We’re systems doers

We enable organisations that are serious about systems change to unlock impact at scale

Even the most ambitious need the right support, resources and collaborations to deliver systems change

We work collaboratively with communities, organisations, government, funders and investors looking to evolve ‘business as usual’ to create better systems for people and planet. Through tapping into the combined wisdom and expertise of diverse stakeholders and mapping systems in place - we enable the connections, knowledge and tools to unlock impact at scale.

Make
sense of systems

We support systems understanding to identify where to focus and how to deliver.

Build
collaboration for action

We bring together aligned organisations from across sectors, scales and disciplines to act on systemic challenges.

Co-design
holistic solutions

We work closely with our partners to design and implement new models and systems that generate value for people and planet.

Advance
systems infrastructure

We support understanding and execution of the often ‘unseen’ systems structures and evaluation tools that are essential to enable long-term change.

Our Approach

There’s no such thing as a silver bullet for systems change. Our approach is always tailored to the places, people and organisations we work with.

Disconnection lies at the root of complex challenges. We ground our work in the reconnection and realignment of people with natural systems.
We take pause to make sense of complex systems before jumping in with solutions. Identifying ‘levers’ to unlock value ensures the best use of time and resources.
Understanding problems is important, but too often a solely ‘problems focused approach’ misses the ‘good stuff’. We identify the unique strengths of people and their environments to develop pathways forward.
Real impact for the long-term depends on people. Our work supports people to build the skills and capabilities required lead and maintain actionable change.
We equip our partners with the skills to become ‘action-learners’ – to implement, evaluate, reflect and adapt in real time.
We endeavour to make all of our solutions financially sustainable by developing strong business cases to attract capital.
We work at community and international levels to develop solutions that can be replicated in place to maximize the impact of both grassroots and at-scale strategies.

Our Projects

RECLAIMING LOCAL ECONOMIES IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS

We work with Solomon Island communities, local NGOs, experts in carbon markets, and leaders in international development to create approaches to local economic development to improve self-determination and ecosystem health.
The Challenge
The Solomon Islands’ economy is dependent on extractive mining and logging that damage the environment and provides little for communities. Top-down efforts to diversify have produced short-term gains at best.
The Outcome
Scalable approach to self-determined economic development for Pacific Island communities
Reclaiming local economies in the Solomon IslandsTribal governance structures support forest protection and carbon credit generation to fund economic activities grounded in indigenous values and aspirations.
CLIMATE-SMART FOREST-TO-BUILD VALUE CHAIN
We worked with leading public, private and Māori organisations to activate action towards an integrated forest-to-build value chain that benefits the climate, ecosystems and communities.
The Challenge
39% of global emissions are attributable to construction. It’s widely recognised we need to substitute high-embodied carbon and steel with climate and ecosystem-smart forest products. In NZ, very few forests meet these criteria, and demand for timber in med- to high- density builds is low.
The Outcome
A strong cross-sector network with international support to lead the national transition to an integrated climate-smart forest-to-build value chain.
Next phase projects include providing compelling business cases for alternative forestry and a strategy to shape market demand for climate-smart forest products.
MĀORI-LED CIRCULAR HOUSING MODEL
We partnered with Hikurangi Enterprises, a Māori-led enterprise on the East Cape of NZ, to support their aspirations for an indigenous-wisdom led, circular model to deliver solutions to the Māori housing crisis.
The Challenge
Māori are disproportionally impacted by the housing crisis and have low access to quality, affordable, culturally appropriate homes. While Māori own significant forestry land, most of it provides limited value back to communities and is often managed counter to indigenous wisdom.
The Outcome
Forestry assets used to develop localised forest-to-build model.
Social, ecological and climate evaluation framework to attract aligned capital and scaling model to enable replication with other Māori communities.
FINANCIAL INNOVATION ACROSS THE MĀORI HOUSING CONTINUUM
Working with Te Matapihi, the national body for Māori housing, we are identifying the financial models that work best for Māori housing providers to support a significant uplift in investment for Māori housing.
The Challenge
One of the biggest barriers to Māori housing is access to capital. In the context of communally owned land in perpetuity and diverse housing needs, mainstream lenders and investors only meet a fraction of Māori housing need.
The Outcome
A body of best practice for Māori housing investment solutions and significant capital secured to deliver housing that is led by Māori, for Māori.
IMPROVING WELLBEING OUTCOMES FROM SOCIAL HOUSING
As part of a University of Otago led, 5-year research project, we are looking at the governance structures, strategies, plans and approaches to investment of 7 social housing providers to understand how well they deliver social, environmental and cultural wellbeing.
The Challenge
A shortfall of affordable housing has led to a cascade of housing-related issues and wellbeing challenges. There’s urgent need to understand the comparative economic and social effectiveness of different public housing and urban regeneration models to maximise wellbeing.
The Outcome
Identification of optimal ways to deliver social housing for a balance of wellbeing outcomes.
Integrated decision making understood for social housing and regeneration.
IMPACT-FIRST INVESTMENT FUND
We led a partnership that created New Zealand’s first impact-first investment fund focused on enterprises that deliver increased equity, social inclusion and regenerative environments.
The Challenge
Most environmental and social innovators are motivated by the value they make for society and the planet rather than value for themselves. Mainstream investors are looking to maximise the financial return which means there is limited capital available for these innovators.
The Outcome
Aotearoa first impact-first impact investment fund is up and running with a cornerstone investment of $20m and has active investments in the three impact areas: increased equity, social inclusion and regenerative environments.
REGIONAL MĀORI-LED HOUSING PROGRAMME
We are supporting Te Hiku Iwi Development Trust to create their long term, systems wide housing response, building on Te Hiku’s strengths to address housing need in their region.
The Challenge
Te Hiku whānau (family) experience chronic housing shortage and the community is underserved by exisiting aging and vulnerable infrastructure due to decades of under investment.
The Outcome
Long term whānau (family) centric programme delivering:
- Culturally fit, affordable homes and infrastructure
- Multiple pathways into affordable housing for whānau
- Workforce and economic development opportunities locally
- Locally owned values-aligned investment
A HUB FOR COLLABORATIVE CLIMATE INNOVATION
We supported Auckland Unlimited and partners to design and establish Climate Connect Aotearoa, a collaborative entity to drive systems innovation for climate change in energy, food, transport and the built environment.
The Challenge
Climate change is a complex challenge that cuts though all sectors and levels of society. Cross-sector, cross-discipline collaboration is essential and this rarely happens without specifically designed approaches, structures and delivery mechanisms.
The Outcome
Establishment of a funded entity to drive pan sector (business, government, Māori, academia, funders, investors and community) demand-led climate innovation.
INVESTMENT THROUGH AN INDIGENOUS LENS
We led the design and establishment of a collectively Iwi (tribe) owned and led, self-sustained platform to deliver long term, large scale impact investment for Te Taitokerau Māori.
The Challenge
All investments have impact whether intentional or not. Indigenous nations know too well the power of this influence. The world of finance is moving closer to a Maori worldview, to deploy capital to generate good that is good for all people and the planet.
The Outcome
A set of four guides that apply a Te Ao Māori (the Māori world view) lens to investment that showcase how indigenous wisdom can be a global leader for those looking to invest with purpose. Read the guides here.

