Three Point Two Communications

1. Business / Trading Name: Three Point Two Communications Limited (trading as “Three Point Two Communications”).

2. Company Number: 1984370.

3. NZBN: 9429033140315.

4. Entity Type: New Zealand Limited Company (Ltd).

5. Business Classification: Public affairs consultant service (ANZSIC code M696275) – i.e. lobbying and communications consultancy.

6. Industry Category: Public relations, government relations and communications consulting (professional services).

7. Year Founded: 2007 (incorporated 19 September 2007).

8. Addresses: Registered & physical office at 8B Blundell Place, Katikati 3129, New Zealand (since Aug–Sep 2021). Mailing address is PO Box 2423, Shortland Street, Auckland 1140 (postal address on record since 2020 ). The firm was previously based in central Auckland prior to relocating to Katikati.

9. Website URL: threepointtwo.co.nz (site active as of 2020, listing services and contacts).

10. LinkedIn URL: No dedicated LinkedIn company page. (Principal Barry Ebert’s personal LinkedIn describes him as “Government Affairs and Communications Counsel” at “TPT Communications”).

11. Company Hub NZ URL: https://www.companyhub.nz/companyDetails.cfm?nzbn=9429033140315 (This public database confirms registration details, directors and shareholders.)

12. NZ Companies Office URL: https://app.companiesoffice.govt.nz/companies/app/ui/pages/companies/1984370 (Official registry entry confirming company status as “Registered” and constitution filed).

13. Social Media URLs: None identified for the company. (No official Twitter, Facebook, or other social media accounts. Barry Ebert maintains a personal Twitter account @barryebert57 describing himself as an “ancient apparatchik” in politics).

14. Ultimate Holding Company: None (independently owned; no parent entity).

15. Key Shareholders: Barry Lloyd Ebert – 100% owner (holds all shares). Steven Allan Armitage was a founding shareholder-director (2007–2013) but relinquished his stake upon departure. The company is effectively wholly controlled by Ebert.

16. Leadership: Barry Ebert – Managing Director (Founder). Steven Armitage – co-founder and former Director (19 Sep 2007 to 17 Jun 2013). Ebert has led the firm since inception, while Armitage departed in 2013 to pursue other roles. There are no other formal directors or executives.

17. Staff: No full-time staff beyond Barry Ebert himself. Three Point Two is essentially a one-person consultancy (“sole practitioner”). The firm scales its work through subcontractors or associates on a project basis as needed, rather than maintaining employees.

18. Staff With Previous Government Roles: Barry Ebert – served as a senior ministerial advisor in the New Zealand government (Specialist Adviser in the Labour Government 2017–2020) and earlier worked in multiple Labour-led governments dating back to the 1980s. Ebert has nearly four decades in politics and public service (including roles in the 4th, 5th and 6th Labour Governments). Steven Armitage – prior to and after his time at Three Point Two, he held public-sector advisory roles (e.g. speechwriter to Auckland’s Mayor in the early 2010s). (Other contractors have also had government experience, e.g. a 2011 associate had been a Parliamentary adviser).

19. Past Employees: Steven Armitage (Director/consultant, 2007–2013) – went on to senior roles in local government and industry bodies. Juliet Calder (Contract PR Consultant, 2011) – former Senior Advisor in the Opposition Leader’s Office who worked with Three Point Two on communications projects. The firm’s project-based model means alumni are few; most who worked with 3.2 were short-term contractors from political communications backgrounds.

20. Clients: Not publicly disclosed. The firm’s clients are kept confidential. During 2018–2020, Barry Ebert refused to name client engagements, citing “their privacy”. Known examples indicate corporate and industry clients seeking government relations help. For instance, in 2018 the NZ Milking & Pumping Trade Association engaged Ebert to arrange a meeting with a Cabinet Minister regarding regulatory issues. Overall, Three Point Two’s clientele likely includes businesses, industry groups and other organisations needing lobbying or public affairs support, but specific names are not openly reported.

21. Industries/Sectors Represented: Various regulated sectors. Based on its public affairs focus, Three Point Two has worked in industries where government policy and regulation are critical – for example, primary industry/manufacturing (dairy farm equipment sector), infrastructure and regional development (via engagements with economic development ministers), and public sector/government (the firm’s principal has deep experience in politics). Its service offering to help clients stay “several steps ahead of…regulators” implies work for sectors facing regulatory scrutiny (e.g. transportation, housing, agriculture, etc.). However, due to nondisclosure, the full range of sectors represented is not confirmed publicly.

