We work with ministerial advisory groups, boards, iwi, mission-driven organisations and civil society to cut through noise and shape public conversation about topics that matter.
As seen and heard on
Kaupapa we've carried from rural localities to newsrooms to the world stage.
Advocacy for whānau Māori after their 11-year-old autistic daughter was mistakenly identified by police as an adult mental health patient, handcuffed, restrained twice and injected with adult antipsychotic drugs at Waikato Hospital. We supported the whānau to tell their story. The extensive media coverage led to an apology from the Prime Minister.
See the coverage →
Communications and advocacy support for a kaupapa Māori hauora research series - shaping how the findings landed with media, officials and communities.
Read the report series →
Spokesperson preparation, media strategy and rapid-response commentary about Waitangi Tribunal proceedings and recommendations - keeping the kaupapa clear under national scrutiny.
See the coverage →
Taking indigenous rights advocacy from Aotearoa to the world stage, with messaging and positioning built for a global audience that was picked up by international news media.
View the thread →
Media strategy for the independent review into policing, taking its 40 recommendations to national audiences across broadcast, print and online.
Watch the coverage →
Communications and media strategy for the first citizens' assembly of its kind, with Porirua whānau and Ngāti Toa setting the recommendations on water, waste, energy and transport for their future.
Read the story →
Media strategy for the national conference on Māori housing, moving the conversation from crisis to kaupapa Māori solutions, with coverage in the Sunday Star-Times and Stuff.
Read the story →Clear strategy, sharp messaging and campaign design aligned to your kaupapa.
Positioning, media outreach and spokesperson prep, from press release to prime-time.
Speeches, op-eds and executive commentary that carry conviction.
Submissions, ministerial briefings and coalition advocacy that moves decision-makers.
Te Tiriti-grounded advocacy, supporting iwi and Māori organisations to lift indigenous voice.
Stakeholder and government engagement that builds trust and social licence.
Research insights that transform evidence into action by shifting narratives, influencing policy and changing systems.
Multi-channel storytelling that turns strategy into public momentum.
Strategic content planning with platform management that strengthens reputation and engagement.
We operate at the intersection of policy, people and public conversation. These are the spaces where we bring our greatest value, across a range of portfolios and forums.
Hauora / Health
Kaupapa Māori health, research and system advocacy.
Pirihimana / Policing/Justice/Law & Order
Independent reviews, systemic bias and law and order debates.
Social Services
Whānau wellbeing, prevention and frontline providers.
Rangatahi/Youth
Evidence and advocacy for the youth work sector.
Housing
Shifting the story from crisis to kaupapa Māori solutions.
Taiao/Environment
Community-led planning grounded in Te Tiriti.
Sexual Violence Prevention
Clear, careful communication on hard kaupapa.
Waitangi Tribunal
Media strategy and spokesperson prep for claims and recommendations.
High Court
Communications around litigation and Crown accountability.
United Nations
Taking indigenous rights advocacy to a global audience.
Parliament
Submissions, select committees and ministerial briefings.
Government Advisory
Panels, advisory groups and stakeholder engagement.
"Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini."
My strength is not that of one, but the strength of many.
10 Google reviews
"Thank you, Sarah, for the outstanding work you do on our behalf. It is vital that journalists and media understand the importance of our mahi, and you have gone above and beyond to truly grasp what we do. Your specialised advice and guidance have ensured our communications are clear, accessible, and succinct, helping us reach the communities who need this information most. We deeply appreciate your commitment and expertise."
"I've had the privilege of working with Sarah over the past couple of years across both media consulting and high-level government advocacy, and I can honestly say she is one of the most impressive professionals I've encountered in this space. What sets Sarah apart is her rare combination of sharp strategic thinking and genuine warmth. Her media connections are exceptional, and she knows exactly how to navigate complex government advocacy landscapes with both confidence and finesse. Every engagement felt considered, proactive, and tailored, never cookie-cutter."
"We have been involved in an extremely challenging research project concerning systemic bias and the NZ Police. Sarah has been central to the process of sharing our findings with a range of audiences. Her practical and yet highly strategic advice and her management of our interactions with a range of media and audiences has been impressive. She has become a critical member of the team and has done an outstanding job."
Sparks Consulting brings together strategy, advocacy and communications to help leaders perform in complex moments.
Led by Sarah Sparks, we combine policy insight, media instinct and Te Tiriti-grounded practice to advance your kaupapa.
Sarah is a member of the Institute of Directors and PRINZ the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand.
Small, senior teams. Close to the decision. Relentless about the outcome.
Te Kōhao Health and National Urban Māori Authority urge Parliament to reject the latest proposed changes to Treaty obligations, warning of preventable deaths and further damage to Māori health services.
Read the release (PDF) →The first research to put a dollar value on the social impact of youth work finds it generates $1.72 billion in social value for young people, whānau and communities across Aotearoa over 12 months, as Ara Taiohi calls for greater and more sustained investment in youth work.
Read the release (PDF) →Lady Tureiti Moxon says ACT and New Zealand First proposals to abolish or restrict the Waitangi Tribunal would remove a mechanism for Crown accountability, as Te Kōhao Health and co-claimants await the High Court's decision on the disestablishment of Te Aka Whai Ora.
Read the release (PDF) →Commentary, columns and panel appearances across NZ Herald, RNZ, TVNZ, Sunday Star-Times and Boardroom Magazine.
Boardroom Magazine · Institute of Directors
NZ Herald
NZ Herald
NZ Herald
TVNZ
NZ Herald
Sunday Star Times · The Post
Boardroom Magazine · Institute of Directors
Sunday Star-Times· 22 Sept 2022
"Māori wards are not, as some claim, a dilution of democracy. They're about sitting in unity at the top table, enshrining the rights indigenous people are granted under Te Tiriti o Waitangi."
Read on Stuff →Sunday Star-Times· 29 Mar 2023
"Trust in government institutions is in stark decline in many parts of the world. The wellbeing of our collective is at stake if trust is threatened, diminished or destroyed."
Read on Stuff →Sunday Star-Times· 25 Feb 2022
"Standing up for what you believe on the steps of Parliament is a civic duty. But we must recognise the current societal split and protest action in Pōneke as a tohu, a sign."
Read on Stuff →Sunday Star-Times· 31 Dec 2021
"The leadership of wāhine Māori shines a light on the values that should guide us through the uncertainty of the year ahead, leading the way with principles, not politics."
Read on Stuff →Short commentary on policy, legislation, media and public conversation. No noise.
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