Tīkapa Moana AN EVALUATION OF A SYSTEMS CHANGE INITIATIVE TO RESTORE THE HAURAKI GULF 2018-2021 - Sustainable ...
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DECEMBER 2021
Tīkapa
Moana
AN EVALUATION OF A SYSTEMS CHANGE INITIATIVE
TO RESTORE THE HAURAKI GULF 2018-2021
A PROJECT FUNDED THROUGH THE FOUNDATION NORTH GIFT FUNDING PROGRAMME
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS NETWORK | FOUNDATION NORTH GIFT FUNDING PROGRAMME
Manaaki whenua,
manaaki tāngata,
haere whakamua.
If we care for the land, if we care
for the people, we can move
forward into the future.
MĀORI PROVERB
AN EVALUATION OF A SYSTEMS CHANGE INITIATIVE TO RESTORE THE HAURAKI GULF 2018-2021 | 2
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS NETWORK | FOUNDATION NORTH GIFT FUNDING PROGRAMME
Contents
04 Executive Summary 13 Product
Stewardship
06 Introduction 14 Restoring native bush to the region’s waterways
07 What we achieved 15 Multiplying the resources
08 The Big Shift 15 The 36th America’s Cup
09 The Hauraki Gulf Catchment 16 The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC) 2021
10 New Targeted Action Projects 17 Jobs for Nature | Mahi mō te Taiao
10 Reducing plastic pollution with litter traps 18 Te Whakaoratanga o te Puhinui me te Manuka
11 Tackling heavy metal pollution 21 Mauri and Te ao Māori
12 SBN’s
associated work with positive impact on Tīkapa Moana 23 Other key relationships
12 Plastic pollution 24 Responsiveness
12 Plastic Packaging 25 Learnings and Looking Forward
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SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS NETWORK | FOUNDATION NORTH GIFT FUNDING PROGRAMME
Executive The aim was to improve the mauri of
Tīkapa Moana (the Hauraki Gulf). The
pollution at source and establish
take back waste schemes
Summary • New collaborations between SBN,
grant funded specific projects and also
became interwoven with SBN’s wider the Auckland Foundation and the
programme of work to improve the state Hauraki Gulf Forum, including
of the Gulf. awareness raising, advocacy and
The Sustainable Business SBN’s unique contribution centred direct support for riparian planting
around leveraging its network of more in the Gulf catchment and mussel
Network’s (SBN) three year
than 500 organisations nationwide, regeneration
journey with a systems particularly those operating within the
Gulf catchment.
• The attraction of additional funding
change grant from Foundation of $5million + to SBN’s regenerative
nature work, with key additional
North’s Gulf Innovation Fund This has had direct and indirect impact
on the Gulf, including: projects within the Gulf catchment
Together (GIFT) has been
transformational. • Reducing the amount of litter SBN established Targeted Action Projects
directly funded by GIFT. These promoted
flowing into the Gulf through the
the installation of stormwater litter
installation of litter traps
traps and copper free brake pads in
• An imminent reduction in pollution commercial vehicle fleets. However,
through the introduction of it became apparent that without the
electrically powered ferries additional funding the team had been
• Increasing awareness of and action looking for SBN’s direct influence on
these issues would be limited. Instead
by businesses to reduce plastic
the project pivoted to support Auckland
AN EVALUATION OF A SYSTEMS CHANGE INITIATIVE TO RESTORE THE HAURAKI GULF 2018-2021 | 4
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS NETWORK | FOUNDATION NORTH GIFT FUNDING PROGRAMME
Council in installing litter traps across the in SBN’s progression in national efforts
city’s stormwater system and lobbying for nature regeneration.1 It has enabled
Environment Minister David Parker on the organisation’s move to support the
regulations to ban copper in brake pads. large scale mana whenua-led South
Auckland nature regeneration project -
Simultaneously, the grant has been
Te Whakaoratanga o te Puhinui me te
transformational for the culture and
Manuka.
strategic direction of the Sustainable
Business Network. It has accelerated Through SBN’s events and
the organisation’s cultural development communications, this new way of being
and understanding of Te ao Māori. This is rippling out across the organisation
has allowed SBN staff to more deeply and its network of more than 500
acknowledge the colonial context of organisations nationwide.
nature conservation in Aotearoa New
During the project period there’s been a
Zealand right up to the present day.
significant growth in awareness, interest
It has much deeper conversations and
and engagement with the restoration
interactions, between team members
of the Gulf across government, local
and particularly with mana whenua
authority and business. Government
partners and those working directly with
policy in relation to the Gulf has
them. It has enabled the team to enrich
gradually been formulated. Ongoing iwi
and inform its understanding of natural
settlements have shifted the context,
phenomena as natural treasures and
making it easier for central and local
living beings, and to act accordingly.
government to engage and partner. SBN,
Placing mauri at the centre of this through the GIFT fund and working with
project and its work has been the other stakeholders, has had a wide
most challenging learning curve with ranging positive impact on this process,
the most significant outcomes. It has and is set to remain an influential
reshaped SBN’s approach to all its contributor for years to come.
