BETTER DECISION MAKING
Turning challenges into opportunities through evidence-based solutions
We work with the public sector to bring focus and help solve problems, ensuring decision makers can concentrate on providing what’s best for their communities. Simply put, we see every challenge as an opportunity, and we thrive on the tough stuff.
WHAT WE DO
We are trusted advisors who take the approach that nothing is impossible. Our focus is, and has always been, on improving places for people by helping public sector organisations make well-informed investment decisions. Whether it's infrastructure, strategy or support, it’s about creating a better world by improving the places we live, work and play.
We have a great team and offer a continuum of services – from early evidence gathering and direction setting right through to the development of business cases and the delivery of key strategic documents. All stages in the continuum are about adding more depth and clarity to an investment proposal or strategic objective.
EXPERTS OUR PEOPLE
Our people are our biggest asset and the foundation of our success. Rationale has a highly skilled team with a wide range of experience and expertise. We are the sum of our parts and consistently look to attract the best people in New Zealand to ensure we can offer our clients a service that is second to none.
OUR PEOPLEOUR PROJECTS
NZ DRIVER LICENSING IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME
CLIENT: New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi
DATE: 2022 - 2024
STATUS: DLIP has set a new standard for cross-agency collaboration and helped thousands of people to get their licence
CONSISTENT CONDITION DATA COLLECTION
CLIENT: Te Ringa Maimoa
DATE: 2021 - 2023
STATUS: Waka Kotahi has approved 100% funding of the $18.5 million needed for national delivery.
TE MANAWATAKI O TE PAPA
CLIENT: Tauranga City Council
DATE: 2021-2023
STATUS: Investment of $306.3 million was approved by Tauranga City Council in June 2023.
SUPPORT THROUGH THREE WATERS UNCERTAINTY
CLIENT: Multiple Councils
STATUS: Ongoing
MACKENZIE DISTRICT PLAN REVIEW
CLIENT: Mackenzie District Council
DATE: 2022 - Ongoing
STATUS: Stages one and two complete, stage three and four underway
VINCENT SPATIAL PLAN
CLIENT: Central Otago District Council
DATE: 2021 - 2022
STATUS: Directly informing a Council-led plan change for the area
WEST COAST COMBINED TRANSPORT PLANNING
CLIENTS: Westland District Council, Grey District Council, Buller District Council
DATE: 2020-2021
STATUS: Directly contributed to increased transport funding for the West Coast
MACKENZIE SPATIAL PLANS
CLIENT: Mackenzie District Council
DATE: 2020-2021
STATUS: Directly informing a review of the Mackenzie District Plan
THREE WATERS REFORM PLANNING BUSINESS CASE
CLIENT: Dunedin City Council
DATE: 2020 - 2021
STATUS: Business Case currently being implemented
QUEENSTOWN TOWN CENTRE MASTERPLAN
CLIENT: Queenstown Lakes District Council
DATE: 2017 - 2018
STATUS: Directly used to help unlock around $300 million of Central Government investment
KOPU MARINE PRECINCT BUSINESS CASE
CLIENT: Thames Coromandel District Council
DATE: 2018-2019
STATUS: Facilitated $8.2 million in Central Government funding
CORPORATE SERVICES FEASIBILITY STUDY
CLIENT: Social Wellbeing Agency
DATE: 2021
STATUS: Provided justification to invest in future state
OUR COMPANY WHAT DRIVES US
Established in 1999 by Edward Guy, Rationale has offices in Wellington, Arrowtown and Dunedin. While we continue in the infrastructure space, the work Rationale does is constantly evolving and almost always involves solving tricky problems. We are an independent advisory company that helps public sector and business leaders make well-informed infrastructure and investment decisions.
READ MOREJOIN OUR TEAM CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
The work we do is always changing, innovating and challenging. We have a strong team with an unrivalled culture, both inside and outside of the office. If you’re the kind of person who loves solving wicked problems and enjoys getting stuck into the tough stuff, both professionally and personally, then we’d love to hear from you.
JOIN OUR TEAMNEWS WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO
DLIP cleans up at Spirit of Service Awards!!
27/09/2024 | JimmyRationale are delighted for the DLIP team, who cleaned up at the 2024 Spirit of Service Awards - winning the Better Outcomes Award and the overall Prime Minister’s Award!!!
