What We Do
How it works.
After an induction evening to welcome all consultants, teams will then begin their projects by having an initial meeting with their client to familiarise themselves with the idea that needs exploring, or the issue that needs solving. Clients will keep in contact with their teams via email throughout the semester, and may even meet to discuss progress at agreed upon times.
Beyond a weekly 2 hr workshop, led by the Projects – Workshop Coordinator and occasionally with the involvement of other Executive Committee members, teams will conduct their own 2 hr weekly meetings for brainstorming and discussing viable solutions. Key workshops include ThinkTank, where experienced externals join us to offer eye-opening feedback on solutions to-date and suggestions for further development, and Mock Presentations, which offers a valuable opportunity to practice presentation skills.
The conclusion of the semester means reports are finalised, and presentations are refined in order for consultants to present their final solutions to clients.
Our Clients for Semester One 2024
Everybody Eats
Works to address three key issues: food waste, food insecurity and social isolation. They operate restaurants in which volunteers serve 3-course, restaurant-quality meals, made of rescued food, at shared tables, for a koha (pay as much as you can system).
Dwell Housing Trust
Dwell Housing Trust provides affordable, quality housing for people in need or on a low income. They are more than a landlord - they ensure their tenants have access to the support they need and want to live well, be well, do well.
Conversation Volunteers NZ
They bring volunteers together to plant and care for native trees, eradicate pests and weeds, protect threatened species, and help make our natural spaces accessible to everyone. Aim to make an impact on restoring our wild places and protecting this beautiful natural environment we are lucky enough to call home.
Mind over Manner
The Mind Over Manner objectives are to strengthen communication, belonging and connection with children or teenagers who think, learn and work differently, and can be identified as Neurodivergent or Takiwatanga ( In their own time and space). Mind Over Manner offers space for those alongside these young people to help dissolve anxiety, discomfort and behavioural problems by constructing techniques for cognitive clarity. Mind Over Manner has presented Neurodiversity Workshops for 16 years engaging whanau, teachers and service providers surrounding the neurodiverse teenagers, but not the teenagers themselves.
Wao Aotearoa
They run programmes and events set to inspire, educate and enable communities to look towards the opportunities to transition toward a sustainable future, where we give back more than we take.
Highlights from 2021!
1. Collaboration skills :-
Working in a team will develop inter-personal skills and effective verbal communication.
2. Make like-minded connections :-
ThinkPod attracts students from many different walks of life, and team members have been known to make long-standing friendships.
3. Presentation skills :-
Practice how to create a presentation and how to present to an audience and a panel as a team.
4. Report-writing skills :-
Learn how to create a visually effective and clearly laid out solution for a client.
5. Make a difference :-
Projects serve as an exciting opportunity to create truly meaningful social change within the New Zealand community. Several projects end up being implemented by clients, a testament to the high quality work of our consultants.
6. Research skills :-
Practice how to conduct effective and reliable research to build viable solutions.