
NZ Government & Public Communication Campaigns
The Media Lab provides a range of media buying, digital and social media services to NZ Government agencies, crown enterprises, local authorities and public interest organisations.
All of Government
We have been on the All-of-Government (AoG) advertising services panel since 2019. Certification This was renewed in 2024 to deliver the following services:
Media strategy, planning and buying
Social media services
Creative and content production services
Wellington-based
As a Wellington agency, we can deliver a more experienced, flexible and engaged team on the ground. We can develop and execute your traditional, digital and social media communication requirements.
Public awareness and behaviour change programmes
Our directors and team have worked on some of the most important and complex campaigns. We bring a wealth of public sector marketing communications and digital experience.
We have co-created dozens of powerful public communication campaigns working alongside creative agency partners and internal comms teams. We don’t have egos, just a partnership mentality and a willingness to be flexible.
We have extensive experience in targeting and engaging Māori and Pacific audiences in media across dozens of programmes.
This year, campaigns for Manatū Hauroa / Ministry of Health and Department of Conservation were recognised in the 2024 NZ Marketing Awards.
Read this NZ Marketing article authored by The Media Lab’s Antony Young - “Government Advertising: Waste of taxpayers dollars or delivering value to NZ?”
Matt McNeil is Co-Founder and Managing Director of The Media Lab.
Matt has spent 20 years working with Government agencies at The Media Lab and in his previous roles as Media director at Clemenger BBDO and as Managing Director of OMD Wellington. Some notable campaigns he has worked on include:
NZTA/Road Safety - Helping reduce the road toll focusing on communications mainly around alcohol, speed and drugs.
MPI – Managing advertising to ensure appropriate communication of key issues and emergencies such as the 1080 scare.
DPMC/Flag referendum – Communicating to all NZ around the Flag referenda.
Treasury – Mixed Ownership IPO – Letting all NZ know what they needed to do and when to be part of the IPO.
Ministry of Defence/Recruitment – encouraging kiwis to follow their professional passion in the Defence Force.
Some campaigns we’ve worked on…
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Enterprise (MBIE) | Hīkina Whakatutuki
Multi-media campaign to promote Digital Boost a programme to get SMEs more digital equipped for their business.
Greater Wellington Regional Council | Te Pane Matua Taiao
Hyper local commuter campaigns supporting MetLink disruptions to service.
Home Learning | Papa Kāinga TV
An awareness programme to launch a new educational TV channel to learners, parents and teachers.
Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health
A public media programme designed to get wider public engagement into the design of our national healthcare system
Ministry of Education | Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga
A social media campaign to recruit gifted students.
Water Safety NZ
Promoting safer practices to parents of under 5’s.
Human Rights Commission and Office of Ethnic Affairs | Te Kāhui Tika Tangata
A social media campaign to address anti Asian sentiment during Covid.
Tertiary Education Commission | Te Amorangi Mātauranga Matua
Campaign to communicate free first year tuition.
Ministry of Education | Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga
Planned and executed a targeted social video plan to drive use of the School Leavers Tool Kit.
Cervical Cancer Screening
Generate awareness and education for the new HPV test. We wanted to reach wāhine Māori 25 – 69 including rainbow and tangata whaikaha.
Fiordland Kiwi Diaries
Promoting a docuseries about the work to save the Fiordland Kiwi as well as feeding the wider narrative of sustaining NZ biodiversity and a preditor free 2050.
Te Whatu Ora | National Bowel Screening Programme
Ongoing three-year multi-media campaign supporting the National Bowel Screening Programme.
Wellington Water | Summer Demand
Water conservation awareness campaigns
Health Quality and Safety Commission | Kupu Taurangi Hauora o Aotearoa
A communications campaign to over 65’s to tackle a sensitive topic of advanced care planning.