work around deep personal connection
with nature. It has been instrumental 1. See page 7
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SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS NETWORK | FOUNDATION NORTH GIFT FUNDING PROGRAMME
Hauraki
Gulf
An evaluation of Introduction Initially entitled GulfX, the project was
based on an SBN scoping report granted
what we call “Targeted Action Projects
(TAPs)”. These are interventions targeting
a systems change funding by Foundation North in 2017: specific aspects of each issue. Secondly,
In October 2018 the The Clean Waters of Tīkapa Moana - supporting aspects of SBN’s existing
initiative to restore Sustainable Business Network Restoring the Hauraki Gulf. This focused programme of activities especially
the Hauraki Gulf (SBN) received funding from
on the potential for direct business relevant to that issue.
engagement on ecological protection
2018-2021 Gulf Innovation Fund Together and restoration of the Gulf, particularly
All activities were designed to leverage
SBN’s nationwide Investor network of
(G.I.F.T) – a Foundation North to tackle sediment, plastic and heavy
more than 500 businesses, including
metal pollution.
initiative to help restore the around 75 businesses based and operating
A project funded through The project initially applied a range in the Gulf catchment at the start of the
the Foundation North mauri, the life-giving essence, of interventions. SBN’s Million project. SBN’s promotional channels were
GIFT Funding Programme
of the Hauraki Gulf. Metres Project was assessed as the employed to promote all the activities and
organisation’s best means of tackling initiatives within the project.
This is the area of the ocean known
sedimentation in catchment waterways
traditionally as Tīkapa Moana or Te
by restoring native bush along their “SBN’s unique contribution
Moana-nui-ā-Toi. It is situated around
banks. This work was supported by a to the Gulf is their constant
the eastern shores of Auckland, Tāmaki
separate grant from Foundation North. engagement and focus on the
Makaurau, New Zealand’s largest city.
Otherwise this issue needs to tackled at business community and business
It includes the islands of the Gulf,
a local and national government level. leaders, and keeping the Gulf front
stretching up to Te Arai. It encapsulates
The project’s response to plastic and of mind with them. Their profile
Te Hauturu-o Toi (Little Barrier), Aotea
2. For a full summary of the heavy metal pollution would be split and longevity helps them do this.”
(Great Barrier) and sweeps around
ecological issues affecting the Gulf, see: between two main elements. Firstly, – Stakeholder
https://gulfjournal.org.nz/state-of-the-gulf/ Coromandel peninsula.2
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What we achieved
From the core work of this project: SBN’s associated programmes with Build on the learnings of this project to:
positive impact on Tīkapa Moana:
MANAGE
$ 5 million
LITTER TRAPS WATERWAY PLANTING PROJECTS
50+ litter traps installed, preventing litter from SBN supported 14 waterway planting projects
flowing through storm drains into the sea in the Gulf catchment to raise $336,500. This
is enabling the restoration of 21.6 kilometres of from the Government’s Jobs for Nature | Mahi mō
waterway with 45,000+ native plants and trees te Taiao Fund, working with five partners in the
Gulf region, creating 66 short term jobs in nature
restoration and completing 26,229 hours of work
ELECTRIC FERRY PROPOSALS PRODUCT TAKE BACK SCHEMES
Lobbying and advocacy that secured electric ferry Campaign website promoting product take back
proposals access to the $25 million annual Low schemes to tackle waste and litter - website
Emission Transport Fund administered by the
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority
viewed by more than 17,000 people, 500+ business
engaged with, 58 new schemes created
RECEIVE A
WEBINAR SERIES
The project’s online Gift to the Gulf webinar series
REDUCING PLASTIC POLLUTION
203 people representing over 100 organisations
$ 1 million
grant from the Department of Conservation for Te
generated more than 8,000 views across Facebook learning together how to reduce plastic pollution at Whakaoratanga o te Puhinui me te Manuka, a new
and our web pages source by redesigning plastic production and use project for large-scale urban rejuvenation through
nature regeneration
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SYSTEM SYSTEM INNOVATION SYSTEM CHANGE
The Big Shift
SBN’S APPROACH
6
The approach taken was in line
with SBN’s guiding methodology for
systems change, combining core work
from this project with allied work Setting the new
across other SBN programmes. rules of the
5
mainstream
Since 2014, SBN has adopted and
adapted the Big Shift approach
4
developed by Forum for the Future
in the UK. The Big Shift describes the Sustaining
the transition
process of initiating system change in
six steps. Enabling
the tipping
The focus on restoring mauri, and the
emphasis on a Te ao Māori framing of
the issues was rather newer to SBN
3 point
as an organisation. This would be
addressed through a comprehensive
course of cultural and tikanga 1 2 Creating
pioneering
practices
awareness, both within the project Diagnosing
and with GIFT’s support to grantees Experiencing the system
the need for
(and described later in this report). change
Graph adapted from Stephanie Draper. Forum for the Future, Creating the big shift: system innovation for sustainability. AN EVALUATION OF A SYSTEMS CHANGE INITIATIVE TO RESTORE THE HAURAKI GULF 2018-2021 | 8
AURAKI GULF MARINE SPATIAL PLAN
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS NETWORK | FOUNDATION NORTH GIFT FUNDING PROGRAMME
BOUT THE The
ROJECT
Hauraki Gulf
Catchment
ll about the Gulf
THEensuring
hange – Tai Timu Tai Pari is about CORE theWORKHauraki
OF THIS PROJECT
s a healthy, productive and sustainable resource for all
area we’re talking about
talking about the 1.2 million hectare Hauraki Gulf
e Park, which includes both sides of the Coromandel
sula.
