The Workshop

1. Official Name: The Workshop (New Zealand).

2. Legal Status: Charitable trust (independent not-for-profit think tank).

3. Year Established: 2017 (founded in July 2017).

4. Founders: Dr. Jess Berentson-Shaw and Marianne Elliott (co-founders).

5. Charity Registration: Registered as a public-benefit charitable trust (The Workshop is described as “a charitable trust for public good”). (Charity Commission registration number – Data Not Found).

6. Company Registration: Not registered as a company (established via trust structure). (NZBN/Company Number – Data Not Found).

7. Headquarters: Wellington, New Zealand.

8. Regional Operations: Primarily national (New Zealand-focused). No overseas branches; work and collaborations extend across Aotearoa New Zealand.

9. Contact Details: Website – theworkshop.org.nz ; Based in Wellington (exact street address not publicly listed on website).

10. Purpose/Mission: To improve lives by changing how we talk about complex social issues. The Workshop conducts research into public narratives and framing, and advises on communication strategies that “build support for solutions that work to solve complex social and environmental problems”. It positions itself as a “public narrative” research unit helping others communicate evidence-based, inclusive messages for social change.

11. Activities: Research on public attitudes and framing; publishing issue guides and toolkits; training workshops for advocates, journalists, and policymakers; consulting on narrative strategy. For example, The Workshop produced a framing guide for climate change communication with Oxfam NZ and a messaging guide on criminal justice reform. It also hosts public talks and “narrative” training sessions (including a Narrative Fellows programme).

12. Sector: Think tank / research institute (focus on communications, policy and social issues). Operates as an independent NGO (non-partisan but with a progressive social justice orientation).

13. Leadership (Executive): Dr. Jess Berentson-Shaw – Co-founder and Director of Narrative Research and Strategy (current co-director). Lizzie Edwards – Director of Operations and Business Development. (Marianne Elliott – Co-founder and former co-director; stepped down from staff role in April 2024 to join the Human Rights Commission.)

14. Governance (Board of Trustees): Amanda Reid – Chair of the Board (Chief Executive of economic research firm BERL). Other trustees include Mandy Smith, Timoti Brown, and co-founders Dr. Jess Berentson-Shaw and Marianne Elliott (Elliott remains on the board after leaving the co-director role). The board provides strategic direction and oversight.

15. Key Personnel and Staff: In addition to the directors, The Workshop’s team (as of 2024) includes Carolyn Blackwell (Training Manager), Julie Fairfield (Senior Narrative Advisor), Dr. Minette Hillyer (Senior Narrative Advisor – Insights), Ellen Ozarka (Researcher), Sarah Metcalfe (Operations Administrator), Therese Lloyd (Senior Narrative Advisor), Kirsten van Newtown (Business & Projects Manager). This core staff of ~8–10 carry out the trust’s day-to-day research and advisory work.

16. Founding Rationale/History: The Workshop was established as a “think-and-do tank” in 2017 by Berentson-Shaw and Elliott, who sought to apply cognitive science and communications research to policy advocacy. Both founders brought backgrounds in evidence-based advocacy (Berentson-Shaw from scientific research and think-tank work; Elliott from human rights law and activism). The organisation was effectively an experiment in translating academic insights on framing into practical tools for NGOs and decision-makers. There are no known defunct or earlier incarnations; it was a new entity in 2017.

17. Affiliations & Network: The Workshop collaborates with like-minded initiatives domestically and internationally. It has been cited as a partner by Common Cause Australia (an NGO focusing on values-based change), alongside the UK’s Public Interest Research Centre and the US FrameWorks Institute, indicating The Workshop’s alignment with global progressive communications research networks. Co-founder Marianne Elliott previously co-founded the advocacy group ActionStation in NZ, reflecting close ties to progressive civil society campaigns. The Workshop’s associates also link it to various advocacy and research communities (e.g. staff and associates have backgrounds in Amnesty International, Human Rights Commission, academia, etc. – see below).

18. Associated Individuals (Advisors/Associates): The Workshop works with a roster of associate researchers and advisors who contribute expertise on projects. Notably Morgan Godfery – a prominent writer on Māori politics and policy – is an associate. Tze Ming Mok, known for advocacy on minority issues and a former human rights researcher, is another associate. Their involvement signals The Workshop’s connections to Māori, Pasifika, and human rights advocacy networks. (Godfery, for example, is a well-known commentator and sits on a law school advisory board, while Mok has worked for Amnesty International and the NZ Human Rights Commission.) These associates support The Workshop’s projects and extend its reach into various communities.

