Kōrero Whakataki - Introduction

WSP’s Māori Business and Advisory Services is driven to provide for a future that is inclusive and centred on Aotearoa New Zealand. Our relationships and knowledge of Te Ao Māori drivers allows us to guide our clients in future ready thinking.

Mana-enhancing partnerships are working relationships that increase the strength and success of all parties involved. These relationships recognise and respect Te Tiriti o Waitangi and value the enhancement of Māori social, cultural, environmental and economic wellbeing.

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 Māori Business and Advisory Services support Project Managers and teams across WSP with the application of Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles within the work we deliver. We support and provide for Tangata Whenua engagement through the implementation of cultural expertise and Mātauranga Māori across all projects that involve the land, lakes, rivers and sea. In doing so, we uphold the WSP Rautaki Māori focus of building mana-enhancing partnerships between WSP and Māori that extend far beyond the life span of projects.  

Our Māori Business and Advisory Services work alongside Tangata Whenua, WSP Technical Experts and Project Managers providing culturally holistic and sustainable capability solutions that enhance partnerships. To further support the delivery of projects, our key cultural capabilities and technical disciplines include but are not limited to:

• Cultural Resource Management Act Specialists
• Iwi Project, Asset, Infrastructure and Resource Management
• Iwi Consultation, Engagement Facilitation and Advocacy
• Cultural Impact Assessments
• Mana Whenua Policy, Planning and Strategy Development
• Resource Consents
• Indigenous Design and Architecture
• Te Reo, Tikanga and Mātauranga Māori Integration into Reports

Our Rautaki Māori represents the legacy of generations of Māori staff who have contributed to the growth of WSP over the many years. Their passion and commitment to work alongside Iwi Māori and Kaupapa Māori projects within WSP has been the supporting pou (pillar) of this strategy. The 'Ara Poutama' (pathway of excellence) on the sides of the meeting house represents the New Zealand Senior Leadership Team who continue to embrace and support WSP's Rautaki Māori.

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 ultimate ambition is to build Mana-enhancing partnerships that are positive, enduring and supportive in achieving aspirations both internally and externally.

Our strategic values and initiatives are grounded in the following priorities: 

Kaitiakitanga - Building cultural capability and capacity across WSP and our clients of Aotearoa, New Zealand
Whanaungatanga - Partnering with Māori to guide, enhance and elevate success opportunities
Manaakitanga - Value and naturalise Te Ao Māori principles in our work and client relationships  
Whakapumautanga - Validate, implement and deliver on Māori outcomes to enhance the growth of WSP business

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.

We empower our colleagues across every sector to embed respect and awareness into their internal and external relationships, processes and projects.

Tēnā koutou katoa, nau mai, haere mai ki tēnei kōrero.

This webinar explores our WSP Rautaki Māori which focuses on our purpose, which informs our strategic priorities (ō Tātou Wawata), and guiding principles of our functions in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Reg Profitt and Kumeroa Pihama – Pou Arataki  - Director Māori and  Pou Whanake – Technical Director Māori, WSP in New Zealand

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