Our values

Kaitiakitanga describes what we hope for, for Germinate: a sustainable, socially just company that exists to make the world a better place. In fact, kaitiakitanga also refers to how we work with all other people: by being respectful and supportive.

Kaitiakitanga is represented by the leaves. In nature, leaves guard the buds, tender shoots and exposed roots from the sun, wind and temperature extremes. They break up heavy rain to reduce soil erosion, which in turn keeps the roots protected. Leaves fall to the ground and break down, adding nutrients to the soil that helps nourish the tree.

At Germinate, we work like the leaves to guard new ideas, show clients how to look after new people and those who are challenged by harsh realities of change or doing things differently. Moreover, we know how to break down ideas and stages of work so that everyone feels comfortable about changes that are afoot. We use your existing ideas and ways of doing things as a starting point, to make sure everyone knows what to expect and how they can help drive positive change.

We recognise ourselves and others as whole people. This means that everyone already has their own beliefs, thoughts, ideas and opinions about how the world works. They use those things on which to base their actions. Consequently, we acknowledge this and work with others in a way that enables them to embrace new ways of thinking about and doing things. Not only, are we open and honest, supportive and inclusive, but we strive to make our mahi fun! Diversity is powerful, providing different ways of thinking and behaving and we thrive on that.

Pono is represented by flowers. The flowers show the tree in its full glory; mature and fully developed. They provide nectar which attracts insects and manu which pollinate the trees so they can produce seeds.

We work in ways which might not be usual for most businesses. We prize the partnerships we build. So we take time to whakawhanaungatanga. This means we ‘bake into’ our process, the time to form shared visions with our partners. We collaborate with willing participants to develop solutions that we all benefit from and can all be proud of.

Kotahitanga is represented by the tui and a pōhutukawa flower. The tui and the pōhutukawa have a symbiotic relationship: one where both benefit equally. The flowers provide nectar, which is a source of food for the tui, and the tui helps pollinate the pōhutukawa flowers to bring forth seed, in time.

We value and embrace mātauranga. We also respect and acknowledge the wisdom of those that have gone before us. This means, our mahi builds on theirs, like the rings that form the trunk of the tree.

We partner with credible, articulate specialists and end-users to guide the development of what we do. Similarly, we acknowledge that our partners are experts in their fields, as we are in ours.

Mātauranga is represented by the structural parts of the tree: its roots, trunk and branches. For example, the roots anchor the tree in its environment and absorb the water and nutrients that the tree needs to grow. Likewise, the trunk and branches hold the leaves, flowers, fruit, buds and shoots, high up in the air. As a result, out in the sun, away from pest animals, insects and manu thrive.

Consequently, just like the tree, we utilise the growth and experience we’ve built with our partners and offer a stronger foundation for what we do. As a result, we grow from each project or piece of work we complete. This has benefits for new clients, and we learn from them to achieve our shared visions. Lastly, mutual respect, partnership and wisdom all help to make what we do reliable and strong.