Magpie Media is a specialist online communications agency. Our focus is on helping our customers to create engaging, meaningful and profitable connections with their customers and stakeholders using online mediums.
Our History
Founder, Craig Garner, established Magpie Media Limited in 2009. Craig was a pioneer in the use of web technology in New Zealand and has continued to work with this technology over the years, finding a natural fit between this and his work and passion for sales and marketing and business development. In 2008 Craig began to embrace the new world order of online technology, known in some circles as ‘Web 2.0’ and became an early adopter of the new online communications and marketing tools and platforms that emerged from this. Not since the introduction of the Internet has such a powerful opportunity presented for business and communities to create authentic pathways for customer and stakeholder engagement. In true ‘Craig’ fashion, he knew that he had an important contribution to make to helping businesses, NFP organisations and individuals to better understand the changing online environment and to embrace and engage in, what he calls the ‘communication evolution’.Director ProfilesCraig Garner - Managing Director
Craig has had a wide and varied hands-on career that has spanned the engineering industry to the Information, Communications and Technology sector. His involvement with start-ups and business development initiatives includes the formation of a web development studio in 1997 (early days still for commercial site development) and later specialising in web project and site management.
His strong interest in community engagement and business has encouraged him to participate in a wide range of project steering groups that represented initiatives including regional economic development, broad band implementation and the arts sector.
Craig has held CEO positions for NFP organisations the Chamber of Commerce Tauranga Region, at the time one of New Zealand’s largest Chambers outside the metropolitan centres, and the Stardome Observatory in Auckland. He has been a judge at several business and export awards, held Board positions with organisations focussed on business development and is an active Business Mentor.
Helen Cunliffe - Commercial Director
Helen has been devoted to the growth and development of business for most of her professional life. In the late 1990’s she held the position of Mainstreet Programmes Manager, a first for New Zealand at the time, working within Auckland City Council. This was a unique and challenging role that required a clear understanding of the issues faced by small business, complemented by excellent communication and advocacy skills to link the business sector with the local government system.
Helen later worked with Economic Development Agencies continuing her focus on business development and then as Business Centre Manager at the Tauranga Chamber of Commerce. Here she again found herself breaking new ground and created a collective of business services. Helen was responsible for contracts which included the then Biz Information and Enterprise Training Programmes, the Ministry of Social Development’s Be Your Own Boss, and Business Mentors New Zealand service.
Most recently, Helen held the position of New Zealand Agency Manager for the Business Mentors New Zealand service, overseeing the New Zealand agency network and introducing the Specialised Export Mentoring Service.
Helen has also been a business awards judge and was a founding member of the Te Raranga Maori Business Network in the Bay of Plenty. In 2005 she was awarded the Kiwi Family Trust “Community Inspiration Award” for the Bay of Plenty Region for services to business and the local community.
