MoPed - Marketing Professionals

04/06/2026

A big thank you to everyone who attended MoPed’s event last night and Kerry McKenzie for giving us a glimpse into what it takes to nurture one of NZ’s most-loved teams and brands.

We were treated to learning about Kerry’s career journey — the highs and lows, and how she’s now heading the high-performance marketing and brand team at New Zealand Rugby.

Some real highlights for us included:
- As marketers, everything we do should be centred around people, and what we want them to: Think. Feel. Do.
- Setbacks can hurt and be tough, but can also lead you on another, better path
- The importance of aligning brand values with marketing and brand decisions, and truly living and breathing them
- Seeing the real and authentic way the organisation and players at all levels connect with the community and fans
- You can’t affect the outcomes of everything, but you can choose how you react to them
- Surrounding yourself with great people, great leaders and ensuring you don’t lose contact with the people who matter

Kerry, thank you for taking the time to come down to see us. We loved having you speak; it was such a great evening, and we feel very privileged.

Thanks again to everyone who attended. We hope to see you again soon. Sign up for our newsletter on our website, or follow this page to get updates on our next events. https://www.moped.org.nz/

30/09/2024

Don't forget! MoPed Networking Drinks – Tuesday 1 October 🍻

Join us for our next MoPed Networking Drinks on 1 October from 5 PM at The Barrel Room! Whether you’re a familiar face or new to the scene, come along for a relaxed evening of chats, and connecting with fellow Bay of Plenty marketing professionals.

📅 Date: 1 October

🕔 Time: From 5 PM

📍 Location: The Barrel Room, Tauranga

Bring your colleagues and a smile—we can’t wait to see you there!

20/09/2024

Save the date! MoPed Monthly Networking Drinks
Thank you to everyone who joined us at our first networking drinks! We had such a great time connecting, we’ve decided to announce two more dates before Christmas:

🗓 1 October
🗓 5 November
📍 The Barrel Room

Join us for another round of great conversations, connections and a bit of fun! We look forward to seeing you there. 🍻

Stay tuned for more details, and don’t forget to mark your calendars! 🗓️

27/05/2024

How is AI imagery shaking up traditional marketing?

At MoPed’s recent event with the Marketing Association New Zealand, we learned about the impact of generative AI on traditional marketing imagery and how it is reshaping the global advertising and marketing industry.

Brand IQ's Steve Ballantyne presented some innovative examples of recent projects, while Ben Cain from James & Wells discussed the legal aspects of intellectual property and copyright in this evolving ‘Wild West’ landscape.

It's amazing to witness how AI is transforming the way brands can create visuals and images, often in ways that were not achievable through traditional methods, to engage with their audience. Undoubtedly, this is the next significant game-changer since the World Wide Web.



Special thanks to our sponsors: BNZ, Likeable Lab, Craigs IP & MoCA.

24/04/2024

Put it in your diary - Thursday 23 May 5pm.

MoPed is excited to be collaborating with Marketing Association to bring you our next event: How AI imagery is shaking up traditional marketing.
Presented by Steve Ballantyne from Brand IQ.

Check out all the details and register here:

Be inspired by awesome people who have been and are doing their ‘marketing thing’ in different ways and industries around NZ and the world. Come join us!

21/12/2023

We are rounding out the year, with a pretty cool announcement...

DayBreak - Festival of Innovation
A new dawn, a fresh start, and the infinite possibilities that come with the break of day.

Priority One, MoPed and other partners are excited to bring you DayBreak – Festival of Innovation, where communities will converge, collaborate and create a truly innovative experience. In March 2024, in partnership with over 30 organisations from across the region, we will present a range of world-class opportunities to experience innovation and creativity in its many forms.
DayBreak promises to be a unique experience and a great way to start the year. Join us for a fresh start in 2024!

Tickets are strictly limited, and they will sell out! So catch the DayBreak and grab your tickets now!

For more information head here: www.daybreakfestival.nz

03/12/2023

On Wednesday evening, we were lucky enough to be joined by David Downs, the CEO of the New Zealand Story Group, an organisation dedicated to marketing New Zealand to the world in a compelling and ambitious manner.

Hosted by our supporter BNZ, we all had a fabulous evening, learning New Zealand's remarkable historical stories, from its Polynesian origins to pioneering achievements like the 40-hour workweek and being the first country to grant women the right to vote.

A fabulous talk, with a quiz to boot, and the inspiration to confidently say we're not a little country at the bottom of the world. We are in fact rather large and we have lots to offer.

David Downs and the New Zealand Story team are on a mission to present New Zealand's diverse and rich narrative to the world and our companies can be a part of it with the use of their toolkit in our own marketing. Check it out here: https://toolkit.nzstory.govt.nz/

06/11/2023

Our next event is coming up on Wednesday 29 November.

David Downs from NZ Story is coming down from Auckland to speak with us on: Why NZ is a Global Superpower, and how you can make the most of it… insights on the value of the NZ global brand, how we position ourselves internationally, and how businesses and sectors can get involved.

All the details and to register can be found here:

Hear from David about Why NZ is a Global Superpower, and how you can make the most of it.

25/09/2023

Kids Ride Shotgun - raising the next generation of mountain bikers

They say “Culture eats strategy for breakfast” - (Peter Drucker). For the team at Kids Ride Shotgun this rings true.
Back in 2019, MOPED (Marketing Professionals Bay of Plenty) hosted an event at Basestation with guest speaker, Simon Barnett, CEO of niche company OBO, based in Palmerston North.
Over the past 30 years, the manufacturer has become known as the top supplier of protective hockey gear in 76 countries and supplies two-thirds of the world's professional field hockey goalies.
And off the sports field, OBO contributes to many Manawatū community charities and projects, while company founder Simon Barnett offers mentorship, advice and support to fledgling businesses.

At that time, Kids Ride Shotgun was a new startup. Its co-owner Dan Necklin listening intently, taking onboard Simon's advice on team culture and marketing, then applying it to the Kids Ride Shotgun's own business model.

The company has since gone from strength-to-strength, now employs around 20 staff and sells its products online and through bike retailers worldwide.

At MOPED, we’re proud to have helped spark a success story like this in our local business community.

“Communities don’t become strong because they’re rich, they become rich because they are strong.” - Simon Barnett (OBO)

10/09/2023

Wednesday 20 September - Come join us for drinks, nibbles and a chat with Dan & Cath from Kids Ride Shotgun.

Export Marketing: The Kids Ride Shotgun growth story.

Join Dan and Cath from Kids Ride Shotgun, as they share the kids ride shotgun growth story to date, told through a marketing lens.

Told from the perspective of their marketing department, hear about the six year growth story that started from when their marketing was handled by just a single person (Dan), to now with Cath at the helm of a high performing marketing team – and everything they've learnt (and failed at) upon the way.

Limited Spots available, register here:

Hear from Dan and Cath at Kids Ride Shotgun about their six year growth story - told from the perspective of their marketing department.