Managing for Sustainability – Watercare Services Auckland

This Level 9 assessment asks students to choose a New Zealand organisation, such as a council-controlled organisation, energy company or water utility, and critically evaluate how it manages sustainability. The report applies two sustainability models together with te ao Māori values, and the academic poster turns to the organisation’s key stakeholders, how the organisation engages with them and how they influence its sustainable practice.

Instructions

To prepare for this assessment you will select an organisation to research and critically evaluate its existing sustainability related issues, problems and opportunities. You need to apply sustainability models and te ao Māori to the organisation’s approach to managing sustainability. The organisation’s key stakeholders must be included in this investigation to critically analyse their role and their influence on the organisation’s development of sustainable practice.

Part 1: Report (Maximum 1,500 Words)

Critically evaluate a selected organisation and its environment using at least two sustainability models, and sustainability related Māori values and beliefs.

• The sustainability models could include, but are not limited to, the triple bottom line, the nested diagram model, the four domain model and the social ecology model. Justify why your two selected models are the most suitable to evaluate your organisation.
• The Māori values and beliefs could include, but are not limited to, kaitiakitanga (guardianship), manaakitanga (generosity/hospitality), whanaungatanga (relationship/kinship), whakamanatanga (empowerment) and takohanga (accountability). The suggested te ao Māori sources are a guide only; further research is expected.

Part 2: Academic Poster (Maximum 500 Words)

Critically analyse key stakeholders’ roles, current corporate engagement with them, and their influence on the same organisation in terms of the development of sustainable practices. Select at least three primary stakeholder groups, critically justify why they are significant (for example, through potential or current influence on the organisation) and support your critical analysis of stakeholder engagement and influence with evidence.

Experts Answer on Above Question on Sustainability Management

Selected organisation – Watercare services (Auckland Council – controlled organisation)

Key sustainability issues – the key issues identified are aging waste water network as there is overflow into Waitemata harbour and Manukau breaches during heavy rain. As a result, there is always the risk of drought across Waikato river lake and Hunua dams. The significant level of emissions from Mangere wastewater treatment is another sustainability issue along with measures aimed at water reform increasing pricing pressure and affordability.

Model 1 – triple bottom line –

This particular Framework is suitable because Watercare’s annual and sustainability reports or structure considers environmental and social performance which directly maps evidence. Significant amount of capital investing shows strength but also strains affordability.

Model 2 – Nested diagram

This particular model tests whether Watercare treats water limits as fixed. Auckland growth plans are responsible for the overall growth but TBL allows tradeoffs, as the nested model shows the overflows cannot be offset by profit or social gains.

Te ao Maori Values

Kaitiakitanga – Stewardship of wai. It is important to test it in respect to Waikato river co-management obligations and mana whenua concerns with respect to harbour discharges. It needs to be evaluated whether it is practiced or only stated.
Whanaungatanga – it implies the relationships with mana whenua, and an evaluation needs to be carried out as to whether the engagement is an ongoing partnership or project by project consultation.
Takohanga – It implies accountability such as evaluating whether the reporting addresses obligations to iwi, and not only to the regulators and Auckland Council.

Poster

The important stakeholders include Mana Whenua and it is important because of treaty partners with statutory roles and Waikato river co-management arrangements. It can directly impact the project design and has high interest in the project. Auckland Council and Central Government is another important stakeholder that is the owner and founder and controls the funding, pricing and compliance. Customers and communities are responsible for paying the bills and pressurize through media with respect to water saving campaigns and complaints.

Want Detailed Answers with References?

The analysis of the Watercare’s sustainability by utilising triple bottom line, nested diagram and te ao Maori values revealed different aspects related to the project. With our New Zealand assignment help experts, it is possible to get detailed analysis on any New Zealand organisation using the above sustainability frameworks. Get connected with an expert today or evaluate the solved assignment answers from Otago Polytechnic before proceeding further.