arine spatial plan’s focus will be the Gulf’s coastal
e area. That’s the area between mean high water
gs (MHWS) and 12 nautical miles offshore.
utside-in approach to planning
n our way forward we have to understand the current
nd state of the Hauraki Gulf marine environment and
ture wants and needs of its users. To do this, we’ll be
a process called marine spatial planning. Photo by NASA/GSFC/MODIS
Land Rapid Response Team,
Map: https://www.seachange. Jacques Descloitres. https://
rocess, Sea Change – Tai Timu Tai Pari, will be a org.nz/assets/Sea-Change/4052 lance-modis.eosdis.nasa.gov/
orative process. While the Stakeholder Working Group
is at the core of this process, the wider public and
who have been a part of the forums will also have
tunities to feed in their information and ideas to the
What the SWG will deliver AN EVALUATION OF A SYSTEMS CHANGE INITIATIVE TO RESTORE THE HAURAKI GULF 2018-2021 | 9
The marine spatial plan will be delivered by the SWG in
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS NETWORK | FOUNDATION NORTH GIFT FUNDING PROGRAMME
New Targeted became apparent that litter is most
effectively and efficiently addressed
Stormwater 360 continues to promote
its litter traps among its products and
Action Projects by strategic interventions across the
whole stormwater system. The local
services. The company recently secured
a partnership with Toyota NZ to promote
authorities, for example, are developing Toyota franchisees to install LittaTraps
and installing a number of large scale on its sites.
GIFT funding provided the litter traps at strategic junctions in the
SBN will continue this work through
system, rather than on individual drains.
opportunity for SBN to develop the development of its new website.
Also, while there was some appetite for
The team is building a Nature Pathway
two targeted action projects. engagement from businesses, many of
tool where different audiences can find
them do not own the sites on which
These were: they operate, meaning such installations
easy to implement ways to regenerate
nature. One of the pathways will focus
are in the hands of the landowners. The
on what businesses can do to look after
necessity of maintaining and emptying
nature. This will promote the use of litter
Reducing plastic the traps also proved to be a barrier,
traps to reduce contaminants entering
as there’s no easy-to-use third party
pollution with service for that in the region.
waterways.
litter traps SBN is supporting the continued
promotion of litter traps by Auckland “SBN has contributed to
Council and businesses like Stormwater
discussion about litter with
This promoted the installation of 360. Recent discussion with Council’s
stormwater drain litter traps, to keep Healthy Waters team advises that a Auckland Council, the Ministry
rubbish from entering the sea. number of council wards are actively for the Environment and other
promoting the use of litter traps for stakeholders and we’re seeing
More than 50 litter traps were installed businesses, particularly across South
by businesses in the Gulf catchment at Auckland. This is part of Council’s changes in the regulatory
SBN’s direct instigation. Industrial Pollution Prevention environment.” – Stakeholder
However, in working with Auckland Programme (IP3). This programme will be
Litter Trap
Council’s Healthy Waters Team it rolled out across the whole of Auckland.
AN EVALUATION OF A SYSTEMS CHANGE INITIATIVE TO RESTORE THE HAURAKI GULF 2018-2021 | 10SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS NETWORK | FOUNDATION NORTH GIFT FUNDING PROGRAMME
Tackling heavy cities of the world. Its CEO Michael
Eaglen participated in the development
Zealand adopted this as policy across its
fleet. SBN was also pleased to find that
metal pollution of the project’s Waka Ora concept of the adoption of copper free brake pads
‘living barges’ for the America’s Cup in is becoming mainstream. This is largely
Auckland. The barges were intended to due to initiatives in California in the US,
This project promoted the adoption of
showcase marine regeneration efforts. with developments in manufacturing
low copper brake pads in commercial
They would include the use of native across a range of brands.
vehicle fleets. The copper reaches the
plants on board, with kelp and mussels
ocean via storm drains as the brake pad In response SBN began advocating for
beneath to demonstrate their role in
wears, where it accumulates and is toxic an outright ban on copper in brake pads
ocean cleanliness.
to marine life. ‘Hot spots’ of high copper in New Zealand, since alternatives are
toxicity were identified in the Hauraki SBN CEO Rachel Brown then advocated now easily available. This was raised in
Gulf in SBN’s initial scoping report. for this new enterprise with relevant person and in writing with David Parker,
ministries and local authorities, the Minister for the Environment. He
The wider system change approach
facilitating key relationships and expressed the feeling that this could be
would be to promote changes in the
meetings. This also directly resulted in an “easy win”, providing hope for policy
region’s transport to reduce overall
the $25 million annual Low Emission activity in the near future.
traffic and therefore the resultant
Transport Fund administered by the
pollution. An example of this is EV There is also ongoing research by NIWA
Energy Efficiency and Conservation
Maritime. SBN was influential in for Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency,
Authority allowing applications related
inspiring the creation of this new marine studying the impact of copper on the
to ferries.
technology business in Auckland. It is marine environment. SBN is waiting for
dedicated to developing electric and The promotion of low copper brake this research to be completed prior to
Low copper brake pads
alternative energy commercial boats, pads to business had some success. For progressing advocacy efforts to ban the
with the aim to decarbonise the harbour example, at SBN’s instigation Toyota New use of copper brake pads.
