Our Community

The Port recognises that it is at the economic heart of the Nelson community and is vital to the ongoing economic and social wellbeing of the whole Te Tauihu region.

The Port is aware of its obligations to the community in which it operates. Additionally, Port Nelson strives to play its role as a good corporate citizen by contributing to the vibrancy of life in Te Tauihu. As part of our contribution, the Port commits more than $100,000 of sponsorship funds towards activities related to the protection of the land/sea interface and supporting the community’s wellbeing.

Relationships with iwi have long been important to the Port, however in recent years, we have sought to establish a stronger partnership. With the support of a Māori Partnerships Manager, the Port is actioning an iwi and Māori Partnership Plan over the next 3-5 years.

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Goal

Support the improvement of wellbeing in our community

2030 Plan

Strategy 1

A trusted partner for our community

Support our social licence to operate with open and transparent engagements and impactful contributions to the community’s wellbeing

  • The Port has the ability to positively impact the community in a number of ways, including sponsorship, supporting the development of its people to engage with the community positively, and role modelling practices and behaviours that support an enhancement of the communities well-being.

    The Port will share information about its operations and impacts and support on-port engagements while appropriately mindful of commercial and safety issues. Through this, transparency and trust will be enhanced.

    • Provide transparent communications to our community, sharing information on the Port’s activities and future plans and provide the opportunity to feedback.

    • Demonstrate engagement with our community through in person events and community groups

    • Sustain sponsorship in line with guidelines and at a level > 1.2% of operational NPAT

    • Develop a Port Community Connection Programme that supports our people to be heroes in their community through volunteering and the availability of internal sponsorship funds.

    • Have an overall 70% positive satisfaction rate from our community survey

    • Hold 2 community engagement events per year​

    • Target two significant sponsorships each year of $20K

    • 50% of sponsorship funds allocated via our people’s involvement

    • Provide a days paid volunteering leave

Strategy 2

A trusted partner for iwi and Māori

Strengthen our relationship with iwi and Māori through ongoing commitment to support and contribute to Māori aspirations in Te Tauihu

  • Our community is experiencing a growing resurgence of culture and identity, led by mana whenua and set against the backdrop of national progress in this space. This includes our Shareholders who are also on their own journeys of recognising and developing Te Tiriti partnerships with Te Tauihu iwi. 

    There are now greater opportunities and benefits for organisations such as ours to support the aspirations of local iwi and Māori tangibly. In te Ao Māori, these aspirations stretch across cultural, social, environmental and economic outcomes that are inseparable from each other. 

  • Enhancing Leadership and participation

    • To ensure Māori values and interests are evident in decision-making by Port Nelson. 

    • To improve our responsiveness and engagement with iwi partners. 

    • To ensure Māori voices are heard and valued by our organisation.

    • To ensure all of the Port Nelson Team are informed of the reasons and benefits of the partnership journey and support any education needs

    Strengthening Identity and Culture

    • To strengthen the bi-cultural identity of Port Nelson.

    • To encourage greater use of Te Reo me ona Tikanga across Port Nelson.

    • To uphold the mana of Te Tauihu iwi in everything that we do.

    Supporting Māori success

    • To ensure that our work supports the aspirations of Ngā Iwi o Te Tauihu.

    • To meaningfully support the success of Māori within the Port and wider community.

    • To ensure we are leveraging procurement opportunities and our customer engagement to support the Māori economy.

    • Māori customers and suppliers feel respected in the Port’s engagement with them

    Building Capability  and Confidence

    • To lift the cultural confidence and competency of Port Nelson people. 

    • To ensure access to learning and development opportunities for our people. 

    • To provision the appropriate resources to support improved cultural outcomes

    • Te Tauihu iwi agree with the statement that, ‘PNL acts as a respectful partner in its dealings with iwi’.

    • That 90% of Port Nelson kaimahi Māori agree with the statement that, ‘PNL provides a work environment that is respectful of te Ao Māori and that allows them to bring their whole self to work.’ 

    • That the use of te Reo and tikanga is a normal part of life at Port Nelson as assessed by Port kaimahi Māori

    • The port can report on its Māori procurement spend and this spend is increasing.

    • Training courses covering Māori cultural awareness or te Reo have been offered to over 50 of the Port team

Challenges

1. Community Expectations

  • Broader community engagement in businesses

  • Proximity of residential housing to the port

  • Maintain social licence to operate

2. Iwi

  • Iwi engagement in businesses Sponsorship

  • Financial pressure on organisations that then look to commercial entities for support

2024 Plan

2024 Strategic Initiatives

Community

Aligned with the 2030 plan. The Port will pursue 1 strategic initiatives under ‘Community’ in 2024FY.

  • The initial year of the plan focuses on education, raised awareness and connection.

2024 Challenges

Enabling effective engagement: There has been much planning taking place, which needs to be effectively shared with the wider team to both obtain their input and to achieve shared ownership. Finding an effective way to do that is the challenge.

Effective engagement with and on iwi / Māori matters: In an environment of change and disruption, we need to find time to have effective conversations with all Port stakeholders to ensure understanding and an agreed respectful pathway in this area.