Organisational responsibility

"We are committed to making a difference."

 - John Morgan, Chief Executive

Making a positive contribution

NIWA is committed to making a positive contribution to New Zealanders' well-being. This commitment is reflected in a set of guiding principles that covers our social, economic, and environmental responsibilities. We are dedicated to continual improvement of our policies, practices, and strategies that deliver on these responsibilities.

NIWA is committed to the principles of operation stated in section 5 of the Crown Research Institutes Act 1992, which require:

• that research undertaken by NIWA should be undertaken for the benefit of New Zealand;
• that NIWA should pursue excellence in all its activities;
• that in carrying out its activities NIWA should comply with any applicable ethical standards;
• that NIWA should promote and facilitate the application of the results of research and technological developments;
• that NIWA should be a good employer;
• that NIWA should be an organisation that exhibits a sense of social responsibility by having regard to the interests of the community in which it operates and by endeavouring to accommodate or encourage those interests when able to do so.

Social responsibility

NIWA is committed to work practices, operations, and science outcomes that support its staff and the wider community. Our approach is one of partnership and inclusion to ensure that we incorporate the interests of others in our activities, communicate our science well, and maximise the benefits our science brings to society.

Caring for our people

We are committed to providing:

• a professional, participative, and collegial workplace staff enjoy being a part of
• work-life balance that maintains job satisfaction
• a working environment, including learning and development opportunities, that enables people to reach their full potential
• a safe and healthy working environment with zero harm
• suitable equipment, so that staff can do the job that is asked of them
• remuneration and rewards that fairly reflect an individual's contribution to the organisation's success. 

Working in the community

We are committed to:

• engaging positively with local communities in which we are conducting our science, explaining what we propose to do, respecting local traditions and culture, and keeping them informed of our results
• supporting science education and knowledge transfer to communities (e.g., Kelly Tarlton's, Science & Technology Fairs, work placements, supervision of postgraduates, educating community environmental groups)
• raising public awareness of the value of science and innovation through public talks, media interviews and releases, our website, and sponsoring local relevant events
• transferring our knowledge to stakeholders in a way that ensures enduring benefits for communities
• being an active member of the science community, and collaborating with others to provide a cohesive science system that is effective and efficient
• contributing to national policy development and decision-making, so our expertise benefits all New Zealanders and helps New Zealand meet its obligations as a global citizen.

Working in partnership with Māori

We are committed to:

• developing and maintaining effective long-term relationships with iwi, hapu, and other Māori organisations throughout New Zealand
• developing Māori research capability and capacity within NIWA and in our partner Māori organisations;sharing our knowledge and skills, so that Māori are better enabled to realise the potential of their resources and exercise kaitiakitanga
• increasing the capability of our staff to interact with Māori through training in te reo and tikanga.

Working with our customers

We are committed to:

• listening to our customers and understanding their needs and expectations
• proposing and delivering innovative services and solutions
• regularly informing customers of progress, and maintaining a 'no surprises' policy;providing deliverables on time, to budget, and to agreed specifications
• maintaining professional and ethical standards
• developing long-term relationships, so that our customers' success is our success.

Economic responsibility

NIWA is committed to operating with financial discipline, so we retain our long-term viability and thus meet our core purpose science responsibilities. NIWA's knowledge and expertise provides significant opportunities for generating economic benefit for New Zealand, and we have a responsibility to ensure that it does.

Continuing to be financially viable

We are committed to:

• making fiscally responsible decisions and maintaining NIWA's short- and long-term financial viability
• on-going investment in capital items that enable us to conduct excellent science and continue to generate revenue.

Generating economic benefit for New Zealand

We are committed to:

• using our knowledge to help others derive economic benefit from the efficient and effective use of New Zealand's natural resources and infrastructure
• providing solutions that reduce or eliminate risks from natural or human-induced environmental impacts on economic activities
• conducting technical and market assessments of business opportunities arising from our science, so that investment risk is better understood
• being open to joint ventures with the private sector, where this encourages start-up of new economic activity
• working collaboratively with other parts of government to ensure that first adopters are appropriately supported and that government investment is aligned and effective.

Environmental responsibility

NIWA is committed to ensuring that we take due care of the environment when carrying out our activities. Whilst our science contributes strongly to better environmental outcomes for New Zealand, we do have environmental effects when conducting that science, and such effects must be minimised. We need to encourage others to use our knowledge to improve the environmental outcomes they have responsibility for.

Ensuring our activities are environmentally responsible

We are committed to:

• ensuring that all operational activities and assets comply with resource consents, relevant environmental standards, biosecurity and biodiversity regulations, and permitting requirements
• ensuring that all sampling and experiments with live animals comply with the Animal Welfare Act 1999
• ensuring that all material waste production and water use is minimised, and we make maximum practical use of recycling and electronic media
• ensuring that energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions are compliant and best cost-effective and efficient practice for the activities they relate to
• making use of environmental initiatives introduced and supported by local industries, councils, and community groups
• encouraging our employees to take positive actions to reduce the effects of their activities on the environment.

Imparting our knowledge to others to improve environmental outcomes

We are committed to:

• helping others meet their environmental responsibilities by providing objective advice on the impacts of their activities and solutions to mitigate those impacts
• providing appropriate tools and training for community groups and others to implement environmental monitoring and habitat rehabilitation projects
• providing information on the nation's unique aquatic biodiversity and threats to it, so that wise decisions can be made.