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SBN’s associated work with
positive impact on Tīkapa Moana
Plastic pollution Plastic Packaging
The two new Targeted Action Projects In 2018 SBN released a diagnostic Key Findings Reports. These were
also supported SBN’s two major report New Zealand’s Plastic Packaging widely publicised in mainstream media,
initiatives on the circular economy System 2018: An initial circular economy including coverage in the NZ Herald,
in the region - plastic packaging and diagnosis. In 2019 SBN established the Stuff, Newstalk ZB, Newshub and the AM
product stewardship. Both to tackle Plastic Packaging Masterclass series to Show.
plastic pollution at source. These radically reduce the impact of packaging
SBN has also supported the integration
initiatives have potential for significant in this country, from production to
of circular economy principles with Te
positive impact on Tīkapa Moana. the end of its life. It brought together
ao Māori principles and their inclusion
They apply systems change thinking experts in business, packaging
in the National Waste Strategy. This
and business interventions to reduce, innovation and regulation.
work was spearheaded by SBN founder
recycle and most importantly redesign
SBN has now run two series, with and CEO Rachel Brown, who sits on the
the production and use of plastics. A
203 people representing over 100 Ministry for the Environment’s Waste
key aim is to prevent plastics being
organisations attending. The 2020 Advisory Board.
abandoned to become waste. SBN was
Masterclass was sponsored by NZ
able to weave these other initiatives “These types of events give
King Salmon, Foodstuffs NZ and
into the overall approach to improve the
thinkstep-anz. people focused on sustainability
mauri of Tīkapa Moana.
The learning from those sessions have the tools to make a difference
been widely used in various industry within their organisation and
sectors, and captured in SBN’s Plastic support to influence others.”
Packaging Masterclass 2019 and 2020 – Stakeholder
AN EVALUATION OF A SYSTEMS CHANGE INITIATIVE TO RESTORE THE HAURAKI GULF 2018-2021 | 12SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS NETWORK | FOUNDATION NORTH GIFT FUNDING PROGRAMME
Product Stewardship
Product stewardship is another key way It began with a series of nationwide
to stem the flow of litter and plastic workshops with SBN’s partners FUJIFILM
pollution, particularly from the coastline Business Innovation, Inzide Commercial,
of a major city like Auckland into the 3R Group and Abilities Group. At the
neighbouring seas. It entails companies same time, the Government declared
extending their responsibility for the six priority products for regulated
environmental impacts of the products product stewardship under the Waste
and packaging they produce beyond the Minimisation Act (plastic packaging,
shop door and through to the end of their tyres, e-waste, agrichemicals and
life. It includes the return of products their containers, refrigerants and farm
and packaging back to their producers. plastics). This will further reduce ocean
That means designing and making pollution.
products to last, then putting systems in
The campaign website was visited by
place to enable them to be reused and
more than 17,000 people. The campaign
recycled when they are worn out.
has directly engaged with more than
SBN’s product stewardship campaign 500 businesses, helping to progress sustainable.org.nz/the-sbn-product-
ran from October 2019 until March 2021. their plans for product stewardship. 58 stewardship-campaign-2019-2020/
It received financial support from the product stewardship initiatives have been
Waste Minimisation Fund administered featured on the campaign directory.
by the Ministry for the Environment.
sbnproductstewardship.org.nz
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Restoring native bush
to the region’s waterways
This remaining focus was planting projects in catchments feeding The work of Million Metres in this period
into the Hauraki Gulf. was also supported by a separate grant
already being directly of $200,000 from Foundation North. This
addressed by SBN’s ongoing During the life of this project SBN
supported the retention of a project
supported 14 planting projects in the
Million Metres Streams Project. Gulf catchment to fundraise $336,493
manager, who was instrumental in the
success of these projects in the Gulf
for waterway restoration work. To
catchment, and similar Million Metres
This uses an innovative mix of crowd- date, this investment has enabled the
Streams planting projects nationwide.
funding, business support, philanthropy restoration of 7 kilometres of waterway
and government funding to provide with 20,000 native plants and trees.
funding and resources to community- These planting projects are planning to
led planting of native plants and trees restore an additional 14.6 kilometres of
along the nation’s waterways. The work waterway with 25,000 native plants and
of SBN’s Million Metres Streams Project trees over the next year.
is also directly supported by 5% of all
This year, SBN signed a Memorandum of
annual SBN Impact Investor fees.
Understanding with Auckland Foundation
As well as helping to filter out sediment making Million Metres one of two partners
and other pollutants, the restoration for the Hauraki Gulf Regeneration Fund.
of this riparian bush supports native Auckland Foundation is also supporting
biodiversity both in and around the Revive our Gulf’s mussel regeneration
rivers, streams and lakes that feed efforts. This is one of the ways SBN is
into the sea. It’s a national programme. working with philanthropy to support
This additional funding from Auckland Million Metres’ planting projects in the Gulf
Council enabled a particular focus on and engage new audiences in this work.
