Partnering for Impact report published

Te Ara Hiranga recently completed a Social Return on Investment (SROI) report for Auckland Transport, examining the wider value created through sustainable procurement on the Te Kia Ora Marae project on the Kaipara Coast.

The findings highlighted the strong community benefits that can be generated when government agencies engage Māori-owned suppliers. For every dollar spent, $3.53 of social, economic, environmental and cultural value was returned to the community — value that extended well beyond the delivery of the physical project.

Auckland Transport partnered with Lite Civil Ltd, a 100% Māori-owned business based in Tāmaki Makaurau. Through this partnership, the project:

• Created local jobs, work experience and training opportunities, contributing to long-term workforce capability in the region
• Strengthened business capability, networks and supply chain relationships
• Retained economic value locally, with profits reinvested back into the community
• Delivered outcomes in a way that aligned with tikanga and kaupapa Māori, reinforcing the importance of cultural values in project delivery

The SROI methodology enabled Auckland Transport to better understand the broader impacts of its procurement decisions, demonstrating that sustainable procurement can support both high-quality project outcomes and long-term community wellbeing.

Ko ngā pae tawhiti whāia kia tata, ko ngā pae tata, whakamaua kia tīna — the potential of tomorrow depends on what we do today.

Te Ara Hiranga is proud to support organisations exploring how procurement can deliver shared value, build Māori business capability, and strengthen economic participation across Aotearoa.

Read the report at
https://at.govt.nz/media/l2jbaq1b/auckland-transport-te-kia-ora-marae-project.pdf