We are committed to being a kaitiaki (steward) and solve important problems to deliver sustained outcomes across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Our strategy
Sustainability is a complex concept that encompasses environmental, social, and economic aspects.
PwC New Zealand has a responsibility to lead and role model the way forward by promoting sustainable practices that drive innovation and contribute to a prosperous society.
We are taking a comprehensive approach, both in what we want to achieve and how we get there.
Our strategy draws inspiration from te ao Māori perspectives. Working with our Manukura team we have drawn on our karakia, vision, purpose, values and mātāpono leading us to Te Ao Tūroa. The concept and essence of Te Ao Tūroa is the ability to continue to support life now and for future generations.
Te Ao Tūroa is the aspiration of our sustainability strategy. We will pursue Te Ao Tūroa along our four chosen pathways (ngā ara):
- Te ara ā one - environmental stewardship
- Te ara ā mahuta - social equity
- Te ara ā rongo - trust and transparency
- Te ara ā nuku - responsible business
Within each pathway we have made commitments, and prioritised six of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) where we believe PwC New Zealand can have the greatest impact.
Pathway one: Te ara ā one - Environmental Stewardship
Te ara ā one (earth) reminds us of our deep connection to our planet.
Te ara ā one (earth) represents the birth of humankind through the story of Hineahuone, the first woman formed from clay/earth by Tāne. She symbolises the view that we are intimately connected to the environment and that, as kaitiaki (stewards), we have a responsibility to care for and protect it.
Our commitments
1. Decarbonise our own business
- Transition our business in line with a 1.5 degree climate scenario by:
- Sustaining minimal Scope 1 and 2 emissions.
- Continuing to be powered by 100% renewable electricity in line with our RE100 membership.
- Continuing to reduce our Scope 3 business travel emissions through minimising travel and having a policy framework in place.
- Offsetting our emissions through high-quality carbon credits and transitioning our carbon credit portfolio to 100% carbon removals.
- Engaging with our suppliers to encourage them to set science based targets.
- Identify our climate risks and opportunities.
2. Help our clients to adapt to a sustainable and low carbon Aotearoa New Zealand
- Offer sustainability upskilling through global training programmes to all employees.
- Continue to grow our specialist sustainability capabilities and expertise across all our business units to support our clients in their transition to a sustainable and low carbon economy.
3. Collaborate and partner locally and globally to accelerate the climate change agenda
- Support key businesses, policymakers, NGOs and governmental organisations that are working to accelerate the climate agenda through membership and active participation.
Pathway two: Te ara ā mahuta - Social Equity
Te ara ā mahuta represents the action of moving forward with knowledge and understanding.
Te ara ā mahuta is inspired by Tāne Mahuta, a figure of action moving forward. He brought knowledge, wisdom and understanding from the heavens to humankind. The poutama pattern symbolises levels of advancement striving upwards for growth and development.
Our commitments
1. Help to rebalance social outcomes for Aotearoa New Zealand
- Continue to help clients identify and remove barriers to achieving equity through the mahi of our Manukura Māori, Equity and Hauora practices.
- Collaborate with communities and policymakers to create policies, systems and services to drive increased equality.
- Play an active role in providing equitable career pathways into and within our organisation.
- Close our pay gaps by implementing initiatives to achieve our gender targets and increase ethnic representation at all levels, particularly for Māori and Pacific peoples, by attracting, retaining, developing, and promoting talent into leadership roles.
- Champion belonging, diversity and inclusion initiatives in Aotearoa New Zealand through partnering and collaborating with governance and leadership of like minded organisations.
- Through our Foundation programmes, leverage our skills and relationships with other businesses and the wider community to positively impact children’s wellbeing through quality education.
Pathway three: Te ara ā rongo - Trust and Transparency
Te ara ā rongo represents the sense of shared understanding that drives us to operate in a way that is trustworthy, transparent and accountable.
Te ara ā rongo is inspired and guided by Rongamātāne, as kaitiaki of cultivated food and peace, which requires patience, strength, foresight, and advanced thinking and techniques. The kārearea (New Zealand falcon) symbolises strength, flying at the top of the world, bringing focus to the journey ahead.
Our commitments
1. Demonstrate strong, authentic leadership and enhance governance within PwC New Zealand
- Continuously enhance our strong governance structures in order to operate responsibly, ethically, and to the highest professional standards.
2. Build confidence through quality and transparency
- Remain transparent and accountable by:
- Continuing to publish our Audit Transparency report.
- Aligning our sustainability reporting with the WEF stakeholders metrics framework.
- Support accountability and transparency in Aotearoa New Zealand through collaboration partnerships, advocacy and submissions on policy and regulatory change.
3. Nurture a strong purpose-driven culture built on quality, ethics, risk management and independence
- Reinforce our commitment to quality, strong ethics, independence and robust risk management through annual training programmes and our tone at the top.
Pathway four: Te ara ā nuku - Responsible Business
Te ara ā nuku represents the movement and shifts we make to respond to a constantly changing environment.
Te ara ā nuku is inspired by events within the Māori creation story that led to Papatūānuku (earth mother) and Ranginui (sky father) being separated (Te Wehenga), to form the sky above and earth below. The land represents a source of strength and nourishment enabling life to thrive. The harakeke (flax) plant symbolises life flourishing in an environment that is constantly evolving.
Our commitments
1. Incorporate a kaupapa Māori approach to the way we work
- Continue to incorporate a kaupapa Māori approach in our strategies, policies, processes and practices.
- Enhance cultural confidence and increase engagement in cultural practices.
2. Nurture an inclusive culture that fosters a sense of belonging, learning and connection
- Continue with activities to enhance people engagement across the firm.
- Upskill our team to give them the knowledge, capabilities and tools to adapt to a digital and AI future.
- Empower and equip individuals for future senior leadership or governance roles in Aotearoa New Zealand via our role as a training organisation.
3. Prioritise the wellbeing of our whānau
- Incorporate new reporting measures to understand and ensure the overall wellbeing of our people.
- Implement our wellbeing model, Te Hā.
4. Make a positive impact in our local communities
- Support our communities through providing services and volunteering hours to assist with societal matters. Provide support through volunteering, disaster response activity, and charitable giving.
- Leverage our people's skills and experience through our PwC Foundation On Board programme.
Explore more
Building prosperity
The last few years have been some of the more challenging in Aotearoa New Zealand’s history. The COVID-19 pandemic, fractured geopolitics, social tension, supply chain issues and rising inflation have, and are, affecting our communities in ways we previously couldn’t have imagined.
PwC Foundation
Our goal is to leverage our skills, our financial and intellectual resources, other businesses and the wider community to help to resolve the societal issue of ‘children’s wellbeing’ in New Zealand.
Reporting our gender and ethnicity pay gaps
At PwC New Zealand we are committed to building a workforce that reflects, and is inclusive of, the diverse communities of Aotearoa.
Partner, Sustainability Reporting & Assurance Leader, Auckland, PwC New Zealand
+64 21 355 879
