Mayne Wetherell's commitment to the environment and community

In August, the team at corporate law firm Mayne Wetherell stepped away from their city office to visit Rosedale Park and take part in a Te Hōnonga a Iwi working bee. One minor slip in the mud and many garden tools later, they successfully planted over 100 native trees and shrubs  - a triumph of teamwork and community spirit.

In addition to their efforts at the working bee, Te Hōnonga a Iwi Chair Sheryl Blythen says Amelia Porteous and Matthew Olsen from Mayne Wetherell have been “invaluable in establishing our organisation as an incorporated society and supporting us to apply for registration as a charity.”.   

“This new legal set up will give us the structure we need to continue the work we are doing restoring native bush and addressing food security for the community with our mara kai. It will also allow us to begin new workstreams as we create a blueprint for an SME-led multidisciplinary approach to mitigating climate change.”

Amelia explains that this collaboration provided an opportunity to apply their legal expertise to achieve beneficial outcomes for Te Hōnonga a Iwi:

“Supporting Te Hōnonga a Iwi’s vision of environmental restoration and biodiversity protection in Auckland has been and continues to be a meaningful way for our team to make a positive impact in the community.”

This project began through Mayne Wetherell’s donor day initiative, which allows staff to take a paid day to contribute their skills and time to a charitable or community organisation of their choice.  

Their contribution to environmental and sustainability practices extends beyond supporting Te Hōnonga a Iwi. Mayne Wetherell was the first law firm in New Zealand to achieve B Corp status, showing a long standing commitment to the environment. 

“We believe that law firms have a responsibility to make a positive impact beyond legal advice,” says Amelia.

This commitment and responsibility is demonstrated through the firm’s daily operations and long term goals.  Mayne Wetherell’s Auckland office holds Green Building certification, carbon levels are actively measured and managed, and a carbon reduction policy has been implemented that promotes sustainable transportation for staff and efficient energy use.

Their Corporate Social Responsibility committee focuses on driving environmental change across the firm.

“We are actively ensuring we use low-impact renewable energy, are responsible with our water use and practice safe disposal of our hazardous and electronic waste.  We also have an environmental purchasing policy that prioritises purchasing materials, engaging suppliers and utilising services aligned with our environmental, social and governance goals.” 

Mayne Wetherell’s collaboration with Te Hōnonga a Iwi was a chance to go beyond managing their own environmental footprint and contribute to change in a local Auckland community.

Amelia says, “This work complements our internal initiatives, ensuring that our commitment to sustainability is reflected both within our firm and in the broader community.”

“The working bee was a highlight for our team!  It was fantastic to see the real impact of what the organisation is aiming to achieve and to contribute to something designed to restore the site for generations to come.”

As of August, Te Hōnonga a Iwi is officially an incorporated society! Once again, a huge thank you for all the support from Matthew and Amelia and the team at Mayne Wetherell.