TSI/TWI social procurement secures $20m in contracts post-COVID-19

The Western and Southern Initiative’s social procurement programme He Waka Eke Noa has seen a 90 per cent increase in the value of the contracts it has helped local businesses win and has more than doubled the number of businesses it supports since the COVID-19 lockdown. In total it has secured $42million worth of contracts since it began in 2019.

He Waka Eke Noa through TSI/TWI, Auckland Council’s social innovation unit, works with Māori-and Pasifika-owned businesses to help them to fairly participate in the tendering process and to win contracts and place staff into employment in industries such as infrastructure and construction.

Prior to the COVID-19 crisis and lockdowns, He Waka Eke Noa had helped to procure around $22 million worth of contracts and had about 120 businesses on its books after two years of operation. Since the lockdown, another $20 million worth of contracts has been secured, and 314 businesses are now registered with the programme. Read the full story on Our Auckland.