New Zealand's national network for emerging marketers.
A membership network for people under 35 working in marketing. Committee recruitment opens October 2026, and the founding Christchurch branch launches in 2027.
Membership applications open ahead of the 2027 launch.
Overview
One network connecting New Zealanders across the country, at every stage of an early marketing career.
Young Kiwis in Marketing is a national network for young New Zealanders who work in marketing — plus the people who study it, build businesses in it, or simply have a real interest in it.
Members receive an event in their city every six weeks, access to a national online community between events, and a directory of members across the industry. From 2028, an annual conference in Auckland brings the full membership together.
The case for it
The industry has institutions. What it lacks is an entry point.
New Zealand has well established marketing institutions, and nearly all are organised around companies, agencies and disciplines. Almost nothing is organised around stage of career, which is what most determines what a person needs. Four gaps follow.
Students graduate into a void
There is no structured bridge between a marketing degree and the industry. A first role still depends heavily on who you already know.
Founders have few peers
Founders in their twenties handle pricing, scope and their first hires with few people to compare notes against. The problems are common; the conversations are rare.
Young leaders are isolated
A head of marketing at 31 is often the youngest in the room, and cannot speak freely with either their team or their board.
The regions get less
Most industry activity is concentrated in Auckland. Christchurch, Wellington and Dunedin have the talent and far fewer chances to connect.
Who it's for
Five member segments at a shared stage of career.
Open to anyone under 35 working in marketing, and to those with a genuine interest who have yet to work in it. Each segment joins for a different reason, and each is useful to the others.
Students
Industry exposure, internships, a first role and access to a mentor.
Early career
Peers outside their own workplace, practical skills, visibility and a route to their next role.
Founders
Referrals, candid pricing advice, collaborators and clients.
Young leaders
Peer advice unavailable internally, a talent pipeline, professional profile and a means of contributing back.
Interested others
An entry point, industry context, contacts and a clearer sense of whether the field suits them.
The balance of the room matters more than its size, so committees manage the mix. Members who reach 35 are invited to continue as mentors and alumni.
Most of what this industry offers is built for people who have already arrived. This is built for everyone still on the way.
Founding branch, Christchurch, 2027
What members get
A structured events programme, and member services year round.
Each branch runs an event every six weeks, or eight to nine a year — frequent enough to build a habit, realistic enough for a volunteer committee to sustain. The programme rotates through three formats.
Speaker night
A senior member or founder presents a case study from their own work, including the decisions that did not go to plan.
Workshop
One practical skill in ninety minutes: AI tools, paid advertising, pricing professional work, or building a personal brand.
Social
An unstructured evening with no formal programme. Often the most useful format, and the most likely to produce introductions.
- Mentor matchingTwo rounds a year, pairing students and early career members with senior members for three sessions each.Coming soon
- National online networkCity channels, a jobs board and a member directory.Coming soon
- Jobs and briefs firstRoles and referrals circulated within the membership before they are advertised publicly.Coming soon
- Partner benefitsDiscounted tickets, tool subscriptions and course access.Coming soon
- The annual conferenceMembers attend at a lower rate than the public, from 2028.2028
The branches
Four branches, each governed by a local committee.
Each branch is run by a local volunteer committee, supported by a national playbook covering event formats, venues, run sheets and budgets. No branch launches until its committee is appointed and trained.
Christchurch
Recruiting Oct 2026The founding branch. A growing independent sector, few forums in which to meet, and a market small enough that a good programme is quickly noticed. Committee recruitment opens October 2026; the branch launches in 2027.
- StatusFounding branch
- Committee recruitmentOpens October 2026
- Branch launch2027
- ProgrammeAn event every six weeks
Auckland
Opening late 2027The largest market in the country, and host city for the annual conference from 2028. Committee recruitment opens early 2027.
- StatusOpening late 2027
- Committee recruitmentEarly 2027
- Also hostsThe annual conference, from 2028
- ProgrammeAn event every six weeks
Wellington
Opening late 2027Agencies, in house teams and public sector marketing sit within walking distance of one another, which makes attendance unusually easy. Committee recruitment opens early 2027.
- StatusOpening late 2027
- Committee recruitmentEarly 2027
- AdvantageA geographically compact market
- ProgrammeAn event every six weeks
Dunedin
Opening late 2027A large student population and a small professional market, so this branch is student led in partnership with the University of Otago. Built as a talent pipeline rather than a revenue centre.
- StatusOpening late 2027
- Committee recruitmentEarly 2027
- ModelStudent led, with the University of Otago
- Measured onPipeline rather than revenue
One conference a year, in Auckland.
The one occasion each year when the full membership convenes. Two days, weighted toward practical sessions over keynote programming, with speakers under 35 wherever possible. A young marketer of the year award launches alongside it.
The conference proceeds only once membership and sponsorship thresholds are met. Delaying a year is preferable to delivering a weak first event.