22. Publicly Disclosed Engagements: Very few. No routine lobbying disclosures exist in NZ, and Three Point Two does not publish client lists or case studies. One known engagement came to light via meeting minutes of an industry association, which record Barry Ebert facilitating lobbying of a minister (Shane Jones) on behalf of that association. Ebert’s stint inside government is documented (working in the Office of the Labour Leader and Minister Twyford), but any lobbying he conducted for clients has largely occurred behind closed doors. In general, the firm’s influence activities are opaque and not officially reported in any public register or ministerial diary.

23. Affiliations: Three Point Two Communications is listed in the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand (PRINZ) consultancy directory, indicating adherence to PRINZ’s professional code of ethics. Barry Ebert himself is a long-time Labour Party operative (“apparatchik”) by his own description, connecting him informally to Labour’s political network. The firm is not known to be formally affiliated with any lobbying industry associations or lobbyist registers (since none are mandated in NZ). Its principal’s extensive network spans political circles in New Zealand (and to some extent Australia and the US via past work).

24. Sponsorships / Collaborations: None known. Three Point Two is a small private consultancy and does not appear as a sponsor of public events or partner in formal collaborations. (No records of the firm sponsoring conferences, reports or collaborating in joint ventures have been found.) Any collaboration is likely informal, through Barry Ebert’s personal connections rather than under the company’s banner.

25. Events (Organised by the Organisation): None publicly recorded. The company has not held public events or forums in its own name. Its influence is exercised in private meetings and advisory roles rather than through open events. (Barry Ebert has participated in professional networking events via PRINZ and similar bodies as a member, but Three Point Two has not hosted notable events itself.)

26. Political Donations: No disclosed political donations. A search of Electoral Commission records and media did not reveal any donations from Three Point Two Communications or Barry Ebert to political parties or candidates. The firm’s influence is exerted through lobbying activities and personal networks, not through direct financial contributions to parties (at least not above public disclosure thresholds).

27. Controversies: Conflict-of-interest scandal (2020): It was revealed that Barry Ebert simultaneously worked as a senior ministerial advisor in the Labour Government (2017–2020) while remaining owner/director of Three Point Two Communications. This raised alarm about a lobbyist having insider access. Ebert undertook private consulting “on the side” for undisclosed clients during 2018–19 even as he served in Minister Phil Twyford’s office, a situation critics called a serious conflict of interest. Ebert refused to disclose who those clients were, and the episode drew media and opposition scrutiny. Minister Twyford insisted the arrangement was properly managed and that Ebert’s firm was “not actively trading” while he was full-time on staff. However, the lack of transparency and “trust-me” approach to conflicts provoked public criticism and highlighted New Zealand’s weak lobbying regulations. Aside from this high-profile case, Three Point Two keeps a low public profile; its work by nature is behind closed doors, which in itself has attracted criticism in the context of NZ’s lobbying oversight debate.

28. Other Information of Note (Media and Public Profile): Three Point Two markets itself on discretion and insider expertise. The consultancy boasts “discreet advice” and specialist support to navigate Government processes. Barry Ebert’s personal profile emphasizes nearly 40 years’ experience across politics, policy, media and PR, in New Zealand and abroad. Despite this extensive career, Ebert maintains a low public profile – unlike some lobbyists, he does not regularly appear in media commentary. His influence is largely exercised out of the spotlight. The 2020 conflict-of-interest story in the NZ Herald was the most significant media exposure the firm and Ebert have received. Internally, Ebert is known in political circles as a loyal Labour-aligned strategist (self-described “ancient apparatchik”). The firm’s continued operation has been noted in Companies Office filings (annual returns were consistently filed even during Ebert’s government stint). Overall, Three Point Two’s public profile is minimal by design, reflecting its role as a behind-the-scenes influencer.

29. Recipient of Wage Subsidy Scheme: No evidence of COVID-19 wage subsidy receipt. Three Point Two Communications does not appear on the official list of employers that received the 2020 COVID-19 Wage Subsidy. Given the firm’s one-person structure and Ebert’s transition back into private consulting in 2020, it either did not apply or did not meet the criteria for pandemic wage support. (No record of payment to Three Point Two was found in government wage subsidy disclosures.)

Sources:

[1] “Three Point Two Communications Limited” – Company profile (NZBN 9429033140315, Company No. 1984370). BizDB (New Zealand). https://www.bizdb.co.nz/company/9429033140315/ (accessed 30 Mar 2025).