Rationale turns 25!!!
06/09/2024 | JimmyOn the 6th of September 2024, Rationale is celebrating its 25th birthday!
As Rationale marks a quarter-century milestone, we want to take a moment to reflect on the journey that began when Edward Guy founded the company in Queenstown back in 1999.
Meet Lucy Riddle
17/07/2024 | JimmyLucy joined our Wellington office back in September 2023 and has proved to be a perfect fit for the Rationale team, quicky making a name as a safe pair of hands and cementing herself as an up-and-comer in the industry.
Mount Difficulty Race Report
10/06/2024 | Jimmy2024 has been a busy time at Rationale, and the year had almost got away on us without some sort of adventure..
So we entered the Mount Difficulty Ascent.
Unlocking Kingston’s Potential: A Strategic Investment in Infrastructure
16/05/2024 | JimmyQueenstown Lakes District Council has announced significant investment in Kingston’s three waters infrastructure, marking a pivotal moment in the region’s development.
Rationale announces new partnership with Ruapehu District Council
15/05/2024 | JimmyRuapehu District Council has awarded its Professional Services Contract for infrastructure services to a consortium made up by Rationale, BTW Company Ltd, and Xyst.
Local Water Done Well - Where to Next?
27/03/2024 | JimmyGovernment has been signalling its intention to reform the 3 Waters sector through 'Local Water Done Well'. The latest updates from the Minister provide the most detail we have seen thus far on the Government’s intended direction.
Cross Agency collaboration to improve access to driver licences
13/03/2024 | JimmyA driver licence is more than just a permit to drive a vehicle. It allows access to a range of social and economic benefits. Those lacking a licence may find it harder to find a job, access education and training, and participate in other aspects of society
Meet Laura Harding
11/03/2024 | JimmyWe are thrilled to welcome Laura as Senior Manager in Wellington. Laura joined us in January 2024, and brings a wealth of public and private sector expertise, making her a valuable addition to the Rationale whanau.
500 trees!
07/03/2024 | JimmyThat’s how many trees have been funded in native restoration projects across Queenstown and Wellington over the last eight months, through our partnership with CarbonInvoice
Happy Holidays!
20/12/2023 | JimmyIt’s been another big year, with some significant milestones for us as a business and for members of the Rationale whanau.
Bridging the gap
22/11/2023 | JimmyThrough our work with both local and central government organisations, we are increasingly seeing significant gaps between the two sectors, with impacts being felt across the country.
Wellington Corporate Challenge
17/11/2023 |Rationale’s youth division (Lucy, Connor and Daniel) put in the mahi and had a great time out pounding the pavements at the Wellington Corporate Challenge.
Supporting Councils through three waters uncertainty
27/10/2023 | JimmyOur team are working with several local authorities to address significant uncertainty across the three waters sector.
Partnering for Sustainability
01/08/2023 | JimmyRationale has recently partnered with a platform called CarbonInvoice to analyse our yearly accounts and understand what our carbon footprint is.
Local government’s role in wellbeing
01/02/2023 | JimmyOf the three local government reforms currently underway, the Review into the Future for Local Government is less advanced, however front of mind for many within the sector.
Merry Christmas
16/12/2022 | JimmyMuch like our clients, we’ve had a massive year at Rationale!
Meet Daniel Pienaar
28/10/2022 | JimmyJoining the Rationale team in September, Daniel Pienaar has made the move from South Africa and is now based out of our Wellington office.
Rationale announces new shareholder
18/08/2022 | JimmyRationale is delighted to announce that Jimmy Sygrove has joined Edward Guy and Tom Lucas as a shareholder of Rationale.
Three Waters National Transition Unit
27/07/2022 | JimmyRationale are delighted to have been selected to assist the DIA through the Three Waters National Transitioning Unit and Local Transitioning Teams.
Replanting Arrowtown’s Backcountry
08/07/2022 | JimmyThe Rationale team spends a lot of time in the hills behind Arrowtown, so it made perfect sense to support the Arrowtown Choppers' ambitious goal of planting 18,000 native trees over the next three years.
