Stuff Event
The Press Leaders Debate: A South Island Triumph
On October 10th, 2023, Stuff took centre stage in the political reporting arena with The Press Leaders Debate. In the midst of the Elections 2023, we wanted to give New Zealanders an intimate look into the personalities guiding NZ’s future.
The unexpected twist of Chris Hipkins contracting COVID-19 could have derailed our plans, but our team quickly pivoted. Swapping out the two Chris’s for minor party candidates, we delivered an equally compelling event.
“Have this type of debate from now on, instead of just Labour and National.” - Event Attendee
“We really appreciated that you gave the leaders time to answer rather than interrupting them in the first sentence!” - Event Attendee
Clip From the event
How Was Stuff Events Involved?
Creative
Creative development of the event including how it would be communicated and positioned and all key elements of the event.
Promotion
Management of ticketing and marketing for the event as well as technical set up and coordination of the livestream.
Organisation
End-to-end event management including engagement with the production company and talent, set up, and running of the event on the day.
key OUTCOMES
Success for The Press
Over 1000 people gathered at the Christchurch Town Hall, as we delivered what was to be the only South Island debate. Through the event The Press solidified its role as the primary news source for the people of Christchurch, and our audience gained a better understanding of the people they were voting for in an intimate setting.
“The moderators in particular Kamala and Tova were brilliant. I was proud to see Kamala represent the South Island.” - Event Attendee
With over 45,000 views, The Press Leaders Debate resonated far beyond the town hall. The engagement exceeded expectations, cementing the event's impact on the political discourse.
Collaborative Success
The integration with various Stuff departments, including Mastheads, Digital, Editorial, Harakeke, and Audio, showed how our unique offering can deliver a truly collaborative and multilayered event.
The Press Leaders Debate showcased Stuff's resilience, adaptability, and commitment to providing an authentic platform for political dialogue.
