Diversity Works NZ is the national body for workplace diversity and inclusion, who run the Diversity Awards NZ. The Awards recently honoured Jasmax with the Cultural Celebration Award. The award aims to celebrate workplaces that showcase authentic responses to diverse engagement and is open to businesses across all sectors nationwide.

Diversity Works says, “The business is not only striving to create better cultural design outcomes, but is embedding a bicultural strategy at the heart of the practice.”

Jasmax notes that a crucial part of this strategy is Waka Māia, the firm’s Māori cultural and design advisory group. CEO Sjoerd Post says, “At Jasmax we believe that the Tiriti o Waitangi between Mana Whenua and tangata tiriti offers a powerful opportunity to create architecture and design that is unique to Aotearoa. Waka Māia are our kaihautū in that quest.”

Judging convener Kirstin Te Wao says, “Waka Māia is creating an industrial legacy through Jasmax, in its role amplifying Māori contribution in architecture. The mahi the team does collaborating with Mana Whenua, strengthening Māori participation within the company’s governance, and creating a space where all employees can gain a better understanding of the importance of Māori culture has been pivotal in its projects which have garnered national and international accolades.”

See the full case study at diversityworks.org.nz.