National hīkoi November 2024 – Public
Information Management (PIM) Plan
JOEL ROWAN – LEAD PIM
MEGAN HEFFIELD – LEAD MEDIA
4/11/2024
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Purpose
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The purpose of this document is to outline the approach to managing NZTA public information
including communications, media and stakeholder notifications (the wider PIM function) during the
planned national hīkoi, which intends to travel from the Far North District to central Wel ington
between 11 November 2024 and 19 November 2024. This is expected to be a large-scale event.
The lead agency for this event is NZ Police. DPMC is providing a co-ordination role across al
government agencies. NZTA is a support agency in the response. Our PIM response fits under the
wider coordination of the lead NZ Police PIM/DPMC structure.
We are responsible for managing effects on the state highway network, and this wil be reflected in
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the communications and public information approach. External y people wil be redirected to the other
RCAs as needed for local roads info.
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Approach
National Planning
The National Planning team is being led by Controller Helen Harris, National Journey Manager and is
meeting proactively weekly in advance, with Ops Plans to be shared in advance (see structure
below).
Our PIM Lead and Media Lead are attending these meetings and then holding sub-group meetings
with the wider E&P group to ensure consistency.
In addition, whaea Lou Motu is meeting directly with the Controller as our national Iwi/Maori
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Representation SME for the organisation and is meeting directly with the hikoi organisers to gather
intel igence.
A Governance level Strategic Comms role outside of the National Planning structure is not required
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for this activity. However, the National Lead PIM wil work directly with the TOCs/Operations team to
craft a Governance/Ministerial update over and above the daily Sit-Rep process where required.
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National PIM & Media
Sharing the lead for the PIM function wil be a lead from our Media team and a National PIM Lead
from our Engagement & Regional Delivery team, who wil form part of the main NZTA national
planning/response team for this event. They wil be the central point of coordination for al messaging
going out from NZTA about the hīkoi and its impacts on the state highway network. The PIM function
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is as set out in the PIM Role Card and CIMS structure guidance.
Media wil be primarily led by NZ Police for the overal management of the hīkoi. NZTA media wil be
limited to responses about any impacts on state highways, while proactive media wil be limited to
traffic bulletins during the hīkoi about specific areas of congestion or delays.
The National PIM lead wil distribute messages to Regional PIMs, Internal Comms, WTOC/ATOC,
Channels (if necessary) and any other internal teams involved in communicating the event. The
National PIM wil coordinate with NZ Police/DPMC comms leads as required to ensure our supporting
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messages align to the lead agency messages.
The National PIM wil work with the Controller to ensure alert notifications where required are shared
with our work sites/M&O suppliers.
The National PIM lead wil also attend wider inter-agency PIM Lead meetings run by NZ Police and
DPMC, to ensure we are linked into the wider government media/PIM plans.
Travel Information
The National PIM Lead wil coordinate with ATOC and WTOC to ensure a consistent approach to
Real Time Travel Information (RTI) social media posts is shared across all of the regions.
We wil develop agreed messaging/templates in advance to bookend al travel information posts, so
that each update includes consistent messaging about the hīkoi and is recognisable as official travel
information about this event.
Real time travel information wil be posted as the hīkoi progresses and actual disruption becomes
clear, as with any unplanned event (crash, slip, breakdown). There wil not be early advance
communications from NZTA such as those we would share for planned construction or roadworks,
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given the uncertainty of this impact. However, traffic bulletins may be issued up 24 hours in advance
of expected times of significant disruption – i.e. when the hīkoi arrives at/crosses the Auckland
Harbour Bridge.
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ATOC and WTOC wil also manage the usual travel information channels e.g. Journey Planner and
VMS.
We do not intend to activate our other social media channels outside of the TOC RTI process, eg
there wil not be any prescheduled campaign posts from our Comms & Marketing group.
Regional PIMs
The National PIM Lead wil convene a wider sub-group of regional comms leads from the
Engagement & Regional Delivery team, and include the media team. These Regional PIMs have
been identified in advance and wil be responsible for distributing approved messages (from the
national response) to pre-identified key stakeholders in their regions, working with DRRs, Jour
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Managers and local Media Managers.
We do not expect to deliver local office internal comms outside of the national y-led internal comms
arranged by the National PIM Lead. However, if the situation changes and our local office staff
wellbeing/security is deemed to be affected, there is the potential for Workplace Services to be added
to the National planning team, and/or Local Incident Management Teams (LIMTs) to be stood up.
If necessary, the regional PIMs wil support Workplace Services
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staff.
Working alongside AT and ATOC
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We anticipate large numbers of people participating in the hikoi when it passes through Auckland with
impacts on both local roads and state highways, including the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Auckland
Transport (AT) is responsible for local roads and public transport services in the Auckland region.