- FrequencyOnce a year, from 2028
- LocationAuckland, every year
- FormatTwo days, practical first
- SpeakersUnder 35 wherever possible
- Travel supportFor members outside Auckland
- TicketsComing soon
Executive committee recruitment opens in October 2026.
Voluntary, unpaid positions. You gain governance experience, a national platform and a direct role in how the network is built. Five to ten hours a month plus branch events, and more during the establishment phase.
Christchurch is the founding branch, so recruitment opens there first, in October 2026. Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin open for committee recruitment in early 2027.
- Branch Chair. Leads the Christchurch programme and chairs the committee.
- Events Lead. Venues, run sheets, and an event landing every six weeks.
- Partnerships Lead. Local agencies, brands and the University of Canterbury.
- Community and Content Lead. Member updates, social channels and branch culture.
- Student Representative. Representing members still studying, from any Christchurch campus.
Who we're after
Under 35 and Christchurch based, working or studying in marketing. Seniority is not a requirement; reliability and a genuine local network are. As the founding branch, this committee will shape the model every other city follows.The commitment
A voluntary, unpaid position. Five to ten hours a month once the branch is running, and more during the establishment phase. A two year term, one committee meeting a month, and attendance at branch events.- Branch Chair. Leads the Auckland programme and chairs the committee.
- Events Lead. Venues, run sheets, and an event landing every six weeks.
- Partnerships Lead. Venue hosts, sponsors and university links.
- Community and Content Lead. Member updates, social channels and branch culture.
- Student Representative. Representing members still studying, from any Auckland campus.
Who we're after
Under 35 and Auckland based, working or studying in marketing. Reliable, well connected, and prepared to establish a branch from the ground up.When
Voluntary, unpaid positions opening for applications in early 2027. Register your interest and you will be notified when they open.- Branch Chair. Leads the Wellington programme and chairs the committee.
- Events Lead. Venues, run sheets and the six week rhythm.
- Partnerships Lead. Agencies, in house teams and Victoria University.
- Community and Content Lead. Member updates and local content.
Who we're after
Under 35 and Wellington based. Agency, in house and public sector backgrounds are all equally welcome.When
Voluntary, unpaid positions opening for applications in early 2027. Register your interest and you will be notified when they open.Dunedin committee recruitment also opens in early 2027.
Committee application
Apply for an executive committee position.
Christchurch positions open October 2026; the other three open early 2027. Applications sent before a branch opens are held and reviewed as soon as recruitment begins there.
Every application is read and you will get a reply either way. Shortlisted applicants are invited to a short conversation before any appointment is confirmed.
Applications are private and seen only by the organisers. Questions to youngkiwisinmarketing@gmail.com with any questions before applying.
Application received
Thank you. Your application has been recorded and you will receive a reply once recruitment opens in your city.
The plan
Four phases, each dependent on the one before it.
Foundation
Thirty validation conversations across all segments, the legal structure settled, launch partners confirmed, and Christchurch committee recruitment opening in October 2026.
Launch and prove
The Christchurch branch launches and delivers events every six weeks without interruption. First mentoring round runs and the inaugural State of Young Marketing report is published.
Expand nationally
Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin open, the 2028 conference is confirmed, and the first cohort of annual renewals is measured.
The first conference
The launch of the annual conference. Two days in Auckland, with the young marketer of the year award presented for the first time, and the recruitment engine for the following year.
Membership
Membership applications open ahead of the 2027 launch.
Membership is application based. The form is short, every application is read individually, and the criterion is intent rather than seniority.
Membership tiers
The full membership structure, including provision for students, is being finalised and will be published ahead of launch.
Applications
Applications open ahead of the Christchurch launch in 2027. Register your interest below and you will be notified first.
Partner packages
For agencies, brands and universities seeking to support the first twelve months. Details available on request.
Nobody starts a career with a network. They build one, usually by accident. This is an attempt to make it less accidental.
Rore is the founder of RM Creative, a social media marketing business working with business owners on the strategy and content behind their brands. In 2026 he co-founded the University of Canterbury Marketing Society, which passed 750 members in its first year, and he sits on the southern board of the New Zealand Marketing Association.
He started Young Kiwis in Marketing after noticing the same pattern in all three. People early in this industry turn up when there is something worth turning up to. The appetite has never been the problem. Somewhere to direct it has.
Expression of interest
Register your interest in membership.
Applications open ahead of the Christchurch launch in 2027. Registering places you on the founding list, contacted first when applications open and when events are announced in your city.
No cost and no obligation at this stage. To talk it over first, email youngkiwisinmarketing@gmail.com.
Registrations are private. Your details are visible only to the organisers, never shown to other registrants, and never shared. Ask to be removed at any time.
Registration received
Thank you. You are on the founding list and will be contacted directly when membership applications open.