Hawke's Bay Regional Council progressive procurement

In 2020, the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council introduced a progressive procurement strategy – in recognition that its spending decisions can have a profoundly positive effect on community wellbeing and the local economy. The Regional Council’s progressive procurement approach means including ‘broader outcomes’ in its decisions to purchase or contract goods or services – outcomes that go beyond the traditional considerations of price and quality. The Regional Council’s four focus areas for achieving positive sustainable outcomes are social wellbeing (providing equal opportunity so prosperity is shared across the community), cultural wellbeing (having a genuine partnership with mana whenua), economic wellbeing (building a diverse and prosperous economy), and environmental wellbeing (preventing and reserving environmental degradation).

The Hawke’s Bay Regional Council has developed both a ‘progressive procurement toolkit’ and a ‘progressive procurement supplier guide’, with the five councils across the region. The toolkit and guide send a signal of the region’s collective intent and aim to support those taking part in procurement processes – and are the beginning of an iterative and ongoing process to engage communities of interest. The Council has also worked with Amotai to promote working with Council to local Māori and Pasifika businesses, and Te Puni Kokiri to open the door for capacity and capability building opportunities.

As part of an ongoing commitment to innovative and responsible governance, the Council is now working on a Mātauranga framework to weave traditional Māori knowledge and perspectives throughout the entire organisation. This initiative supports the Council’s strategic goals, honours the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and enhances engagement with mana whenua. The Council’s goal being to create a procurement environment that respects and benefits from the rich cultural heritage of mana whenua, promoting environmental stewardship and community wellbeing.

Following Cyclone Gabrielle, the Council, under emergency procurement, chose to support local, by local, for local, building and rebuilding foundations for recovery.

The Council is focused on building good foundations for the future – and continuing to seek feedback from partners to refine its procurement approach and ensure procurement practices deliver tangible outcomes.