Motu Kaikoura - The Final Push!

During the last weeks of January 2018, several 'shiftwork' teams have been working on the final touches for the Motu Kaikoura Trust Research Facility, on the island. After the 4-day install by the full team of 21 in December 2017 (16 from the A+W NZ team, 5 from SGA, Crate Ltd and J Hosking Carpenters & Co), those who could make it returned to complete the deck, install interior cabinetry, carry out some remedial work on the floor due to some weather damage, and enjoy the completed project.

And what a project it has been. This time last year the first information meeting was held in the SGA offices, with the first group of interested participants. A second information evening was held a few months later, with the growing list of interested participants growing up to approximately 40 people. The reality of time and cost commitments (not to mention the physical!) hit home as the logistics of the project developed, and Dave Strachan's target of a team of 12 was exceeded, as a team of 16 dedicated and keen women was formed.

It is important to note here that all A+W NZ events are open to everyone - and the initial group of 40 was not gender-specific. We wonder if the all-female result was due to the 'critical mass' tipping point so often referred to - where if the dominant culture is over 60-70%, that figure very quickly rises. (This is seen in the IT and digital gaming fields, where there is no explanation for the lack of young women entering these workplaces other than the culture of the workplace itself). The SGA strategy in working with A+W NZ to form a team was to ensure gender balance (Dave Strachan wanted to avoid the more-typical male-dominated team), however in this case, the dominant culture at the meetings was female and over time we ended up with an all-female final team.

After much behind the scenes preparation throughout 2017 - SGA documentation and obtaining consents, costings, getting sponsors on board, project management in place - especially for the prefabricated aspect of this project -, admin communications etc, the Motu Kaikoura Building Workshop started in the last weekend of July 2017, held at the SGA and Crate workshops in Sandringham, Auckland.

We have been reporting from the sidelines here at A+W NZ, but there are so many stories to tell from those on site - especially from Dave Strachan and Maria Hosking, whose project we have been privileged to help make happen. (Those tense time-critical helicoptor deliveries, packing and transport logistics and evening whiskeys ...) We are gathering many of those stories and will bring them to you later in 2018.

Below are some images from the final on site weeks, working in paradise. (image credits shown in captions)

For (so many!) more photos, see our earlier webpages on this project;

Site Install (includes links to other articles and SGA time-lapses)

Motu Kaikoura Building Workshop (has week-by-week building progress dropbox links)

And here are some beautiful photos of the SGA building, taken by Ross Keane of SGA;