The Partnership Place.
We've done the jobs we advise on.
Experienced. Hands-on. Project by project. That's how we work - with sport, events, businesses and not-for-profits on sponsorship, marketing, event management and advisory services. And we create and deliver events of our own.
Based in Dunedin. Available nationwide.
What we do
We provide strategic direction, hands-on delivery, or both - depending on what your organisation needs. We also develop and deliver events of our own, which means we bring the perspective of an event owner to everything we do.
Commercial and Sponsorship
Marketing
Event Management
Leadership and Advisory
Commercial and Sponsorship
We've sat on both sides of the sponsorship table.
For rightsholders like clubs, events and sporting organisations, we identify the right partners, structure agreements that work for both sides and manage those relationships so they deliver lasting value - whether you're building a programme from the ground up or need experienced support with an existing one.
For businesses that are sponsors, we help you get your money's worth. We'll look at deals before you sign them, review what you're already paying for, and put a plan together so you get more out of it than a sign on the fence and a few match tickets. Twenty years on the other side of the table means we know what you should be getting.
Marketing
Clear, practical marketing that supports what your organisation is trying to achieve - particularly in sport and community settings.
That might be promoting a season, a membership drive or an event.
Building a plan a small team can actually run. Or sorting out where your money and effort should go when you can't do everything. We plan it, and we can deliver it - campaigns, content and promotion included.
Event Management
We have planned and delivered events at every scale - international tournaments, national championships, community programmes and events under our own name. Whatever stage you're at, we can step in:
Working out if it stacks up. Got an event idea, or being asked to fund one? We'll tell you honestly whether it works, what it'll cost and what it'll take - the same way we'd assess it if it were our own money.
Winning events for your region. Thinking about bidding to host a tournament or major event? We've been inside the biggest events in the world. We know what hosts actually sign up for - and we'll help you bid well - or tell you if you shouldn't.
Running the event. Event direction, operations, logistics - managing every detail so the event runs well and leaves the right impression.
Keeping people safe. Event safety plans, crowd management and independent safety reviews. It's a legal responsibility, not a nice-to-have - and we've done this job at FIFA World Cup level.
Leadership and Advisory
Experienced senior input, without the cost of a full-time commitment.
We work alongside leadership teams, step into leadership roles when a gap needs filling, lead specific workstreams, or help organisations think through challenges that need fresh eyes and a steady hand. Not theory - we've spent years around board tables ourselves.
How we work
We work project by project, which means every engagement gets our full attention for as long as it needs it.
We scale to suit the organisation - whether that's a community club with a sponsorship challenge, a regional body planning its next major event, or an idea that needs someone to take it from concept to delivery. The approach is always the same: focused, practical and done properly.
We also run practical workshops and training - sponsorship sessions for club committees, event management training for event deliverers, and mentoring for people coming up in the industry.
And a few things that don't fit neatly in a box keep coming up: reviewing how venues and facilities run and make money, independent reviews of events after they've happened, and keeping an experienced eye on delivery for event owners. If it's in our world, ask. If we're not the right people, we'll say so - and we'll probably know who is.
Who we work with
We have worked with a wide range of organisations across sport, events and the community sector - from local clubs and regional bodies through to national organisations and international tournaments. And businesses that put money into sponsorship and want it to actually pay off.
Some of our partners
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NZ Masters Games
"The Partnership Place delivered great value for us throughout the Games. They were focused on creating meaningful outcomes for both us and our partners, ensuring our sponsorship's delivered real value. They also connected us with sponsors that were a great fit for our event and audience, helping to build strong and effective partnerships. We really valued the support and would highly recommend working with them."
OFCiPro League
"Thank you for your incredible leadership throughout. Your experience and sound judgment in assessing situations played a huge role in how smoothly we managed each match day".
CEO - Sport Federation
"This has provided clarity around how to frame the approach and the opening conversation, and very useful framework for how to identify and target the best, most likely potential businesses”.
The Partnership Place
Over more than 20 years, our work has taken us from community clubrooms to FIFA World Cups - building sponsorship programmes, delivering major events, and providing senior support for organisations across New Zealand and internationally.
We also create and deliver events under our own name. That gives us a perspective most consultancies don't have - we understand what it means to originate an idea, back it, build it and deliver it. Not as a service provider. As the people responsible for it.
Every project is different. The approach never changes - understand what's needed, and deliver it properly.