It's a bit complicated...

A client called and asked:

"Can you make process maps pretty, and update the technical documentation to:

- Make them easier to use

- Tidy up the formatting, add a table of contents, name pictures, etc.

- Remove duplications

- Simplify the language"

He said that he had first tried AI but that it made a “big mess of the formatting”. So in my best Bob the Builder impression I said "Yes we can!"

After 4 weeks the documents now all have the same look and feel, with a detailed index of contents, tables, pictures and the process maps, making them look like a family of documents.

We created calm from chaos!

On Board the CRL train

Over the past 5 years it has been a privilege, and an absolute career highlight for me being involved in the City Rail Link project, which has been New Zealand’s transport infrastructure undertaking ever.

 In drafting instructional documents for CRL, I researched and reviewed highly technical engineering papers and extracted relevant information to then create plain English, easy to understand operating instructions and procedures. Attending the weekly workshops during which these documents were reviewed and modified resulted in me engaging with multiple stakeholders in the wider project. Updating the existing instructions, which were a decade old, to reflect the world in 2026, eg terror threat responses, was particularly stimulating and thought provoking.

 Although it wasn’t clear back in 2021 when I took a phone call from one of the program directors what would be involved for me I’m glad I said yes. It’s a very interesting journey.

CRL EMU entering at Karanga-a-Hape Station. Auckland Transport image.

Post Budget Address

No business operates in isolation of the economy and so hearing what the National coalition government has planned to kickstart the NZ economy is important to us. Nicola Willis certainly has the smarts to help turn things around as Minister of Finance.

DIY

A DIY project to test us.

When you tell people you enjoy DIY projects you sometimes get asked to do something out of the ordinary in your business. Not our everyday work but after 59 years we figured this stool deserved some TLC. We hope you get to enjoy it for many years to come.

Kapiti

Happy in our Kapiti office.

After 24 years of Webb Partners NZ Ltd in Wellington CBD we’re embracing a sea change on the Kapiti Coast. We feel privileged to be able to continue working for, and with, great people all around New Zealand while enjoying a more relaxed lifestyle. Can’t beat walks on the beach, at any time of the day!

Celebrating with a cheese scone, and coffee of course!

7 years self employed today. Thanks to the great people I get to work with, you make it enjoyable every day. Feeling happy.

A test of our resilience

If you were told you had 10 minutes to leave your home and wouldn’t be able to return for 48 hours, how would you cope?

This happened to us. Within 8 ½ minutes we were evacuating with our technology and personal effects. A brisk walk to our temporary accommodation and within half hour of receiving the news we had our business up and running. And with the forethought to grab a great Barossa red on the way out, we calmed our nerves, frayed by the sudden upheaval.

This was a very real test of our Business Continuity Plan, developed 6 years ago after attending a WREMO session on learnings from the Christchurch earthquakes. We have now reviewed and updated our plan and we’re even more prepared for next time!

Remember it might not necessarily be a natural disaster, it could be an infrastructure failure that occurs.

 Need help to develop your plan? Contact us, we’d be happy to assist.

A Body Corporate website; upping the ante with a swish new look

Being one of the first in their industry to have a website this client was so happy with how successful it had been they got us back 6 years later to create a brand new look for them.

This time they wanted the site to be very ‘visual’, with the aim of encouraging users to fully engage with it as their primary source of information. It needed to be easy to navigate and enjoyable to use.

As a mixed use complex with a varied group of stakeholders the challenge was to create a site that brought together a wide range of information and present it in a way that would convey the necessary messages, while at the same time building a sense of community.

Our client is super pleased with the result and the great feedback they’re getting. Check it out for yourself.