Māori Business and Advisory Services

Who we are What we do Our Services WSP Rautaki Māori Contacts Insights

Ko Wai Mātou - Who we are

Our dedicated Māori Business and Advisory Services team has played a pivotal role within WSP for over two decades, providing invaluable support to our New Zealand Leadership Team.

We are a group of experienced specialised consultants, with an extensive network of Whakapapa (genealogy), partnerships with Iwi Māori and organisations across Aotearoa New Zealand.

We are a group of experienced specialised consultants, with an extensive network of Whakapapa (genealogy), partnerships with Iwi Māori and organisations across Aotearoa New Zealand.

What we do

Our Māori cultural consultants support our internal and external stakeholders to build authentic connections between Māori and non-Māori.

We achieve this by genuinely coordinating and engaging with Iwi, Māori, tangata whenua (indigenous peoples) and non-Māori.

We educate our employees, clients and stakeholders by creating educational plans, implementing learning resources, and providing guidance on correct tikanga (protocols) that apply to a business’s operations and management.

Our māori cultural business consultants reduce risk by ensuring the correct procedures are being followed.

We advise on Mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge). Mātauranga Māori is a wealth of expertise that prioritises te taiao (the natural world), wai (water), and whenua (land).

Rau Wheako - Multi Sector Experience

People are the heart of Māori Business and Advisory Services. Our relationships with colleagues, clients, iwi and stakeholders are central to our work and make us an important part of every sector and service offering. Because we facilitate meaningful relationships across our entire business, we are best placed to continuously build employee education and understanding of Māori knowledge and practice.

Ō Mātou Ratonga – Our Services

Our services empower our clients to increase their understanding of Te Ao Māori, build cultural foundations across projects and provide holistic and sustainable solutions which reduce project and business risks. Our services include:

Cultural Impact Assessment

Our team can help you to evaluate the potential effects of proposed developments on Māori cultural sites. We engage with iwi to gather insights and cultural aspirations to provide an in-depth analysis of cultural impacts, offering recommendations to avoid or mitigate adverse effects. We offer detailed CIA reports, which informs decision-making processes and ensures that projects are developed in a way that respects and preserves cultural aspirations and heritage, supporting positive iwi relationships.

Cultural Resource Management Act Specialist

Our cultural Resource Management Act specialists focus on ensuring that development projects comply with the Resource Management Act, which protects New Zealand's natural landscapes and cultural heritage. Our work involves identifying and assessing cultural sites, advising on legal obligations, and providing mitigation strategies to avoid or minimise cultural impacts.

Indigenous Design and Architecture

We focus on incorporating Māori cultural values, symbolism, and traditional knowledge into the design and architecture of buildings and spaces. Our specialists collaborate with iwi and design teams to create environments that reflect and celebrate Indigenous identity. We work with clients to design and deliver culturally rich designs, architectural plans, and built environments that honor Māori heritage, promote cultural sustainability, and enhance community connections, creating spaces that resonate with cultural significance.

Iwi Consultation, Engagement, Facilitation and Advocacy

We facilitate meaningful engagement between iwi and stakeholders, ensuring iwi perspectives are integrated into projects and policies. Our Specialists work to build strong relationships, manage culturally sensitive communication, and advocate for iwi interests in various forums. We offer advocacy support that helps navigate complex cultural and regulatory landscapes, ensuring projects proceed with iwi consent and collaboration.

Iwi Project, Asset, Infrastructure and Resource Management

We collaborate with iwi to manage projects, assets, and infrastructure in a way that respects and integrates Māori values and knowledge. Our specialists advocate for iwi interests to be integrated into planning and decision-making processes, focusing on sustainable resource management and the protection of cultural knowledge.

Mana Whenua Policy, Planning, Strategy and Development

We work with clients to develop policies, plans, and strategies that reflect the values and rights of mana whenua (local iwi) in land and resource management. Our specialists work closely with iwi to ensure their perspectives are integrated into planning frameworks, supporting sustainable development and cultural preservation.

Te Reo, Tikanga, and Mātauranga Māori Integration into Reports

We support clients with including Te Reo Māori (Māori language), tikanga (customs), and mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) into reports and documents. Our team of specialists ensure that these elements are accurately and respectfully integrated, reflecting the cultural context and enhancing the relevance of the reports.

WSP Rautaki Maori

Our Rautaki Māori represents the legacy of generations of Māori staff who have contributed to the growth of WSP over many years.

WSP's Rautaki Māori provides strategic direction on how we can ingrain Te Ao Māori (worldviews), Te Reo Māori (language), and Tikanga Māori (protocols) into our organisation, the relationships we build, and the work we produce.

Our strategic values and initiatives are grounded in the following priorities Kaitiakitanga, Whanaungatanga, Manaakitanga, and Whakapumautanga.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does WSP mean by Kaitiakitanga?

WSP believes in building cultural capability and capacity across WSP and our clients in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Kaitiakitanga is the principle of providing guardianship of the natural world to maintain healthy whenua (land) and wai (water) and - as a consequence - healthy tangata (people). Kaitiakitanga is a variation of the word kaitiaki (guardian).

What does WSP mean by Whanaungatanga?

WSP believes in partnering with Māori to guide, enhance and elevate success opportunities.

Relationship, kinship, sense of family connection – a relationship through shared experiences and working together, which provides people with a sense of belonging.

What does WSP mean by Manaakitanga?

WSP believes in valuing and naturalising Te Ao Māori principles in our work and client relationships.

Hospitality, kindness, generosity; supports the process of showing respect, generosity and care for others.

What does WSP mean by Whakapumautanga?

WSP believes in validating, implementing and delivering on Māori outcomes.

Validate, implement and deliver on Māori outcomes to enhance the growth of WSP business

What is a Māori Cultural Consultant?

A Māori cultural business consultant is an expert who specialises in providing specific advice and guidance on te ao Māori, te reo Māori, tikanga Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi for businesses and corporations. The responsibilities of individuals and businesses to respect Māori and Te Tiriti are similar, but businesses have obligations that expand beyond their own entities. Businesses and corporations have a responsibility to educate their people and ensure they are upholding Te Tiriti in their day-to-day operations and management.