On Thursday 4 June at a gala dinner in Auckland, One Plus One Communications was named 2026 Large PR Consultancy of the Year by the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand (PRINZ). This follows wins in 2025 and 2024, and being highly commended in 2023.
In bestowing the award, the international judge said of One Plus One: “I am close to the very best earned first agencies in Australia and have to say none has as distinctive and compelling a story about what we do and how it will drive into the future than this agency. Very well done to the leadership and the team here. I am seriously impressed.”
The agency of the year award is designed to celebrate professionalism, agency culture, commercial success, as well as impact and innovation.
The recognition follows a standout year for One Plus One which saw the business onboard new clients, deliver exceptional client campaigns, and expand its footprint into Wellington, with a Government Relations offering formalised under the leadership of GR Director, Esther Robinson, in early 2026.
One Plus One Founder and Managing Director, Kelly Bennett, says to be recognised as New Zealand’s leading large public relations agency for the third year running is both humbling and gratifying.
“In my acceptance speech I mentioned three ingredients to our ongoing success: energy, connectedness and ambition. Our team has that in spades, and we’re fortunate to work with incredible clients who mirror those qualities,” says Bennett.
The night also saw One Plus One Account Director, Hannah Kronast, recognised as New Zealand’s young PR practitioner of the year – a nod Bennett says brings him as much pride as the agency of the year win.
“Hannah is an exceptional young practitioner and a genuinely good person. We’re so pleased to see her receive this incredibly well-deserved recognition.”
One Plus One clients, Suncorp New Zealand and Greenleaf Group, also received recognition on the night for their work on climate adaptation and Stop the Stigma, respectively.