[2] “Three Point Two Communications – PR Consultant Directory Listing.” Public Relations Institute of New Zealand (PRINZ). http://prinz.org.nz/directory-listing/three-point-two-communications/ (accessed 2025).

[3] Jason Walls, “Senior staffer to Minister Phil Twyford owned lobbying firm while working for minister.” NZ Herald (22 Jan 2020). https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/senior-staffer-to-minister-phil-twyford-owned-lobbying-firm-while-working-for-minister/FBPTKURBHHMTSBBW2P7J6VAHNE/

[4] “Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: NZ’s latest political lobbying problems.” Evening Report (Analysis, 19 Feb 2020). https://eveningreport.nz/2020/02/19/bryce-edwards-political-roundup-nzs-latest-political-lobbying-problems/

[5] Thomas Coughlan, “The lobbyist working in Phil Twyford’s office didn’t disclose contracts to employer.” Stuff (News, 30 Jan 2020). (Referenced in Evening Report Newsletter).

[6] Thomas Coughlan, “There’s nothing wrong with lobbying – so why won’t the Government prove it?” Stuff (Opinion, Jan 2020). (Referenced in Evening Report Newsletter).

[7] Matthew Hooton interview, “Criticising Government’s lax attitude to lobbyists.” Newstalk ZB (Jan 2020). (Referenced in Bryce Edwards roundup).

[8] “NZMPTA Council Meeting Minutes – 3 Oct 2018.” NZ Milking & Pumping Trade Assn. (internal document)[Council minutes excerpt showing Ebert’s lobbying role]. https://www.nzmpta.co.nz/file/council-meeting-minutes-031018/open

[9] “Company Director: Barry Lloyd Ebert.” NZ Company Directory/NZWAO. https://www.nzwao.com/director/Barry+Lloyd+EBERT/ (2018–2025 data).

[10] “Company Hub listing – Three Point Two Communications Ltd.” CompanyHub.nz (New Zealand business registry aggregator). https://www.companyhub.nz (search results for Three Point Two).

[11] Barry Ebert – LinkedIn profile (excerpt). LinkedIn (NZ)[Profile snippet: “over nearly 40 years… worked across politics, policy… in 4th, 5th and 6th Labour governments”]. https://nz.linkedin.com/in/barry-lloyd-ebert-059955182

[12] Barry Ebert – Twitter bio. @barryebert57 on X (Twitter) (profile description: “Ancient apparatchik, advisor, analyst and entrepreneur.”). https://twitter.com/barryebert57

[13] “Steve Armitage – Chief Executive, Hospitality New Zealand (LinkedIn profile).” LinkedIn (NZ). [Experience: Director at Three Point Two 2008–2013; Speechwriter to Auckland Mayor Len Brown].

[14] “Hospitality NZ appoints Steve Armitage as Chief Executive.” Scoop News (Press Release, 15 Jun 2021). https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU2106/S00207/hospitality-nz-appoints-steve-armitage-as-chief-executive.htm

[15] Len Brown “spin doctors” controversy – Steven Armitage mentioned as speechwriter. National Business Review (2013)[Part-time advisors list].

[16] Juliet Calder – LinkedIn profile (excerpt). LinkedIn (NZ)[Experience: PR Consultant at Three Point Two (Apr–Dec 2011); Senior Advisor, Opposition Leader’s Office (2008)].

[17] “How well-connected lobbyists ask for – and receive – urgent meetings, sensitive information and action on law changes for their corporate clients.” RNZ News (Lobbying series by Guyon Espiner/Kate Newton, 27 Mar 2023). https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/lobbying/486527/how-well-connected-lobbyists-ask-for-and-receive-urgent-meetings-sensitive-information-and-action-on-law-changes-for-their-corporate-clients

[18] “Political Roundup: The concerning role of lobbyists in NZ.” NZ Herald (Bryce Edwards column, 2020)[Discusses Ebert case and Jacinda Ardern’s use of lobbyist advisors]. (Paywalled).

[19] “NZ Companies Office – Register entry for Three Point Two Communications Ltd.” Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE). https://companies-register.companiesoffice.govt.nz (Company ID 1984370)[Official registry confirming status and addresses].

[20] Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) statement on Barry Ebert. DIA Media Release (Jan 2020)[DIA confirmed dual employment arrangement and Ebert’s disclosure of directorship].

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