me to being Deputy Head Girl and Head of College Council in my last year of school. I wouldn't have had the confidence to stand before the whole school or lead choirs, or to apply for jobs knowing I could communicate well."

My other teacher Zoe Dzapasi is also an example of someone who completed her Diploma in Speech and Drama at St Oran's, achieved several leadership positions at school and is now teaching two classes for me whilst studying at university.

https://lnkd.in/gtJDXFfd

29/08/2025

It's been a huge month for Arriba PR and we have been working hard behind the scenes to give our clients the profile they deserve.

One such client is the Queen of fundraising Jenni Giblin who is the founder of Funding HQ and is shaking up the fundraising landscape. She's not only created a digital platform to help charities, sports organisations and the arts sector develop their fundraising capabilities but she's recently spotted a gap in the market - a growing crisis of schools struggling to fundraise.

With 28,000 charities competing for grants, shrinking gaming trust proceeds, and falling volunteer numbers for galas and raffles, schools are being squeezed out of traditional funding streams, says the seasoned fundraiser.
As Jenni says “Despite recent government budget boosts, most additional funding is directed toward classroom support - leaving schools still struggling to fund essential areas such as IT equipment, playground upgrades and additional teaching support and extracurricular activities

That's where FundED comes in - it offers schools a suite of fundraising modules covering everything from how schools can tell their stories of impact and transformation, securing a diverse range of funders - from businesses, philanthropists, trusts and regular giving - to how to look after, and steward, funding partners.
I am super proud of the beautiful coverage secured in a range of media outlets particularly in Stuff.co.nz (twice!) - thanks Gill South for a epic SME business story as well as a wonderful TV piece Whakaata Māori (Māori Television) at Nuhaka school near Wairoa who are going to benefit significantly from this platform and Radio NZ National.
Check out the Stuff story https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/360799152/fresh-thinking-fundraising-schools-leads-second-not-profit-venture

17/08/2025

Thrilled to have helped spread the word about the amazing mahi Speech New Zealand are doing in the migrant communication space! Love this story we pitched and secured on a successful Migrant Workplace Communication Training programme in Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty Times 😀

29/07/2025

Love advocating for my clients… this is a really special story and highlights the great mahi Tatau Tatau o Te Wairoa is doing in the region.. it needs more government investment and support to continue this crucial work!

Lucky Hawkins was forced out after floodwater mixed with chemicals from the business next door swept through her property.

19/06/2025

Looking forward to this opportunity - thanks Speech New Zealand 😀

Elevate your oral communication skills with Speech New Zealand. Explore our courses, examinations, and resources designed for students, professionals, and teachers.

18/03/2025

Really thrilled to have pulled together this piece of work for our client Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa!
Have a read of the newsletter and the wonderful mahi they are doing in their rohe.

📬 Our First Newsletter is Here!
Exciting news from Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa!

Our very first newsletter is here, and we can’t wait to share it with you! This is just the beginning of an exciting journey where we bring you the latest updates, stories, and all things happening in our community.

Read the full newsletter now and let us know what you think! Your feedback is always welcome.
https://mailchi.mp/ttotw/tui-tuia-panui-issue-1-2025

07/03/2025

Fantastic evening at Exhibitions Gallery to celebrate The Post’s Creative Power List for 2025!
Grateful to a media organisation who is such a huge advocate of the arts 🎭

05/03/2025

🚨 Big News from Arriba Speech Ltd! 🚨

We’re growing with a record number of students this year, and the opportunities are endless! I’m thrilled to introduce two of our talented former students, Zoe Dzapasi and Aaliyah Middleton, who are joining us as teachers in 2025.

✨ Zoe Dzapasi returns to lead Year 7 and Year 8 classes. A 2022 graduate of St Oran’s, Zoe earned an Associate Diploma in Drama Performance with Distinction and has competed at the Sheila Winn Shakespeare Festival, spoken in Parliament, and led as Secretary General at the Model Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. She’s now studying health psychology at Victoria University.

🌟 Aaliyah Middleton joins us to teach Year 7 in 2025. A 2024 St Oran’s graduate, Aaliyah also earned an Associate Diploma in Drama Performance with Distinction and has held leadership roles like Deputy Head Girl and Head of College Council. She’s passionate about performance, performing in Chinese cultural dances and with the Shakespeare Globe Centre NZ, while also teaching piano at Avalon Primary. Aaliyah is now working towards an Advanced Diploma in Teaching Speech and Drama.

I am beyond excited to have Zoe and Aaliyah bringing their energy and expertise to my team!

17/02/2025

Beyond proud of this piece of PR we secured on TVNZ 6pm News this evening for our client Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa Trust who has begun legal proceedings in the High Court over freshwater rights in Wairoa.

The trust is requesting a legal declaration that the beds of significant rivers and lakes in their area – such as the Wairoa River, Hangaroa River, Mangapoike River, Ruakituri River, Waiau River, Waikaretāheke River, Whakakī Lake and its surrounding tributaries, as well as Lake Waikaremoana – are held subject to customary title.

The move follows the same framework as Ngāi Tahu’s 2020 statement of claim seeking recognition of its rangatiratanga over the freshwater resources in its rohe (area).

Te Wairoa, where most of the population was Māori (65% according to the 2023 census), remained one of the least wealthy regions in New Zealand.

As a result, the iwi and hapū of Te Wairoa rely heavily on local waterways for resources such as fish and plants, gathered in accordance with the tikanga established by their ancestors.

Thank you Te Aniwa for the excellent coverage

https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/02/17/legal-fight-looms-in-wairoa-over-freshwater-rights/

11/02/2025

A full on 24 hours with .official and down at the Reading Cinema complex today as our client Prime Property Group announce they will be offering frontal space to pop up retailers while they work on refurbishing the complex! A great proactive opportunity to help bring more life in a high density foot traffic area to Courtenay Place!
https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360576400/new-shops-and-cheaper-parking-soon-readings-cinema

15/01/2025

So thrilled with this piece of PR coverage (one of the lead stories on 1News 6pm this evening) we secured for our client Primeproperty Group. Exciting times for WellingtonNZ!

The cinema closed in 2019 over seismic concerns with the property, but now the curtain's been lifted on a new $38m redevelopment plan.

15/01/2025

Hectic morning but also I love running on adrenaline!
Exciting news for WellingtonNZ with my client Prime Property Group purchasing the Reading Cinema Complex in the capital’s Courtenay place!
This is huge for the capital!
More to come but will be on .official 6pm news tonight and already running front page !
https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360547651/reading-cinemas-return