An Auckland IMT wil be stood up across NZTA, AT and ATOC (which is a joint venture between
NZTA and AT). Where appropriat
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bulletin to notify of Auckland based disruption. Regional PIMs for Auckland (identified below) wil be
involved in the joint local response.
As outlined in this plan, ATOC wil deliver travel information updates to the public in their area of
coverage (Auckland/Northland/Waikato/Bay of Plenty), supporting both NZTA and AT.
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Key Messages
Lead agency NZ Police key messages (excerpts) – as at 17 October 2024
A Hikoi is expected to leave Northland on 10 November 2024 or thereabouts and travel to Wellington,
arriving between the 18th and 19th of November 2024 at Parliament in Wel ington.
Police are in contact with Hikoi organisers and expect them to carry out their activities in a peaceful
and lawful manner.
Police have been aware of the planned Hikoi for some weeks and planning is well advanced to
manage people, vehicles, and activity. We are planning for large numbers to join the Hikoi although 1982
numbers are not confirmed currently.
There is likely to be some impact to roads and highways and main cities along the route and minor
disruption to the Public. Police are working with partners to ensure public safety throughout the hikoi
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to Wellington and as people return home.
NZ Transport Agency key messages – external
NZ Transport Agency is aware of a large hīkoi which intends to travel from the Far North to Wellington
between the 11th of November and 19th of November.
NZ Transport Agency is preparing for the hīkoi and standing up a team to support the multi-agency
effort led by NZ Police to manage this safely. Our role wil be to manage any effects on the state
highway network.
Police have advised us that potentially large numbers of people are expected to participate in the
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hīkoi. This means there may be disruption to travel along some State Highways on the hīkoi route.
NZTA wil closely monitor any impacts through our Transport Operations Centres. We wil provide
real-time travel updates on our website and on NZTA pages on Facebook and X during the hīkoi
when there are significant delays or disruption.
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RTI Travel Information Social Media
Approach
• The event must be referred to exclusively as the “National hīkoi” or “hīkoi”, for example saying
“Due to hīkoi activity” to preface the travel time impacts. Phrases including “protest”,
“demonstration”, “public event”, “planned event”, “event” are
not to be used.
• Avoid expressing any emotion/sentiment. We do not need to thank people for their patience
during this event as we are not responsible for the impact. Provide only the facts.
• We are not commenting on the reasons for the hīkoi, if asked we wil reply to say
“It is not our
role to discuss the reasons for the hīkoi. NZTA is responsible for managing the effects on the 1982
transport network. We are supporting NZ Police while they enforce the law and work to
ensure public safety.”
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Example Posts (Facebook)
Highlighted sections are standardised language to be agreed. The desired approach is to have a
consistent framework for every hīkoi-related travel information social post using matching language.
The remainder of the content should be as per any other travel information post informing people of
the reason and the impact.
HĪKOI - NORTHLAND 11 NOVEMBER – DELAYS – UPDATE 5:45PM
SH1 Northland traffic has now returned to normal.
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12:15 AM, MON 11 NOV
Due to hīkoi traffic, SH1 is CONGESTED between Hikurangi and Whangarei. Expect DELAYS
when travelling through this area.
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10:15 AM, MON 11 NOV
Due to hīkoi activity, SH1 is BLOCKED in Kawakawa town centre. Expect DELAYS when travel ing
through this area.
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LOCATION, REGION – CONGESTION - XX:XXAM/PM, DAY XX MONTH
Hīkoi traffic is causing DELAYS on the state highway network.
Al ow extra time for your journey. ^XX
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Internal communication to NZTA Staff
At this stage there is no threat to NZTA staff, offices or our contractors, and no expectation that
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offices wil be closed. There are no current plans to issue warnings to staff or advise staff to stay away
from offices. However, this wil be monitored by the national response team, as some hīkoi activity will
be close to offices (e.g. at Parliament near the Bowen Street Wellington office, and at The Square
near the Palmerston North office).
If there is a need to undertake this type of internal communication, Regional PIMs wil be asked to
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work with Workplace Services/ the Local Incident Management Team to ensure appropriate
communication reaches staff.
Information wil be shared with staff to keep people informed that there is a response to the hīkoi, a
high-level summary of our approach, and advice on maintaining political neutrality during this time,
including for staff who may wish to participate in the hīkoi.
PIM has developed a notice to all internal NZTA staff which sets out expectations for involvement in
the Hikoi. This is consistent with guidelines from the Public Service Commission and existing NZTA
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resources about our roles as public servants, and the importance of political neutrality in our work
roles.