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Multiplying
the resources
These processes are now much further up the Hauraki Gulf in time for the
The network The search along. This is opening up further America’s Cup?”
for partners significant opportunities for partnership
across and around the Gulf.
In response, the project instigated a
series of voluntary collaborative creative
The Sustainable Business Network is the A key intention of this work was to In addition to this there was significant workshops. These were facilitated
largest and longest standing network leverage the GIFT funding to catalyse cause for optimism in the initial year by regenerative artist and designer
for sustainable businesses in Aotearoa much greater engagement and further of the project that resources could be Caroline Robinson. They brought
New Zealand. It has more than 500 fee- support from business partners and acquired from beyond the SBN network. together representatives from business,
paying “Impact Investor” organisations organisations in the region. Clearly, philanthropy, local authorities, academia
The project identified two key
and many more that work with SBN on $396,300 and three years is insufficient and more.
opportunities:
specific issues, events or collaborations. to significantly impact problems at this
This process developed the Waka Ora
The power of this network was leveraged scale, unless it can be used to generate
The 36th America’s Cup concept of ‘living barges’ for the race.
from the outset to expand the reach, a great deal more.
These were designed to showcase the
influence and impact of the project. This was hosted in and on the Hauraki
Potential sources for large scale wonders of the Gulf, its mauri and
Tracking all the knock on effects of this Gulf in March 2021. It’s one of the richest
funding included Auckland Council, the the potential for regenerative living
is challenging. There are examples of sporting events in the world, with teams
Department of Conservation and the systems like additional kelp forests
this throughout this report. investing hundreds of millions of dollars
Ministry for the Environment. All were and mussel beds. The work included
approached but none were in a position to take part. the identification of key roles, funding
to partner during the project period. This The project made various approaches in requirements and the production of
was largely due to ongoing formulation the run up to the event. Representatives pitches to the Lotteries Commission and
of policy for the Gulf at government level of the America’s Cup team approached other potential funders.
and ongoing iwi settlements under the SBN with the question: “If money was Sadly, after several months of
Treaty of Waitangi. no object – what would we do to clean engagement on many levels race
AN EVALUATION OF A SYSTEMS CHANGE INITIATIVE TO RESTORE THE HAURAKI GULF 2018-2021 | 15SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS NETWORK | FOUNDATION NORTH GIFT FUNDING PROGRAMME
representatives said no provision had
been made to support this. They were
The Asia- However, the Covid-19 pandemic
meant the forum went online.
also unable to facilitate philanthropic Pacific Economic Although initial approaches to APEC
approaches to associated high net worth representatives were encouraging, this
individuals. SBN approached others. Cooperation forum situation effectively ruled out the event
But with time pressing, and the need to
decide on ownership of the barges post
(APEC) 2021 supporting on the ground efforts like
this one.
race, the project was unable to secure This was due to be hosted in Auckland
an appropriate partner. from December 2020-November
2021. It was set to draw the heads
The concept and process generated
of government and large economic
a great deal of interest and support,
teams to the region. The event’s goals
however. The regenerative thinking
included promoting: “Economic policies,
trialled by the group has since been
cooperation and growth which support
continued within local authorities and
global efforts to comprehensively
plans for waterfront developments
address all environmental challenges”.
incorporating living systems.
The five top priorities in the APEC talks
include Sustainability (particularly
Climate & Waste) and Inclusion
(particularly indigenous peoples) for the
Asia-Pacific Region.
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Jobs for Nature
Mahi mō te Taiao
The impact of the pandemic was well-placed to assist in the
dissemination of this fund. To date SBN
provided a crucial opportunity has leveraged $5 million from the fund,
for the project, which has working with five partners in the Gulf
propelled SBN into a significant region. This has created 66 short term
jobs in nature restoration and completed
role in nature regeneration, in
26,229 hours of work. In turn, this has
the Gulf region and nationwide. led to greater aspiration for working on
these issues in the region.
In May 2020, as part of the response to
the pandemic the Government created
the Jobs for Nature | Mahi mō te Taiao
fund, administered by the Department
of Conservation. The aim was to
respond to regional unemployment and
the declining health of New Zealand’s
waterways and landscapes. This would
have a direct positive impact on Tīkapa
Moana.
This project’s focus on partnering
for nature regeneration at scale, Whangawehi Catchment Management
Group - SBN’s Jobs for Nature Partner
particularly through the Million Metres
Streams Project, helped ensure SBN
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Te Whakaoratanga o te
Puhinui me te Manuka
THE REGENERATION OF THE PUHINUI
SBN is now bringing the the Puhinui Stream catchment and its The project will expand into community
people. food gardens. It will engage artists and
expertise and experience from storytellers. It will build a strong circular
this project to bear on large- Te Whakaoranga o te Puhinui is
economy that provides sustainable jobs
supported by a $1 million grant from
scale rejuvenation of our cities. the Department of Conservation. It will
for local people. Developing a skilled
workforce will support the future
Te Whakaoranga o te Puhinui is create urban-based jobs for nature over
major investments in Puhinui Stream
the latest manifestation of this. a two year period, with the support of
infrastructure upgrade work. This
mana whenua, community, government
includes the removal of channelised
agency and business partners. It
This new project focuses on the Puhinui concreted waterways, opening up piped
will initially create roles in stream
Stream, flowing from above Auckland’s sections and restoring the whole of
restoration and monitoring, predator
Botanic Gardens in Manurewa to the the awa to a more natural state. It will
control, and native tree nurseries. As
Manukau Harbour. The Te Whakaoranga also enable and support the significant
the partners generate more support
o te Puhinui Strategy and the Te investment of Kāinga Ora developments
and funding it is envisioned that a
Puhinui Regeneration Charter the and transport infrastructure upgrades.
