Enhancing Assurance Schemes

The role of assurance in enhancing social licence to operate

Project Details Ngā taipitopito

Project Status:
Completed
Challenge funding:
$129,790
Research duration:
July 2022 - March 2023

Collaborators Ngā haumi

Synlait | The AgriBusiness Group | University Of Canterbury

You are here: Home / Projects / ­ Enhancing Assurance Schemes

What are we doing?E aha ana mātou?

Farm certification schemes are an important way to build social licence to operate, address market and regulatory concerns, provide greater transparency, and incorporate cultural values into practices.

Many of these assurance systems and other monitoring mechanisms are well established – but are being challenged by increasing demands of urban communities for transparency in farming and rapid development of technology driven monitoring and reporting mechanisms.

This project will develop recommendations to enhance assurance programmes, including how they can be used more effectively to build trust between farmers and communities. The work will also consider the need for continuous improvement, and how Māori perspectives, insights and cultural attributes could be incorporated into assurance processes.

How can the research be used? Ka pēhea e whai take ai te rangahau?

  • This project will produce a white paper outlining a pathway to enhance assurance systems to increase their potential to build and maintain social licence to operate in Aotearoa New Zealand.
  • Tailored recommendations will be developed for the enhancement of the Synlait Lead with Pride assurance programme, and MFE/MPI Freshwater Farm Plans, providing direct benefits to the operation and impact of these programmes.
  • The research will also provide tailored recommendations for Māori enterprises and assurance providers that are guided by tauutuutu ethics in terms of transparent monitoring reporting, across taiao, oranga, and whai rawa dimensions.
  • Insights from the research will support the building of trust between farmers and communities, and clarify possible complementary strategies to build social licence to operate, such as farm open days and community-supported agriculture.

Related research updates Ngā pānui mō te rangahau nei

Research team Te hunga i whai wāhi mai

Project Co-Lead
Pavel Castka
University of Canterbury
Project Co-Lead
Jon Manhire
The Agribusiness Group
Te Ao Māori Lead
John Reid
University of Canterbury
Corey Ruha
Te Arawa, Tūwharetoa, Raukawa
Independent researcher

Tools & resources Ngā utauta me ngā rauemi

Pathways to Transition Projects

Te Taiao framework in use

Lessons from Our Land and Water

The Our Land and Water National Science Challenge journey to a Tiriti-led science partnership: the lived experience and the lessons learned
View Project
Tukituki River and Te Mata Peak. Photo: Phillip Capper via Flickr

Synthesis Scenarios for Future Land Use

Steering land use change to meet water quality targets, through the synthesis of Our Land and Water research
View Project
The Collaboration Lab

The Collaboration Lab

Determining the role of collaboration in transforming management of land and water
View Project

Trust and Social Licence

Investigating the importance of trust and approval by the community of the primary sector’s practices, and the connection to productivity and sustainable growth in New…
View Project
Rural Professional Fund 2021 22

Rural Professionals Fund 2021–22

There were 12 successful projects in the second funding round for the Our Land and Water Rural Professionals Fund.
View Project

Implementing Te Mana o Te Wai

Supporting iwi, hapū, water users, and decision-makers to understand and implement policy that prioritises Te Mana o te Wai
View Project
Scroll to Top