Until Innovating Streets.

What were we asked to do?

As recognised experts in deploying rapid experiments, we were commissioned to support an agile, internal team for the NZ Transport Agency. Our mission: build confidence to experiment.

What did we achieve?

We developed and implemented a nationwide community of practice focused on building knowledge, networks and know-how, leveraging subject matter experts and global leaders.

Over 300 practitioners took part in our 12 month program. In just one year, we supported this nationwide crew to double New Zealand’s annual delivery of walking and cycling projects. Surely, that must be a record. Does anyone have the number for GBOR?

What did we learn?

Wellbeing matters in rapid prototyping: make time for peer-based support.

Until everyone was given the opportunity to design an experiment. Together. And transformed this street from congested mess to pedestrian paradise in just 3 nights.

What were we asked to do?

Auckland Council needed a way to solve a stalemate. Traditional methods of engagement and project delivery had eroded trust and burned bridges. Putting a larger city-wide transformation in jeopardy.

We proposed a pilot. A process and project pilot. We examined each part of the lengthy street renewals process, and set about on a professional rule-breaking journey with the people who lived, worked and played on High Street.

What did we achieve?

We empowered local stakeholders to design their future place together. Through a series of collaborative design workshops, supported by subject matter experts, local people delivered a workable design, supported by 97% of locals.

“We’ve never been trusted to be in the same room, together.”

We helped everyone to unlearn and relearn ways of working together. And to build a bit more trust in their local government body.

And we still hold the record for the fastest street transformation, with the least disruption.

What did we learn?

1000 cups of tea. Invest in developing authentic and trusted relationships with the community you’re working with.

What were we asked to do?

When the Let's Get Wellington Moving initiative sought a trailblazer for their ambitious $350 million City Streets Package, Urban Pirates' Director, Cam Perkins, stepped into the role of Pilot Lead. The challenge: develop city-wide implementation plans for strategic trials, tests, and pilots to transform Wellington's urban landscape, sooner.

Our mission was clear: make sense of everything going on in the city, to determine the right projects and appropriate sequencing that would rapidly enhance connections for pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport users, aligning with the overarching goal of creating People-friendly City Streets.

What did we achieve?

In response to the call, Urban Pirates embarked on a journey to redefine traditional business case delivery, using pilots. Director Cam Perkins led the charge, steering a multi-disciplinary team to assess the opportunities in widespread city disruption. Strategic opportunities emerged, and were developed into a portfolio of experiments that ‘closed the gaps’ for connections across the city.

The result? A pragmatic, strategic and implementable plan to change Wellington’s streets in the very near future.

What did we learn?

There’s opportunity in disruption. When we started to create “one plan to rule them all” we started conversations between departments, kicking off collaborations around what happens when, and how we might take advantage of the time, and space, in between projects.

What were we asked to do?

In response to the urgent need for meaningful change and the challenges faced by many organizations in capability and capacity, Urban Pirates was asked to develop a National Support Package for the $350M Transport Choices programme. The goal: to swiftly build confidence and deliver early benefits. We've been working to identify and address capability needs in developing designs, monitoring and evaluation plans, and communications and engagement strategies.

As part of this initiative, our approach identified opportunities for targeted support, ensuring that bespoke support was tailor-made for individual teams and project phase – from design and procurement to implementation and monitoring and evaluation.

What did we achieve?

Our collaborative approach to providing targeted support has already started making a difference. Recognizing the challenges of an accelerated program, we centred capability-building on a 'do-learn-do' environment. We focused on ensuring that teams have the right tools at the right time, making the entire process seamless and effective.

What did we learn?

The key takeaway from this collaborative effort is the significance of on-the-job capability building. By integrating capability development into the project lifecycle, we are better equipped to address challenges in real-time. This approach not only enhances efficiency but also fosters a culture of continuous learning and improvement.

We’re taking some time to update our case studies. Drop back in soon!