Covid-19 Vaccine Corporation is a New Zealand biotechnology company developing the world’s first biobead Covid-19 vaccine using unique New Zealand technology. CVC’s approach includes augmenting and improving existing vaccine candidates to ensure better safety, wider immunity coverage and efficacy and improved cost efficiency for scalability and accessibility. If successful, the vaccine will be one of New Zealand’s most significant biotech breakthroughs with the potential to have a far-reaching global impact.

Authority PR has produced outstanding results for CVC since its partnership which have included navigating a complex and highly politicised pandemic environment, managing a diverse range of key stakeholders spanning numerous industries, while balancing biotech’s dynamic and rapidly evolving outcomes.

A snap shot of CVC’s successes include:

• Being featured positively in all major New Zealand news media
• Being the focus of specialist media and feature stories and long form articles
• Gaining traction with the public, high net worth investors and key government agencies
• Reinforcing CVC’s scientific credentials and promoting their lifelong biotech experts
• Promoting CVC’s local ingenuity and their unique New Zealand technology
• Highlighting the importance of a vaccine that gives a broad and strong immune response
• Cultivating sought-after relationships by achieving positive publicity outcomes for CVC’s strategic partners and stakeholders and their joint scientific programmes (Fonterra, Scion, Auckland University, Callaghan Innovation, Ardigen)

The Challenge

• Entered the market at a time when information about a Covid-19 vaccine or cure was lacking
• Rampant rumours, misinformation, conspiracy theories, and anti-science/anti-scientific sentimentpropagated online
• Politicians and populist ideologists versus scientists and a science-based response
• Widespread lack of public discernment between fact from speculation
• Highly politicised environment and sensitivity surrounding various key public, private and NGO players

Strategy & Execution

Authority PR utilised a comprehensive approach including corporate public relations, stakeholder management, and marketing strategy and execution plan for best results. Working with CVC to mitigate real and perceived risks, Authority PR has achieved outstanding positive public relations outcomes for CVC. This has culminated in CVC’S appearance in numerous leading prime time television programmes and countless leading news media stories in New Zealand, significantly raising their profile and highlighting their scientific enterprise. By developing/building a carefully curated narrative, Authority PR has helped stablish CVC as a reputable and trusted scientific voice on issues pertaining to the Coronavirus, fostering a collaborative approach and avoiding criticism of other parties and partisanship. Authority PR and CVC’s special partnership has contributed to creating hope and stability and reducing fear and anxiety.

Wahiki Creamery is a low calorie, dairy free ice cream brand which entered a heavily saturated frozen foods category at the time of its inception, coming up against significant challenges. Wahiki commissioned Authority PR to introduce it to the market, spark ongoing conversations, and raise its profile as a serious player and Kiwi underdog up against formidable market players. Wahiki Creamery and Authority PR’s partnership has produced incredible success.

Only three months following Wahiki Creamery’s partnership with Authority PR, Wahiki Creamery was:

• 2018 People’s Choice WINNER at Auckland Business Awards – our decisive victory was noted on the night
• 2018 Finalist in Excellence in Marketing category (following Authority PR’s sole responsibility for all PR and marketing)
• 2018 Finalist in Best Emerging Business category (all entries were made by Authority PR)

A snap shot of Wahiki Creamery’s wider successes include:

• Featuring in major news and media and every glossy magazine in the country
• Endorsed by NZ’s leading influencers with a cumulative audience of over 2 million
• Establishing a growing strong and loyal customer base
• Creating and developing a growing and engaged online community

The Challenge

Wahiki Creamery was new to the market and lacked profile and exposure, therefore had no marketplace brand loyalty or following. Challenges included:

• Start-up position
• Saturated frozen food and dessert market
• Coming up against customer loyalty to other well-established brands
• Big name competition (Tip Top/Ben& Jerry’s)
• Being previously unheard of
• Limited distribution

Strategy & Execution

Authority PR’s public relations strategy and execution plan has incorporated comprehensive public relations and media campaigns, social media and influencer marketing, brand partnerships and activations and digital marketing to achieve the best results. Using an integrative approach, Authority PR’s efforts have seen Wahiki Creamery being featured in every major relevant media organisation in the country, seen by millions of eyes on social media and endorsed by significant industry players to reach the brand’s target audience across food, lifestyle, and health and wellness markets, and audiences across niche markets such as dairy free, vegan, coeliac and gluten free. This has increased their sales, catapulted their customer following and engagement, and significantly improved their overall market position.