Project Uaki
Shifting the Dial on Social Procurement for the Wellington Region
With around $1.86b in local-government procurement each year in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, small shifts in how we buy can move real value for people and place. Uaki builds on insights to shift practice from process to partnership.
Project Uaki took the next step, moving the region from process to partnership, and from compliance to impact. Previous work on the kaupapa was the spark: strong intent existed, but the strategy needed further work. Insights from Māori, Pasifika and small local businesses, were captured and tangible solutions delivered to help them thrive.
Our role
Delivered with our partners, this mahi turned strategy into practice at the pace of procurement cycles. We led strategy and delivery planning so councils, buyers, suppliers and business ecosystem partners could align around shared goals.
What was delivered:
• A clear framework for inclusive procurement.
• Practical blueprint of how tools could be developed for buyers and suppliers offering two-way readiness.
• Shared measures that shift practice from compliance to outcomes.
This mahi positions procurement as a lever for collective prosperity; opening pathways, growing capacity in BAU, and making visible impact. At this scale of spend, aligning on a few practical shifts can create meaningful change.
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to our client WellingtonNZ, Mana Whenua; Ngāti Toa, Te Āti Awa and Taranaki Whānui, and Wellington Regional Economic Development Plan partners for enabling this project to become a reality.
The full Project Uaki report is available for download below - Connect with Us to find out more.