19. Political Appointments/Connections: Data Not Found in terms of direct political office. (No evidence of The Workshop’s staff holding elected office or formal government positions. However, Marianne Elliott’s 2023 appointment as Head of Engagement at the NZ Human Rights Commission – a Crown entity – is notable. This position in a public institution suggests a degree of establishment recognition. Additionally, trustees and associates have served on boards of advocacy groups and NGOs that interact with government, such as Amnesty International and others.)

20. Policy Influence Activities: The Workshop engages with policymakers primarily through research publications and submissions. For instance, it made a submission to Parliament’s Justice Select Committee in 2024 opposing the proposed “Treaty Principles Bill,” on the basis of research into public attitudes toward the Treaty of Waitangi. The organisation’s research reports often target policy-relevant topics (e.g. welfare, climate action, criminal justice) and are intended to inform MPs, government agencies, and sector leaders. The Workshop’s team members occasionally serve as expert witnesses or advisors in policy forums (e.g. providing testimony or advice in select committee hearings or working groups), though specific appointments are not formally recorded.

21. Lobbying & Advocacy Methods: Rather than traditional corporate lobbying, The Workshop’s influence is exerted via advocacy research and public campaigns. It helps NGOs and community groups “frame” their messages to policymakers and the public. The Workshop also convenes or speaks at public events and webinars on policy issues (such as crime and justice, Treaty rights, climate policy). While not a registered lobbying firm, it effectively operates as a communications lobby for progressive policy ideas – equipping advocates with narrative tools to sway public opinion and political decision-making. (It does not appear on any official lobbying register, as NZ has no mandatory register.)

22. Coalitions/Memberships: The Workshop is an independent entity, but it often partners in coalitions or collective initiatives on issues. For example, it teamed up with Oxfam NZ for a climate communication project, and contributed to multi-organization efforts like the People’s Commission on Public Media (via ActionStation). It is not formally part of any industry association or umbrella lobby group. However, its co-founders’ past roles mean it has informal links to networks like Environment & Conservation Organisations (ECO) (Berentson-Shaw has written on environmental policy) and digital rights coalitions (Elliott has written on media/information integrity). These connections situate The Workshop in a broader progressive ecosystem.

23. Funding Model: Mixed funding model with multiple income streams. The Workshop receives philanthropic grants, undertakes commissioned research/consulting contracts, provides training workshops for fees, and accepts public donations or memberships. It was explicitly designed as a public-good entity not driven by sales, so grant funding has been crucial for its operations.

24. Major Funding Sources: Philanthropic foundations have been the primary funders. Notably, The Workshop has secured funding from: The Peter McKenzie Project (a J.R. McKenzie Trust initiative) to support work on child and whānau poverty ; The Tindall Foundation, J.R. McKenzie Trust, and the Michael and Suzanne Borrin Foundation for criminal justice narrative research. These grants have underwritten key research programs. In 2024, The Workshop acknowledged the “ongoing support” of the Peter McKenzie Project in enabling a new Narrative Fellows programme, indicating multi-year grant funding. There is no indication of corporate funding or sponsorship; its donor base is largely charitable trusts and possibly some small private donations.

25. Government Funding: No direct government contracts or core funding disclosed. The Workshop does not appear to receive regular government grants. Its funding is instead from private philanthropic sources (as above). However, it occasionally earns government agency income via training or consulting: for example, it has delivered communications training to public sector organizations (as clients).

26. Financials (Size and Transparency): The Workshop is relatively small. Annual income is not published on its site, but given known grants (e.g. multi-year ~$100k+ philanthropic grants) it likely operates on a modest six-figure budget. It has fewer than 10 full-time staff. Financial reporting is done via Charities Services filings (required as a charity), but the organisation does not publicly post detailed financial reports on its website, aside from general statements of support. This lack of proactive financial disclosure represents a transparency gap – the onus is on the public to retrieve filings from the government charity register.

27. COVID-19 Wage Subsidy: Data Not Found. No public record has been found indicating whether The Workshop applied for or received the New Zealand government’s COVID-19 Wage Subsidy in 2020–2021. (Many NGOs did claim subsidies during lockdowns, but The Workshop’s name does not appear in published recipient lists. If it did receive any subsidy for its staff, it has not been spotlighted in media reports.)

