We were asked to assist the Ministry for the Environment lift its understanding of the food system in New Zealand, to help it contribute to cross government policy work in this area. 

Food Systems Analysis 

We designed and developed and, for its first season, managed the operation of Auckland’s multi award-winning Safeswim platform. We combined cutting edge modelling and data-visualisation, common-sense science and state-of-the-art sensor tech, added drones and digital signs and built a multi-party partnership across agencies to provide Auckland’s beach users with a world leading one-stop-shop for real time information on water quality and beach swimming conditions.

In seven months, from February to October 2017 we completely redesigned, rebuilt and relaunched Auckland Council’s beach water quality monitoring and reporting system. This required us to build and manage a multi-party virtual team and framework for management/oversight that brought together representatives from across Council departments, Council Controlled Organisations and other public agencies, and included a broad range of private sector technical experts. 

Importantly, we reached out to and built a relationship with Surf Life Saving Northern Region – for the first time integrating public advice and messaging on swimming conditions and water quality. 

The Safeswim programme has collected a succession of international and national awards for its innovative design and effective integration of environmental science, continuous monitoring, contaminant modelling, data warehousing and web and digital sign-based communications platforms to radically improve the accuracy and effectiveness of Auckland’s beach and water quality management systems.

Safeswim 

The He Waka Eke Noa Partnership was formed to develop an alternative system to the NZETS for agricultural emissions. As the deadlines for policy direction loomed, the partnership asked us to come on board during a period of structural transition and strategic change. Our task was to help reorient the policy programme in short order, and to provide expert input to workstreams focussed on 'pricing' and 'sequestration'. 

He Waka Eke Noa 

We decoded the framework officials would use to evaluate a proposal for R&D funding, prepared presentation material that anticipated official’s questions, developed content that aligned with government’s objectives and helped ensure the funding pitch was delivered in a style and in language that resonated with public sector decision-makers.

We helped Leaft Foods – an early-stage agri-tech startup – translate their concept and technical information into a proposal for Government funding to support their R&D programme. We decoded the framework officials would use to evaluate the Leaft Foods proposal, prepared presentation material that anticipated official’s questions, developed content that aligned with government’s objectives and helped ensure the funding pitch was delivered in a style and in language that resonated with public sector decision-makers. Ultimately, our support ensured that Leaft Foods was able to submit a crisp, cogent and compelling pitch for funding to Government within a very short timeframe.

Agritech R&D

We provided ecology advice to inform a water management strategy for Northland – a region with chronic water shortage issues. Investigative work funded by central government was undertaken to identify suitable locations for water storage reservoirs and we provided advice to ensure ecological issues were appropriately considered and managed throughout the project, from concept to construction. 

The project was granted consent through the new 'fast-track' process and the decision emphasised the high-quality of the ecological assessment. 