A Sign for the Times

It’s fair to say that we all have differing needs, strengths and resources.  Understanding and demonstrating how to work best with partners is one of the most important and satisfying outcomes from a collaboration. We all want a good outcome but the challenge also includes how to go about it.  Just like building a house, it’s important to know what you bring to the build.  

With this in mind, Ingrid Le Fevre (East Waikato Road Safety Coordinator), gave us the heads-up that she was starting a project to replace old and tired cross-branded signs with brighter, more contemporary ones for 10 regional schools. Ingrid told us that “The current signs at some schools are in need of repair.  We see this as a perfect opportunity to not only promote SADD but also our Alcohol message with adding in the Road to Zero icon.”

Ingrid proposed that SADD was included in the design and she worked with us to arrive at eventual approval of logo use and associated sign-off.  From our side we asked if Ingrid wanted to be the first partner to place the new Kaitiaki o Ara name and logo on signs. Ingrid enthusiastically confirmed our alternative name would be very welcome.  On the face of it, what remained was to agree how our name and logo would appear.  There - done.  Tick that one off!

Of course, it didn’t happen in a flash and we didn’t get to the finish line that quickly because there are other things to consider - like the recipient schools and logistics that accompany putting up signs for example.  The East Waikato Road Safety team consulted with schools to ensure a consistent approach could be applied. What was good about our collaboration was each party knew what the other wanted and was best placed to do.  Kaitiaki o Ara needed the  invitation to collaborate.  East Waikato Road Safety needed the assurance that Kaitiaki o Ara would move swiftly and purposely when needed.  Mutual outcomes were agreed as well as how to realise them.

Each side had 2 levels of participation.  On our side, Roger led design approval and collaboration with Ingrid.  Renee Leaborn (Central North Island Delivery Lead) was the link on the ground, ultimately being there on the launch day and worked closely with MaryAnn Kerr (East Waikato Community Road Safety Facilitator), who was in communication with all 10 schools around planning and sign installation.

How you work with others is key to how you create and retain productive relationships.  Come the end of any collaboration, you want to look back and acknowledge we did what we set out to do and it was easy.  Equally, we want to work together again so it’s a good idea to remember how positive it all was. We know we are not available 24/7 so it’s important not to delay adding to discussions or moving things along that need moving.  

A really good on the ground approach coordinated between Renee and MaryAnn meant that all 10 schools figured in the plan and that Te Aroha College would be the initial focus school so all could come together on the day to share in a bit of publicity.

You can see from the photographs that local parties were well represented with Neil Harray (Principal) being joined by students Luca Gemmell-Taylor, Marshall Den-Boer and William Bethell.  Renee and MaryAnn Kerr also featured.

On the back of this and during Road Safety Week, we issued a joint regional media release telling the community of our joint approach.  Other schools will receive their own personalised signs and photo opportunities with Mercury Bay Area School being the next one up.

A personal favourite of ours is how others talk about us here at Kaitiaki o Ara.  We asked Ingrid how the collaboration with us went - she said it was “Very easy.  Yes it’s a process and working with 10 schools across East Waikato is a challenge but having a consistent standardised look and feel is important.  Wider consultation happened after we had made initial contact with the schools.  SADD was great at discussing the signage needs when they also went in.  So we were both on the same page and sending a consistent message.

Here’s to a few more examples of project collaboration!