Making connections on social media

Ātihau-Whanganui Incorporation (Awhi) is now on Facebook and Instagram to enable the organisation to forge better connections with customers and shareholders.

www.facebook.com/awhinz

@awhinz

The Awhi Facebook page (www.facebook.com/awhinz) and Instagram account @awhinz are designed to promote the incorporation’s products and Awhi brand with posts, videos and images that feature Awhi farms, people and animals, explain the Awhi philosophy and spotlight delicious restaurant dishes.

There is another Facebook page for shareholders (www.facebook.com/ atihauwhanganui) called Ātihau- Whanganui Incorporation which will help ensure that iwi and whānau are kept well-informed about what is happening with the business, potential work opportunities, upcoming hui and other pānui.

“Promoting our products and connecting with consumers is a key part of our strategic engagement plan and social media is a very effective platform with which to do this,” says Whetu Moataane, Tikanga and Branding Manager at AWHI. “Telling our unique story via Facebook and Instagram means we can showcase who we are, what we do and how we do it on a global scale.

“Social media also gives us the opportunity to increase and improve our shareholder engagement. People are so immersed in technology now with almost everyone owning a smart phone or having access to a computer that it makes a lot of sense for us to be part of that.”

The shareholder Facebook channel joins a number of initiatives for shareholder engagement which includes AWHI Magazine, annual shareholder farm tours, the annual general meeting, opportunities for kōrero and other events.

“I would encourage all our shareholders and whānau to like and follow the Ātihau-Whanganui Incorporation page so they can stay up-to-date with what’s going on,” says Whetu. “There are some great pictures and videos on there, as well as various notices and updates. The feedback we have been getting so far has been very positive and the number of ‘likes’ is growing all the time.”

The main focus for the Awhi brand social media accounts at the moment is promotion of the Awhi story and products such as Awhi Ruapehu Angus, Awhi Mānuka honey and wool. Posts feature what dishes chefs from some of New Zealand’s best restaurants are creating from prime Awhi beef to really make the mouth water, as well as insights into the way Awhi cares for the environment, the whenua and the animals it farms.

“We are using these channels as a marketing and promotion tool to get the Awhi name out there in the global marketplace,” says Whetu. “The Facebook page began in February and we are already well over 1000 likes, while the Instagram page is also doing well.”

Content is being produced and managed by Auckland social media firm content&co, who work with some of New Zealand’s best known brands such as Lewis Road Creamery, Apple Press, Trilogy and Go Healthy. Their expertise sets the tone and style of each post to align with the strategic plan for the Awhi brand, ensuring it resonates with current and potential customers and consumers.

“The launch of Awhi on social media is an exciting step on our journey to develop our brand in line with our value-add strategic approach so we can make connections and develop partnerships that will see our products reaching homes and restaurants all over the world,” says Whetu.