McConnell Dowell is a founding member of Amotai, a supplier diversity organisation with a large and growing network of verified Māori and Pasifika-owned businesses. Amotai provides these businesses with connections to buyers who recognise the added social value buying from Māori and Pasifika-owned companies creates in our communities.
McConnell Dowell partners with Amotai on all our New Zealand projects to help support ongoing success. On the Puhinui Interchange project in Auckland the team engaged a number of accredited suppliers and locally owned businesses. This procurement strategy resulted in:
- a spend of $730K on local priority businesses over 30% more than the target of $150K
- mentoring for businesses upskilling and development activities increased by 30%
- there were 30% more education and training sessions for new employees.
The Eco Pristine Cleaning Company is one example of the many success stories the partnership between McConnell and Dowell and Amotai has fostered. Aroha Nepia is the owner of Eco Pristine who most recently worked on the Papakura to Pukekohe Electrification Project. Her business has grown to eight people and is thriving with Amotai. "It’s been an exciting journey," she says, "I can support my family and create employment in my community – best of all I get to be my own boss!”