green explosion of vibrancy will spread
project accompanies is led by Waiohua out from this waterway. It will be
Iwi, Eke Panuku and Healthy Waters. supported by educators, trainers and
It’s supported by Auckland Council, communicators to share the knowledge
The Southern Initiative, Manurewa and learning, with a strong focus on
and Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Boards Mātauranga Māori and Western science
Puhinui - lower part of
catchment in degraded state
and Kāinga Ora. The purpose of this working together.
strategy is to restore the mauri of both
AN EVALUATION OF A SYSTEMS CHANGE INITIATIVE TO RESTORE THE HAURAKI GULF 2018-2021 | 18SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS NETWORK | FOUNDATION NORTH GIFT FUNDING PROGRAMME
Concept illustration of how
the Puhinui Stream could
look like with restoration.
Credit: Resilio Studio
AN EVALUATION OF A SYSTEMS CHANGE INITIATIVE TO RESTORE THE HAURAKI GULF 2018-2021 | 19SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS NETWORK | FOUNDATION NORTH GIFT FUNDING PROGRAMME
Totara Bushstream photo showing
the Puhinui Stream at the head of the
catchment in a natural and healthy state.
Photography Credit: Qiane Matata-Sipu.
AN EVALUATION OF A SYSTEMS CHANGE INITIATIVE TO RESTORE THE HAURAKI GULF 2018-2021 | 20SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS NETWORK | FOUNDATION NORTH GIFT FUNDING PROGRAMME
Mauri and
Te ao Māori
Perhaps the greatest challenge to the initial development of the It has also become a key part of the
Internal cultural use of Te ao Māori concepts and Te SBN Leadership in Sustainable Business
presented to SBN by GIFT
in the outset of the project competency Reo throughout the organisation,
including pepeha, karakia and waiata.3
course. This course runs over several
months, including six direct contact
was to work consciously and At the outset of the project SBN
Organisational and individual cultural days for around 30 participants per
competency are now Key Performance course. As well as providing a key
specifically with mauri, the was predominantly staffed by New
Indicators, embedded into SBN’s annual training opportunity for participants,
life-giving essence of Tīkapa Zealanders of European descent and
review and impact reporting. this provides an important opportunity
more recently arrived people from
Moana. This meant intertwining for SBN to expand its network and
overseas. First generation English This awakened awareness also
the project’s work with Te ao influence. This has been significantly
immigrants formed a particularly stimulated some of this project’s most
enhanced with the inclusion of Te ao
Māori, the Māori worldview, as large contingent, including two of creative responses to the challenge of
Māori material. In particular, course
far as possible. It also involved the three project managers and the restoring the mauri of Tīkapa Moana,
alumni relationships with staff from the
communications advisor for this project. including a dramatic monologue The
taking on the responsibility Awareness and understanding of Te Memory of Water, and articles on nature
Department of Conservation have been
instrumental in the success of SBN’s
to create more spaces in this ao Māori and Te Reo varied across the connection and reflectiveness published
Jobs for Nature | Mahi mō te Taiao work.
work for that worldview to be team, but was generally low. on SBN’s website.
expressed. With support from GIFT SBN has since This shift is being expressed through
attended Foundation North organised SBN communications and events. It
mauri training programmes. It has is influencing the whole network of
engaged a cultural advisor, and put hundreds of organisations nationwide.
all staff through cultural competency It is being incorporated into other SBN
training with Tūtira Mai, as well as projects on nature regeneration, climate
members of its Board. This has led change and waste. 3. See Appendix 1. Page 27
AN EVALUATION OF A SYSTEMS CHANGE INITIATIVE TO RESTORE THE HAURAKI GULF 2018-2021 | 21SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS NETWORK | FOUNDATION NORTH GIFT FUNDING PROGRAMME
Relationships
with mana whenua
All landscape reform and restoration groups like SBN, or were busy elsewhere.
around Aotearoa New Zealand must
This made it difficult for SBN to foster
address the contextual challenge of
engagement by mana whenua with this
honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi and
project.
redressing land appropriation and
conversion. During the course of this However, SBN made concerted efforts
project SBN became increasingly aware to foster these relationships, through
of the extent of that challenge regarding its cultural competency work, project
Tīkapa Moana at this time. outreach and particularly in relation to
Jobs for Nature | Mahi mō te Taiao.