Growing our Wellington Presence
01/06/2022 | JimmyWe have long had a presence in the capital, based out of our central Wellington offices on Woodward Street. Recently, we have taken a more focussed approach.
Rationale and Te Kākano take on the Wetlands
22/04/2022 | HelenRationale gets their hands dirty – a day in the Wetlands to restore native habitat with Te Kākano.
Christmas in Fiordland
07/01/2022 | HelenThe team were 100% ready for the 2021 Christmas Outing and a mission into the depths of Fiordlands for three days in the majestic Doubtful Sounds.
What we do
18/11/2021 | Jimmy‘So what do you do at work?’ It’s a question we often get asked, and it can be quite challenging to answer in a couple of sentences.
Mackenzie Spatial Plans
01/09/2021 | HenryThe Mackenzie Spatial Plans were created to understand how this growth and development can be sustainably managed, charting a path that sets the direction for the next 30 years and beyond.
Earnslaw Burn Classic 2021
17/05/2021 | JimmyThe team at Rationale have never been shy of a mission or two, and with the wait for the ski season starting to drag on, we decided it was time to lace up the trail shoes and head off for a run into the hills.
Emily takes out the top spot at IPWEA
07/12/2020 | HenryAt this year’s IPWEA conference Rationale Infrastructure Advisor and key team member, Emily Gualter, was awarded the best under 35 presenter for her speech on the Art of Decision Making.
Shovel Ready Funding for Kōpū
19/08/2020 | HenryThames Coromandel District Council is set to benefit from significant government shovel ready investment, with the announcement that the Kōpū Marine and Business Precinct is to receive $8.2 million in funding.
Clyde community wins big through the Tourism Infrastructure Fund
16/01/2020 | HenryThe Clyde community has had a big win through the Tourism Infrastructure Fund (TIF), with the announcement in December of $365,000 in TIF funding.
2019 in review - life outside of the office
18/12/2019 | JimmyThere’s no getting around the fact that the work we do is often tricky. 2019 has been another big year for the team at Rationale.
Cromwell ‘Eye to the Future' Masterplan Progressing Well
27/09/2019 | HenryWork on the Cromwell ‘Eye to the Future’ Masterplan has entered an important phase, with the community being asked to provide feedback on the potential future options for their town and surrounding areas.
Infrastructure and the Living Standards Framework
06/06/2019 | HenryInfrastructure is critical to ensuring our living conditions continue to improve and are a key factor in understanding the wellbeing of our communities.
The importance of good engagement
10/05/2019 | HenryContrary to popular belief – PR and the media aren’t at war with one another.
Bikes, Skis and Tools - Andy and Tim Take on Mount Aspiring
29/04/2019 | HenryMt Aspiring is a proper mountaineer’s mountain. From any angle it is steep, pointy and prominent. It is also reasonably remote.
Making the case for infrastructure investment - Kōpū Marine Precinct
14/03/2019 | HenryRationale is currently working alongside Thames-Coromandel District Council, assisting in the development a detailed business case for the Kōpū Marine Precinct.
Waitaki Water Supply Pipeline
15/10/2018 | HenryLast month Rationale’s David Somerville and Edward Guy were delighted to be invited to attend the opening of the brand new $6.7 million, 34km Oamaru to Hampden Water Supply Pipeline.
Peak to Peak Race
13/08/2018 | HenrySaturday 11 August saw the Rationale Team in the 25th running of the annual Peak to Peak multisport race in Queenstown.
Boosting our Communications Capability – Jimmy Sygrove Joins Rationale
01/08/2018 | HenryRationale recently welcomed Infrastructure Advisor Jimmy Sygrove to the team, a communications specialist with over a decade’s experience in the private and public sectors.
Queenstown Town Centre Masterplan recognised by the IPWEA
20/07/2018 | HenryRationale and client Queenstown Lakes District Council have received an industry award for excellence from IPWEA New Zealand.
Rationale’s Interdependence Day
09/07/2018 | HenryWhile our American friends might celebrate the 4th of July as Independence Day, for Rationale it marked the first time night skiing was held up Coronet Peak for the 2018 winter.
A Move to a Social Market Approach
25/06/2018 | HenryWe have a situation where house prices are so high the idea of home ownership is simply out of reach to a considerable number of people.