Marketing Meetup Write up

Write-up from the May 2026 Christchurch Marketing Meetup

Last week, Rachel Crockett of TikTok NZ gave a packed room of Christchurch marketers a candid, current look at what's actually working on the platform - from hooks and storytelling to the testing habits that separate content that lands from content that disappears.

When Rachel made time for the Christchurch Marketing Meetup, the local marketing community turned out in force. Over 80 people gathered at Big Sky Studio (an impressive new addition to the Christchurch creative scene), and a fitting venue for an evening all about content that commands attention.

Rather than dealing in theory, Rachel grounded the session in real examples from Kiwi brands doing it well on TikTok, then unpacked the guiding principles behind why those campaigns worked. It was the kind of insight that's hard to come by unless you're close to the platform itself: how to earn attention in the first few seconds, how to build a story that holds it, and how to test your way toward content that genuinely drives results rather than just views. For a room full of marketers (both seasoned and those still in uni), it was a refreshingly practical session.

Seeing local brands held up as the case studies made it land all the harder - proof that standout TikTok content isn't reserved for big global players, and that the same principles are well within reach for marketers right here in Ōtautahi.

The evening contained all the things that the best meetups do, with drinks, nibbles, and a room full of local marketers comparing notes and making connections.

A sincere thank you to Rachel for sharing her time and expertise with the Christchurch marketing community, to Big Sky Studio for hosting us, and to everyone who came along. Events like this are exactly what keep our local marketing scene sharp, connected, and ahead of the curve.

Source:  Courtney Butcher, Global Senior Brand Manager, Natural Pet Food Group, 29th May 2026