When the project started, many iwi
in the region were yet to settle their Throughout the life of this project SBN
Claims under the Treaty of Waitangi, has forged partnerships with: Carvings at Takutai
Square, Britomart,
• Te Uri o Hau Settlement Trust in
particularly in relation to the Gulf, or Auckland. “Takutai
had done so only recently. As such, key refers to the sea and
Whangarei, via their native tree tides. Auckland’s early
decisions about how iwi were to engage European settlers
nursery in Te Arai reclaimed this area from
in protection and restoration work were
yet to be made. Relevant resources and • Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, via their Pourewa the Waitemata Habour
from 1859.” – Plaque at
personnel had not been specifically reserve project in Auckland city Takutai Square.
allocated to the task of working with
• Piritahi Marae, Waiheke
AN EVALUATION OF A SYSTEMS CHANGE INITIATIVE TO RESTORE THE HAURAKI GULF 2018-2021 | 22SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS NETWORK | FOUNDATION NORTH GIFT FUNDING PROGRAMME
Other key
relationships
SBN’s CEO Rachel Brown ONZM has • Auckland Mayoral Business Advisory with the Hauraki Gulf Forum and the
played a significant relationship Board Panel Auckland Foundation. These cement
building, networking and influencing role
throughout this project. She was also
• Jobs for Nature | Mahi mō te Taiao the close working relationships that
have been established between these
Advisory Panel
instrumental in leveraging her 20 years organisations. They provide the platform
of experience, expertise and reputation • National Waste Strategy Advisory for ongoing work together on projects
in this work to access resources that Board that will continue to restore the Gulf.
ensured SBN’s viability through the There has also been a significant
economic impact of the pandemic. strengthening of SBN’s relationships with
This has significantly enhanced her the Department of Conservation (DOC), “SBN are generous in the way
profile in the region and nationwide. the Ministry for Business, Innovation they connect others working
and Enterprise, the Ministry for the in the ecosystem - at in person
During the course of this project she has
Environment, Kāinga Ora and Auckland
been a member of the following advisory events that provided a place for
Council. This has meant that SBN is
boards and panels: building networks and forging
increasingly able to communicate and
• Small Business Council leverage its role as a facilitator and connections.” – Stakeholder
• Green Innovation Fund Advisory Board leader on sustainability issues.
• All of Government Procurement Panel During the project period SBN has also
signed Memorandums of Understanding
AN EVALUATION OF A SYSTEMS CHANGE INITIATIVE TO RESTORE THE HAURAKI GULF 2018-2021 | 23SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS NETWORK | FOUNDATION NORTH GIFT FUNDING PROGRAMME
Responsiveness
Even before the onset of and waste. It also had to generate
and respond to new opportunities
Covid-19 this project has for impact, manage complex work
existed in a highly dynamic programmes and secure funding
environment. Responsiveness streams. Events had to be switched
“Opportunities for SBN
to online, and entire communications
and flexibility were key to its to positively influence
campaigns redesigned.
impact. the Gulf will continue to
In response the guiding strategies of this emerge. For example, blue
project were redrafted and pivoted to carbon credits are on the
The lack of funding forthcoming from match the conditions. The successful
high profile international events and way and will provide the
growth of SBN and its potential positive
local and central government, as well as opportunity for business
impact on the mauri of Tīkapa Moana
the state of Treaty settlements were just investment in place based
is testament to the success of this
some of the challenges faced by this approach.
ecological restoration -
project in its first year. such as kelp beds. SBN
“We’ve seen SBN constantly can help channel business
Covid-19 then had a significant impact
on this project and SBN as a whole. innovating in response to interest into marine
Previous experience of such a crisis, Covid and pivoting to online restoration.” – Stakeholder
especially the then government’s engagement, such as webinars,
response to the Global Financial
and events such as ‘Gift to the
Crisis in 2008, strongly suggested the
potential for SBN to face organisational Gulf’... really focusing attention
uncertainty. It had to pivot rapidly to on the Gulf.” – Stakeholder
keep attention on the key issues of
nature regeneration, climate change
AN EVALUATION OF A SYSTEMS CHANGE INITIATIVE TO RESTORE THE HAURAKI GULF 2018-2021 | 24SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS NETWORK | FOUNDATION NORTH GIFT FUNDING PROGRAMME
Learnings and
Looking Forward
The story of the rejuvenation of Tīkapa in business do care - a lot. The at scale can be extremely challenging, change of mindset cannot be overstated.
Moana is now in a very different place challenge was incorporating positive especially in such complex conditions. It has the power to be transformational.
than when this project began. There has action into their everyday working lives. Direct influence on large dynamic
been significant growth in awareness, systems like this requires significantly “SBN are the only ones
The project’s range of events,
interest and engagement with the poor greater funding and time. Barriers to providing a voice and focus for
communications and engagement
health of the Gulf across government, systems change are persistent and take the Gulf to business and the
stimulated further interest, with spin-off
local authorities and business. There is time to overcome, such as reaching
groups looking at many issues including public sector. We need them to
also increased capacity for organisations decision makers and influencing
toxicity of antifoul boat paint and continue this focus on the Gulf
around the Gulf, most notably the business leaders, and operations and
opportunities for electric ferries. These with the business community
Hauraki Gulf Forum and the relevant iwi, financial managers.
require further support. and lobby on the regulatory side
to begin to address some of the core
With regards to the Gulf, much still of things.”
challenges. This project has fundamentally changed
lies in the hands of the Government – Stakeholder
SBN too. At the outset of this project
As mentioned elsewhere in this report, and local authorities. There needs to
SBN was a business sustainability
a significant amount of this awareness be careful management of intense
organisation with aspirations in nature “SBN has been a valuable part
and capability was the direct result of development around the Gulf. There is
regeneration, expressed through its of the social movement towards
SBN and this project. Much more was an urgent need to set a new context, in
Million Metres Streams Project. Today restoring the Gulf and mauri.”
generated by the indirect ‘ripple effect’ which the mauri can be restored.
