As a result of its efforts the seven islands of Okahu, Waewaetorea, Motukiekie, Moturua, Urupukapuka, Motuarohia and Poroporo have been pest-free since 2009. The bush is regenerating, and returning native wildlife is recolonising the islands.

We aim to extend our support to this mahi from purely financial to a more hands-on, volunteer-based approach. If you are aware of any other organisations that could do with a helping hand or two (literally) from people who work in engineering, please listen to what our Michelle Hull has to say here, then get in touch.

Using a strengths-based approach, students are equipped with the knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes to manage their emotions in healthy ways, and develop resilience and coping skills.

In 2021 we joined with our client, Inlet Estate, to support the Tai Tokerau Tamariki Mental Wellbeing Project financially. Inlet Estate owner Keith Day is an extremely active Rotarian and we were pleased to be able to complement his considerable efforts towards the project. We diverted an incentive payment, made to us as part of our contract with Inlet Estate, to the project – and added, just for good measure, a further 50 percent of the value of the incentive payment.

We think that the work the Trust is doing to enhance the lives of Northland children, and strengthen their resilience, is definitely worthy of support. And we look forward to many years of continued association.

The Puketi Forest Trust is working to restore this unique rainforest to its original biodiversity. Haigh Workman senior civil engineer Michael Winch is a long-time and passionate volunteer with the Trust and has infected us all with his enthusiasm for the work the Trust does.

In recent years we have started diverting money that we might ordinarily spend on engineering client gifts, particularly around Christmas, to causes that are close to our heart. The first cab off the rank, following a hugely enjoyable company night walk in the forest, was the Puketi Forest Trust.

We think that the work the Trust is doing to protect and restore the mauri (lifeforce) of this magnificent place is definitely worthy of support. And we look forward to many years of continued association.

Our environmental engineer Josh Cuming, geotechnician Kona Teu and structural engineer Peter Land recently took three Gateway programme students from Kawakawa’s Bay of Islands College under their wing, to help broaden their understanding of what engineering consultancy looks and feels like on a day-to-day basis.  All except Josh are pictured here together in our Kerikeri office reception area: from left to right, Watene Kereone (Year 11), Kona, Ryan Uluinayau (Year 12), Shontayne Davis-Watling (Year 12) and Peter.

They visited our flood mitigation project worksite near Otiria, and various structural engineering projects, including the extension of the McDonald’s franchise in Kerikeri where they reviewed the plans against what they could see happening on the ground.

Our team, including our general manager delivery David Clamp, were able to give the students an overview of potential career paths within the broader engineering profession, as well as insights into the international opportunities that a career in engineering can bring.

A small example of the value that the programme can offer was when one of the students was able to experience first-hand how his general interest in computer science could be used within a specific engineering context. It opened his eyes to a potential career path that he hadn’t considered until that moment.

We believe that the programme is a fantastic initiative and we are proud to be involved. We’re always sad to see ‘our’ students leave once their time with us is up, and we wish them everything of the best for the future.