BETTER DECISION MAKING

DLIP cleans up at Spirit of Service Awards!!

Rationale 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!!!

On 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

Lucy 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

2024 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

Queenstown 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

Ruapehu 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?

Government 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

A 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

We 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!

That’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!

It’s been another big year, with some significant milestones for us as a business and for members of the Rationale whanau.

Bridging the gap

Through 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

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

Our team are working with several local authorities to address significant uncertainty across the three waters sector.

Partnering for Sustainability

Rationale 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

Of 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

Much like our clients, we’ve had a massive year at Rationale!

Meet Daniel Pienaar

Joining 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

Rationale is delighted to announce that Jimmy Sygrove has joined Edward Guy and Tom Lucas as a shareholder of Rationale.

Three Waters National Transition Unit

Rationale 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

The 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

We 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

Rationale gets their hands dirty – a day in the Wetlands to restore native habitat with Te Kākano.

Christmas in Fiordland

The 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

‘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

The 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

The 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

At 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

Thames 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

The 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

There’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

Work 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

Infrastructure 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

Contrary 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

Mt 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

Rationale 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

Last 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

Saturday 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

Rationale 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

Rationale and client Queenstown Lakes District Council have received an industry award for excellence from IPWEA New Zealand.

Rationale’s Interdependence Day

While 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

We 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.