SBN is rapidly growing into a nationally
of many of the actions taken. – Stakeholder
significant player in nature regeneration, However, much can be done to
SBN had never worked on oceans working at scale with iwi, government accelerate this with the kind of learning,
before. It was unclear what interest, and business. This transformation would responsive approach employed in this
enthusiasm and understanding existed not have happened without this project. project. Much more in fact, than could
in our network. The project’s early have been foreseen at the outset.
In the process the project has
research demonstrated that individuals The ‘ripple effect’ of a well expressed
demonstrated that systems change work
AN EVALUATION OF A SYSTEMS CHANGE INITIATIVE TO RESTORE THE HAURAKI GULF 2018-2021 | 25SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS NETWORK | FOUNDATION NORTH GIFT FUNDING PROGRAMME
SBN’s Nature Regeneration Work
The Development of The Sustainable Business
Network’s Nature Regeneration Work FUNDING
2018 – 2020
FUNDING
$5 million FUNDING
$396,300 $ 1 million
FUNDING
$None FUNDING
FUNDING
(n/a) $55,000
2020 – 2022 2021 – 2024
FOUNDATION NORTH’S
GULF INNOVATION FUND
2020
2002 TOGETHER (G.I.F.T) Late 2020 SBN-TE WHAKAORATANGA O
TE PUHINUI ME TE MANUKA-
In 2018, SBN’s Gulf project KAIMAHI FOR NATURE
gained financial support
from Foundation North’s The Waiohua collective brings
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS NETWORK GIFT Fund. MŌ MAHI MŌ TE TAIAO – JOBS together the mana whenua of
FOR NATURE, PARTNERING TO Te Ākitai, Ngāti Tamaoho and
Since 2002, SBN has been working to CROWN PLANT Ngāti Te Ata. Together, they have
empower business so people and nature INFRASTRUCTURE embedded a whakapapa approach
PARTNERS The growth of SBN’s work in nature
prosper. This has included work on a
regeneration continued in late 2020 to the restoration of Te Awa o
host of issues impacting Tīkapa Moana. In 2020, SBN combined its KĀINGA ORA with a successful application to the Puhinui, the Puhinui Stream. The
experience from the Million In late 2020, SBN was contracted Government’s Jobs for Nature fund, Sustainable Business Network (SBN)
Metres Streams Project to Kāinga Ora to produce a administered by the Department of is supporting those already working
and its work in the Gulf in report and proposal for urban Conservation. A total of $5 million has on this. It has fronted an application
a proposal to the Crown ngahere regeneration in South been invested. This has created 131 to secure initial funding of $1
Infrastructure ‘Shovel Auckland. This incorporated short term jobs in nature restoration. million through the Department
MILLION METRES STREAMS PROJECT Ready’ Fund. Although 54,000 conservation hours have of Conservation’s Jobs for Nature
much of SBN’s newly developed
2014 BY SBN unsuccessful, it attracted cultural and technical awareness been worked. 307,000 plants grown. fund. This will kick-start work on the
Since 2014, SBN’s Million Metres Streams the attention of Kāinga Ora. from its work in the Gulf. The full 170,000 plants planted across 14km ground. It will get restoration mahi
Project has been on a mission to restore proposal was not pursued, but of landscape. underway, building the skills
Aotearoa New Zealand’s rivers, streams, remains influential in Kāinga Ora’s and training programmes.
lakes and wetlands, including many sites approach.
in the Gulf catchment.
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APPENDIX 1
Me Tauwhiro Tātou Let us sustain
E aku rahi e To all of us out there
Ka pā mai te mamae We have been struck by the distress
Nā te whakangaro rauemi Caused by the ravaging
E hika e! of our resources!
Ki te mate te whenua, If the land dies,
mate hoki te tangata So do we the people,
Uia mai ‘Kei hea rā te rongoā?’ So the question is asked ‘What is the solution?’
Me tauwhiro tātou hei kaitiaki We, as guardians, should sustain
I nga hua a Papa, a Rangi, The fruits of Rangi and Papa
A Tāne, a Rongo, a Tangaroa, Of Tāne, Rongo and Tangaroa,
a Haumia, a Tāwhiri of Haumia and Tāwhiri
Nō reira, mahia te mahi tika And so, do the right thing
Hei oranga mō rātou mā For the benefit of those
E heke mai nei - yet to come -
Mō nga iwi katoa o te ao For all of the world
E aku rahi, e aku nui All near and far
Kia kaha tātou e, Let us be strong,
Karawhiua! Participate to the full!
WAIATA COMPOSED BY MOANA WHATARAU
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Tīkapa Moana
AN EVALUATION OF A SYSTEMS CHANGE INITIATIVE
TO RESTORE THE HAURAKI GULF 2018-2021
Sustainable Business Network
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