About us

Ian Short

Ian started his career in finance and is the former CEO of Climate-KIC. While in London, he was introduced to a systems mindset when leading the establishment of an urban development corporation responsible for the regeneration of east London. Co-founder of The Connective, Ian is currently the chair of Auckland Foundation, a director of the Edmund Hillary Foundation and the Hillary Institute.

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Lucie Greenwood

Lucie’s background spans law, climate science, indigenous philosophy and a Masters from Cambridge in Development Economics. She is co-author of the report Transforming Our Economy examining how business and finance as usual need to shift to work for people and planet and a committee member of NZ’s first Climate VC Fund. Lucie leads much of The Connective’s work on systems innovation and alternative economic models.

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Johnnie Freeland

(Ngaati Te Ata Waiohua, Ngai Tuhoe, Ngapuhi)
Johnnie is a wayfinder, systems navigator and whakapapa centred designer. Beyond his whānau upbringing, he brings together more than 30 years’ knowledge and lived experience of serving community and in guiding and navigating mana whenua iwi, Māori community and public sector organisations in working to achieve better outcomes with Māori.

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Kristen Joiner

Kristen has held a number of executive director roles and has designed and led multiple ventures in the private and public sector. She first experienced the impact of systems thinking through the pioneering of a public health model in New York City, now being scaled to global implementation by the World Health Organization and UNESCO. She subsequently applied a systems mindset to climate and resilience when leading the establishment of a city-wide model for advancing urban agriculture and sustainability while reducing waste, water usage, and climate emissions - later selected as a national model by the Obama Administration. Her domain expertise spans climate change and resilience, circular economic models and principles, regenerative agriculture, and gender lens investment.

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Eseta Le'au

Eseta has a background in serving Pacific Island communities and holds a Law and Commerce degree from the University of Auckland. Eseta worked at the Pacific Business Trust in multiple roles and is on the boards of Pacific Dance NZ and Tu Manu ae Le Tu Logologo. Eseta joined The Connective to put her passion for economic sustainability and development to use in her community. Eseta is based in Samoa.

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Janisa Fernandez

(Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Kahu)
Janisa's background is in admin and teaching. She holds a degree from Auckland University of Technology in HR and Management and is completing her Masters degree on Māori leadership. She is part of the Ngā Puna Whai Oranga programme which aims to improve health and safety outcomes for Māori, Pasefika and migrant worker groups. Janisa joined The Connective to put her qualifications and passion for serving Māori to use.

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