Communications Plan
Pre-Election Report
Introduction
The Pre-Election Report is a ‘state of the Council’ snapshot produced every three years before the
local body elections.
It is required under the Local Government Act 2002, with the purpose of providing information to
promote public discussion about the issues facing the local authority.
The report is prepared by the chief executive, and represents an opportunity to speak directly to
Wellingtonians on the business and operations of the Council.
Potential local body election candidates and residents are encouraged to read the report to gain an
understanding of the big challenges and opportunities which lie ahead for the Council and the city.
The Pre-Election Report must be published, at the latest, two weeks before nomination day, which in
2022 takes place on 12 August.
1. Communication objectives
• Our audiences understand what the report’s purpose is, and what information is included in
it.
• Wellingtonians running for Council are aware of the report and know how to access it.
2. Key messages:
• Wellington is in the midst of a once-in-a-generation transformation to how we live, work and
play.
• Whether you are planning to run for a seat on our Council, or preparing to exercise your
right to vote, this pre-election report lays out some of the city’s most important strategic
issues to consider ahead of the 2022 local body elections.
• Over the past three years, the Council has been focused on putting plans in place to ensure
that Wellington is a Capital City fit for the future. This includes the Council and its partners
committing to infrastructure investment to transform how we live in and move about our
city.
• We are updating Wellington’s aging infrastructure which is essential for our important
growth and development.
• The theme of the report is: A city in transition, a sector in transition.
• The report includes five key challenges:
1) Our infrastructure and planning for growth
2) Our resilience and adaptability
3) Our economy
4) Our funding and resourcing
5) Our changing local government sector
3. Communications approach:
We will communicate with Wellingtonians directly, through our news and social media channels, as
well as via the media. We will let the full report speak for itself, but will also break some of the key
parts into bite-size news stories and social posts – encouraging those interested to read the full
report by directing them to it on our website.
With regards the media, we will send an embargoed copy of the report to key newsrooms ahead of
publication in order to give them time to read and interpret the document. We will supply a media
release and op-ed from the Chief Executive to accompany the report.
Timing wise, we will publish the report/news release/CE’s op-ed a week before candidate
nominations open, then publish smaller articles on
Our Wellington each day during the following
week.
Commented [KM1]: Only for a week?
Commented [SB2R1]:
Our key communications channels will be the
Our Wellington news channel, our owned social media
Yes. Five key challenges, five
articles.
channels, as well as
This Week In Our Wellington e-newsletter. Website updates and our messaging
on these channels will be plain English, clear and simple language.
4. Audiences and communication channels:
Audience
What they need to know
Channel/s (how we will
reach them)
Wellington public
The report is available and can be
Our Wellington, social media,
found on our website and in our
web update, TWIOW.
libraries.
Where the Council is at with its
projects, finances, governance, and
key challenges.
Potential election
The report is available and can be
Our Wellington, social media,
candidates
found on our website and in our
web update, TWIOW.
libraries.
Where the Council is at with its
projects, finances, governance, and
key challenges.
Media
The report is available.
Embargoed media release/full
PDF report/CE’s op-ed sent to
Where the Council is at with its
key newsrooms two days
projects, finances, governance, and
before publication.
key challenges.
5. Communication risks and mitigations
Risk
Mitigant
6. Action plan:
Action
Audience
Deadline
Who’s responsible
Op-ed signed off
All
Week of 27
Anna
June
Key media contacted
Media
Week of 27
Richard
to give a heads up as
June
to timings
The Dominion Post
Media
Week of 27
Seamus/Richard
briefed on op-ed
June
Final hardcopy report
?
Verity/Averil
Final PDF report
6 July
Verity/Averil
Embargoed report and Media
6 July
Seamus/Richard
media release sent to
reporters
Web updates drafted
All
1 July
Ben/Seamus
Draft news stories x 5
All
1 July
Jenni/Seamus
ready
Web content signed
All
6 July
Ben/Sean/Sophie
off
Comms Advisory sent
Contact Centre
8/9 July
Seamus/Sophie
to Contact Centre and
and Service
Service Centre
Centre team
leaders
Changes to web pages All
8/9 July
Seamus/Blaze
live
Internal news story
Council staff
8/9 July
?
published on Pokapū
Op-ed published on
All
8/9 July
Seamus
Our Wellington
Media release
All
8/9 July
Seamus
published on Our
Wellington
Key challenges news
All
11-15 July
Jenni
stories published on
Our Wellington