28. Controversies: No major scandals or legal controversies are on record for The Workshop as an organisation. However, its work sits in politically sensitive areas, and its leaders have drawn criticism from opponents. For example, then-Health Minister Jonathan Coleman in 2017 dismissed a mental health policy report co-authored by Marianne Elliott as just activism by “left-wing anti-government protesters,” reflecting how figures associated with The Workshop have been accused of partisan bias. Such criticism, while aimed at Elliott’s prior NGO, hints at controversy by association – i.e. skeptics view The Workshop’s narrative efforts as ideological advocacy in think-tank clothing. The Workshop itself has generally maintained a low profile in media controversy, operating more as a behind-the-scenes advisor.

29. Integrity & Transparency Issues: The Workshop promotes itself as evidence-based and for public benefit, yet there are some transparency concerns. It does not fully disclose all donors or dollar amounts on its website – only naming some foundation supporters in general terms. The lack of easily accessible annual reports or a comprehensive funding list leaves questions about whether any other entities (e.g. private donors or clients) significantly finance its work. Additionally, co-founder Marianne Elliott’s dual role – serving on The Workshop’s board while working at the Human Rights Commission – could pose perceived conflicts of interest, if The Workshop advocates on issues that overlap with the Commission’s mandate. There is no evidence of unethical conduct, but these transparency gaps and overlapping roles invite scrutiny in an “integrity register” context.

Sources (Part One):

[1] Our People – The Workshop (About page), The Workshop (theworkshop.org.nz), https://www.theworkshop.org.nz/our-people (Founding year and founders noted)

[2] Our Approach – How we’re funded, The Workshop, https://www.theworkshop.org.nz/our-approach (Workshop described as a charitable trust; funding model and funders listed)

[3] How to Talk About Climate Change – Oxfam Toolkit (Introduction), Oxfam NZ & The Workshop, https://www.oxfam.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/How-to-talk-about-Climate-Change_The-Workshop-Oxfam-NZ-2019.pdf (The Workshop described as “a charitable trust for public good” and its mission)

[4] Jess Berentson-Shaw (profile), Community Research NZ, https://communityresearch.org.nz/researchers/dr-jess-berentson-shaw/ (Co-director described The Workshop as a research and communications not-for-profit specialising in narrative strategies)

[5] The Workshop – Home Page, The Workshop, https://www.theworkshop.org.nz/ (Mission statement: “Improving lives by changing how we talk about complex issues”)

[6] Marianne Elliott – Author Profile, The Spinoff, https://thespinoff.co.nz/authors/marianne-elliott (States Marianne Elliott “was co-founder of ActionStation and is currently Co-Director of The Workshop”)

[7] Farewell and thank you Marianne! (Workshop blog post), The Workshop, 12 April 2024, https://www.theworkshop.org.nz/blog/farewell-and-thank-you-marianne (Announces Elliott leaving staff role to join Human Rights Commission, noting she remains on the board)

[8] The Workshop – Our People, The Workshop, https://www.theworkshop.org.nz/our-people (Provides names/titles of team, board of trustees, and notes founder info)

[9] The Workshop – Scoop InfoPage, Scoop Independent News, https://info.scoop.co.nz/The_Workshop (Press release 20 Aug 2021: notes The Workshop as a “public narrative think-tank” sought by Victoria State Government for COVID comms)

[10] Research and reflections on the Treaty Principles Bill (Workshop blog), The Workshop, 9 April 2025, https://www.theworkshop.org.nz/blog/research-and-reflections-on-the-treaty-principles-bill (Details The Workshop’s submission opposing the Bill, with 90% of submissions against it)

[11] Jonathan Coleman’s attack on ‘anti-government’ ActionStation… (op-ed by M. Elliott), The Spinoff, 11 May 2017, https://thespinoff.co.nz (Describes Minister Coleman calling ActionStation’s authors “left-wing anti-government protesters”)

[12] The NZ Lobbying and Influence Register (Launch article), Bryce Edwards – The Democracy Project, 9 April 2025, (Explains NZ has no official lobbyist register and the purpose of an “unauthorised register” like this profile)

Spot anything in this entry that is wrong? Please either leave a comment at the end or email, in confidence: bryce@democracyproject.nz