OUR COMMITMENTs

We’ve had the privilege of working with Pasifika communities and organisations, refining and advancing projects already in motion. We step in to refine or develop feasibility studies and business cases to ensure the project is established in the most optimal way, providing confidence in our clients' vision.

• A key milestone has been the Central Pasifika Collective project—the first nationwide collaboration between Iwi and Pasifika communities to create a viable affordable development.

• We have also supported the Pacific Health Service in upgrading their main facility, guiding them through business cases, funding acquisition, and asset rationalisation to ensure clear, intentional outcomes.

We recognise that Pasifika clients core values such as 'Anga Fakatonga' and 'Fa’asamoa', so we approach every project with deep respect, humility, and a collective mindset. We understand our Pasifika clients are not motivated by profit, but by a desire to uplift communities, so we provide advice and recommendations for our clients considerations, so they have opportunity to adjust project processes to ensure alignment with their values.

We are committed to guide and protect our clients through the modern business landscape to manage the fear of ‘unknowns’, helping them navigate project challenges and risks with confidence.

The projects that we’ve worked on have used shared equity models to break cycles of poverty and address historical inequalities. We understand the need for cost-effective housing solutions and ensure affordability is prioritised. Equally important is maintaining Pasifika identity and values through every design and recommendation.

Our collaboration ensures that every project leaves a lasting, positive impact that reflects the vision and values of Pasifika communities.

Since 2017, we have partnered with Iwi across New Zealand, from remote areas like Bluff to the heart of urban centres, delivering developments arising from Treaty Settlements that help Iwi achieve their built environment goals and address past injustices.

Many of our Iwi clients have communities in remote locations. To address this, we have developed cost-effective strategies to overcome challenges such as higher costs, limited workforces, and financial constraints. This approach ensures we successfully deliver our clients’ projects, despite the complexities of regional development.

Affordable housing solutions are a key focus of our work. We aim to break the cycle of poverty by upgrading homes and providing new homes for healthier living outcomes. We specialise in creating sustainable, affordable housing, which includes implementing shared equity models, community land trusts, co-operatives, and pāpākainga models. We also focus on strategic procurement to ensure long-term success. By delivering projects that align with Iwi aspirations for wellbeing, mana, and prosperity, we provide lasting benefits to the communities we serve.

We are also committed to supporting Iwi in pursuing their commercial ventures, ensuring these efforts align with their wider goals. We assist Māori businesses in participating in the Māori circular economy through social procurement leadership and culturally aligned design outcomes.

Cultural understanding is at the heart of everything we do. We prioritise tikanga Māori principles and respect each Iwi’s unique tikanga, kawa, protocols, and processes. This cultural awareness has enabled us to facilitate strong partnerships between Iwi and private investors, as well as Iwi and the Crown, to navigate complex developments together.

Guided by Māori design principles, we collaborate closely with Māori design experts and leverage our network of professionals with whakapapa connections to ensure culturally aligned, high-quality outcomes.

To strengthen our collaborations further, we integrate Te Reo Māori and Te Ao Māori worldview training within our team. Through this ongoing commitment to cultural learning, we deepen our understanding of Iwi needs and ensure we meet them in a meaningful and respectful way. This dedication ensures our partnerships remain impactful as we continue to support Iwi aspirations.

Our team is committed to having a positive impact on sustainability throughout our projects wherever possible. We are in the fortunate position where this proceeds the physical construction of the project and we have the ability to influence not only projects, but communities.

The consistent focus we have across all of our projects are captured with the following goals:

Wherever possible we REUSE materials, structures and available resources within the site.

Our efforts to REPURPOSE are front of mind - we have converted commercial buildings to residential and sent salvaged materials to Tonga to build new communities.

We actively DIVERT as much waste from landfill as possible, partnering with contractors who share our principles.

Our obligation is to design for LONGEVITY, minimising maintenance and maximising durability.

We are responsible for creating communities, INCLUSION through culture, demographic and generations is fundamental in our design and delivery.

The communities we work in and the wider benefits from our projects are very important to us. At any opportunity, our team strive to ensure that the social outcomes aspired to during the projects establishment are achieved.

ED holds the following commitment to the communities we work in:

• We utilise our supplier networks to provide increased opportunity to Māori and Pasifika owned and operated businesses.

• ED recruits directly through its clients and their extensive iwi and hapū membership networks.

• We seek to advance our industry and its talent through our ED internship placement.

• Through our contracting partners we have assisted in providing opportunities for apprentices, work experience and employment opportunities.

• We focus on sourcing locally wherever possible, maximising benefit to the local economies we work in.

He tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata. Our people are the most important part of our business. We are very proud of their commitment to our clients and the successes that come from this.

The commitment to our staff, their wellbeing and providing a positive environment for them to work in is front of mind for us and we continually look for ways to improve this. Our key focuses are:

WELLNESS:

• Fostering good mental well-being in the workplace by treating each other with respect and kindness.

• We acknowledge each individuals history, strengths and limitations with humility. We welcome the whole person into our whare not just the worker.

• We provide flexible working arrangements to support a healthy work-life balance.

• All staff receive company-provided health insurance.

• Our team has access to EAP support services for mental and emotional support.

• We prioritise staff development by offering paid training and tailored personal development opportunities.

• We facilitate mentoring programmes and regular team-building activities.

• Our staff engage in networking and personal development opportunities, helping them advance in their careers.

CULTURE:

• The strength and the health of our team is based on the strength and health of each individual. Our uniqueness is our strength. Diversity of thought and background makes us better as a group and results in better outcomes in all we do.

• Working hard and having fun together are the recipe for a rich and rewarding life at work.

• We are community-minded, fostering a sense of belonging and strong community connections.

With our people front of mind, it made sense for us to come together as a team and agree on the values for the business and how we operate. These are the core valules we established and which remain central to our success.

HONESTY: We act with integrity at all times.

QUALITY: Everything we do, we do to the highest standard possible.

COMMITMENT TO DELIVERY: We do what we say we will do.

TRUST: By empowering our people, we strive to build confidence with out clients.

INNOVATION: We think outside the square and look for continuous betterment and improvement in everything we deliver.

CURIOUS: We search for opportunities that align with our winning aspiration and desire for innovation.

SAFETY: We pride ourselves on our proactive engagement in health & safety, having regular and meaningful interactions with our colleagues and contractors.