Five Things Marlborough Did Differently in Their Award-Winning Recovery Planning

Winning Project of the Year at the 2024 Core Values Awards doesn’t happen by accident. The Marlborough Sounds Future Access Study stood out not just for its context—a complex, post-disaster recovery challenge—but for the way it approached engagement when the pressure was on.

Here are five distinct things the Marlborough District Council team (in partnership with Stantec) did differently to earn sector-wide recognition and, more importantly, lasting community trust:

1. Started with empathy, not engineering

Before any scenario modelling or cost-benefit charts, the team focused on listening. They didn’t lead with technical answers—they opened space for lived experience to inform the work from the ground up.

2. Mapped human connection, not just physical access

The study didn’t just ask how people move—it explored why movement matters: access to health care, school, whānau, livelihood. Those insights helped shape options that were people-centred, not just infrastructure-focused.

“The views of the community are crucial in helping the project team develop solutions… and to underpin the business case for investment,” said Mayor Nadine Taylor.

3. Gave each voice a way in

Community meetings, direct outreach, online tools and written submissions ensured the engagement was accessible across the region’s geography and demographics—including those hardest hit.

4. Built legitimacy into the process

By engaging early, openly, and continuously, the team generated not just feedback—but buy-in. The resulting access strategy is backed by communities and decision-makers alike.

5. Made engagement part of the business case

This wasn’t “soft” consultation bolted on—it was integral to the decision-making process. The engagement outcomes shaped the technical analysis and strengthened the final proposal for investment.