A selection of our mahi
We partner with organisations across Aotearoa to deliver strategy, sustainability, and project outcomes that create real impact. These projects reflect the breadth of our mahi, from policy and planning through to on-the-ground delivery.
Climate Adaptation Strategy
Te Rūnanga o Whaingaroa
We partnered with Te Rūnanga o Whaingaroa to secure funding and deliver a comprehensive, iwi-led Climate Change Adaptation Strategy. The project supported the development of a long-term response to climate impacts across the rohe, grounded in mātauranga Māori and informed by scientific data.
Whaingaroa communities are already experiencing the impacts of climate change, including flooding, drought, coastal erosion, and declining ecosystem health. These pressures extend beyond the environment, affecting marae, wāhi tapu, infrastructure, and access to essential resources.
In response, we worked alongside the Rūnanga to design and deliver a structured programme of work that moved from funding through to implementation. This included securing external funding, leading project delivery, and facilitating engagement with whānau, hapū, and technical experts.
The approach combined lived experience, local knowledge, and scientific insight to ensure the strategy reflected both the realities on the ground and the long-term aspirations of the iwi.
The project delivered a Climate Response Plan (2025–2030), providing a clear and actionable framework for adaptation across the rohe.
It established a prioritised pathway for responding to climate risks, identified vulnerable areas and communities, and set out practical actions to strengthen resilience across whānau, marae, and ecosystems.
Importantly, the work also created a strong foundation for future funding, planning, and implementation enabling Te Rūnanga o Whaingaroa to lead climate adaptation on their own terms and with long-term confidence.
We were engaged by Northland Regional Council to lead the development of a comprehensive case study report for the Tangata Whenua Water Advisory Group (TW-WAG).
The purpose of this work was to inform freshwater policy development in Te Taitokerau by identifying best practice, lessons learned, and mātauranga-informed approaches to water management.
This project required a careful balance between technical rigour and cultural integrity. We designed and delivered a research-led, kaupapa Māori approach that combined literature review, expert interviews, and wānanga with TW-WAG members.
Through this process, we developed a series of case studies spanning wetlands, aquifers, river systems and Te Mana o te Wai initiatives. Each case study explored how projects were established, how mātauranga Māori was applied, and what lessons could be carried forward into future freshwater management.
The work was intentionally structured to translate both lived experience and technical insight into clear, policy-relevant guidance. This ensured the outputs could directly support plan development, recommendations to Council, and wider freshwater outcomes for the region.
We partnered with the Sustainable Business Council (SBC), alongside Thinkstep ANZ, to support the development of a suite of practical sustainability guides for businesses across Aotearoa. The project focused on embedding a te Ao Māori lens into ESG and sustainability guidance, ensuring the tools were not only technically robust, but culturally grounded and relevant to the New Zealand context.
As part of this work, we designed and integrated a te Ao Māori approach across a series of ESG topics, including climate, nature, social sustainability, governance, and transparency.
The approach centred on weaving mātauranga Māori, tikanga, and storytelling into practical guidance — making complex sustainability concepts more accessible, meaningful, and actionable for organisations. This included introducing key values such as kaitiakitanga, manaakitanga, whakapapa, and rangatiratanga, and grounding them in real-world decision-making and strategy.
The work was developed to ensure the guides could be used by a wide range of organisations, providing a clear pathway for businesses to strengthen their sustainability capability while also building cultural understanding and competence.
The project contributed to the development of a nationally relevant suite of sustainability resources that support businesses to deliver on ESG commitments in a way that is both practical and values-led.
It strengthened the integration of te Ao Māori within mainstream sustainability guidance, helping organisations better understand their role within Aotearoa and the long-term impact of their decisions.
More broadly, this work supports a shift toward more inclusive, culturally grounded approaches to sustainability — enabling businesses to move beyond compliance and toward meaningful, long-term impact.
The project focused on addressing flooding and environmental degradation through wetland and river restoration, while strengthening community preparedness and engagement. It brought together mātauranga Māori, scientific data, and local knowledge to design a practical, place-based response to climate impacts.
This work established a strong foundation for long-term climate adaptation planning in Whakapara, supporting both environmental restoration and the resilience of local communities.
We supported Whakapara Trust in the development of a successful Climate Resilient Communities Fund application, securing funding for a community-led climate resilience project.
He Manawa aa Whenua
Tainui Group Holdings
The project brought together iwi leadership, cultural advisors, governance groups, and organisational stakeholders to shape a strategy that balances environmental responsibility, commercial realities, and long-term resilience across a diverse portfolio of land, property, infrastructure, tourism, and rural assets.
Our role included stakeholder engagement, materiality assessment, strategic framework development, governance recommendations, and the integration of cultural and scientific approaches to sustainability. The final strategy established four core pillars focused on water, climate resilience, whenua stewardship, and sustainable development.