Waihanga Ara Rau Workforce Development Council

Industries

Water

Solutions

Strategy & Vision

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Expertise
Workshop design and facilitation
Research design and planning
Research facilitation
Research analysis
Unification of research findings from multiple sources
Authorship and design of strategy report
Design and build a website (https://wearewater.nz) to present findings

NZ’s water sector is going through a once-in-a-generation infrastructure transformation that aims to improve water systems throughout the country. At the moment, about 85% of water systems are managed by councils – with different levels of service delivery.

To execute the improvements and transformation required, the water sector needs to identify, recruit, develop and retain a large influx of new employees. Waihanga Ara Rau (construction and infrastructure) Workforce Development Council commissioned Assurity to work alongside the industry to conduct research, analysis, and distillation; and to complete a viable workforce development strategy report.

“Working with representatives from across the water sector, Assurity has helped the sector focus on four important workforce challenges that will prepare the sector for the task ahead when actioned.”

Gillian Blythe

CEO

Water New Zealand

"For the Three Waters project, it was important to ensure collaboration with Māori happened right from the start. We didn’t want it to be an add-on at the end. Assurity are great at finding the cultural experts they need and bringing everyone along on the journey."

Mike Grumball

GM Assurance

Waihanga Ara Rau

Approach

Baseline research involved qualitative interviews with iwi and hapū, encompassing environmental consultants, water industry experts, crown-iwi advisors, and training providers were conducted. It also encompassed an industry scan, including engagement with small suppliers, as well as focus groups with students and school leavers.

The resulting strategy report identifies five insight categories and outlines four strategic goals with 14 recommendations. In addition, Assurity developed a communications system to reflect the industry needs and effectively carry key messages to engage desired audiences.

Results

To develop a compelling name for the strategy, Assurity collaborated with three Māori educators. This trio of cultural experts came up with ‘Ko Wai tātau/We are water’, a name that works on multiple levels: humans are mostly made from water; our cultural identity arises from land and water; our lives are shaped by water, and water is essential for life.

The website wearewater.co.nz has been live since March 2022 and has been widely praised by all audience segments, including Māori and Pasifika

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We
Are
Water

Creating a long-term workforce development strategy for NZ's water services industry

NZ’s water sector is going through a once-in-a-generation infrastructure transformation that aims to improve water systems throughout the country. At the moment, about 85% of water systems are managed by councils – with different levels of service delivery.

“Working with representatives from across the water sector, Assurity has helped the sector focus on four important workforce challenges that will prepare the sector for the task ahead when actioned.”

"For the Three Waters project, it was important to ensure collaboration with Māori happened right from the start. We didn’t want it to be an add-on at the end. Assurity are great at finding the cultural experts they need and bringing everyone along on the journey."

Approach

Results

The website wearewater.co.nz has been live since March 2022 and has been widely praised by all audience segments, including Māori and Pasifika

Elevating
the
Consumer
Voice

Customer
journeys
refined

Renergise
Ngā Mahi a Māui Workforce
Development
Strategy

Ready to maximise your digital potential?

Get in touch!

We Are Water

Waihanga Ara Rau Workforce Development Council

Creating a long-term workforce development strategy for NZ's water services industry

NZ’s water sector is going through a once-in-a-generation infrastructure transformation that aims to improve water systems throughout the country. At the moment, about 85% of water systems are managed by councils – with different levels of service delivery.

“Working with representatives from across the water sector, Assurity has helped the sector focus on four important workforce challenges that will prepare the sector for the task ahead when actioned.”

"For the Three Waters project, it was important to ensure collaboration with Māori happened right from the start. We didn’t want it to be an add-on at the end. Assurity are great at finding the cultural experts they need and bringing everyone along on the journey."

Approach

Results

The website wearewater.co.nz has been live since March 2022 and has been widely praised by all audience segments, including Māori and Pasifika

Elevating the Consumer Voice

Customer journeys refined

Renergise Ngā Mahi a Māui Workforce Development Strategy

Ready to maximise your digital potential?

Get in touch!

We
Are
Water

Elevating
the
Consumer
Voice

Customer
journeys
refined

Renergise
Ngā Mahi a Māui Workforce
Development
Strategy