Page 100 - Procurement guidelines for smart sustainable cities - A U4SSC deliverable

• poor communication: for example, only advertising contracts online may be missed by
community groups or smaller suppliers; and
• a lack of data: meaning government departments do not know which contracts were won by
Māori or Pasifika businesses.

The approach

In 2019, the New Zealand Government began including detailed social and environmental goals
as part of its “broader outcomes” procurement approach. Departments were told to consider
how they could create opportunities for Māori, Pasifika and regional businesses, as well as social
enterprises. (New Zealand Government Procurement)

Official guidance outlined how to do this, including:

• sharing information early and designing services collaboratively with Māori and Pasifika groups;

• simplifying procurement documents and avoiding the use of complex technical requirements;

• considering Maori concepts such as whānau, or “extended family” when designing services.

“For Māori to succeed in the 21st century we must build capability in digital technology and
support a diverse, knowledge-intensive economy that will create new jobs in new industries.”

Megan Woods, Minister for Government Digital Services

The results

A range of initiatives across the country have applied the broader outcomes strategy, including:

• The Southern Initiative – a social innovation project based in South Auckland that has used co-
design workshops with Māori to design public services.

• Youth Justice – Oranga Tamariki – used a communication strategy including newsletters and
events to engage with Maori community groups when commissioning a new remand service.

86 Procurement guidelines for smart sustainable cities | May 2023