Client: Auckland City Council How can we improve the service that Mainstreet and business associations in Auckland deliver to their members? Our research showed what matters most to the associations' members. This meant the council could focus on those areas, prioritising time and resources where it will have the greatest impact. We conducted large-scale qualitative and quantitative research and engagement involving:

• working with each Mainstreet association to identify their strengths and explore the unique characteristics of their membership
• surveying over 6,000 businesses in Auckland in three different languages. We used online, mailed and hand-delivered surveys
• converting this wealth of information into pragmatic and concise recommendations for the council and business associations to improve the service delivered to members.

"BP&A designed and managed a very effective research process that gave us the information we needed to work with our partners and improve the service we deliver to our business members. Ben was thoroughly professional and we have had good feedback from councillors and business association managers about the project" - Annie Inwood, Mainstreet Advisor, Auckland City Council

Client: New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development The Business Council uses its nationwide, nationally representative online survey panel ShapeNZ to provide public input on policy options. These results are used to help understand and advocate sustainable development policies and practices on issues ranging from major climate change response policy, to the future of water, managing waste, and consumer trends We helped the business council tap into public opinion and use the research to advocate for sustainable development policies. We have provided input into ShapeNZ's survey design and data analysis to generate robust and useful research results. We have also provided expert analysis to others undertaking research using the ShapeNZ service, including New Zealand's first Green IT survey. "We rely on Ben Parsons' excellent mind, wealth of research experience, and steady hand. He helps make sure we get maximum value from ShapeNZ: robust input, delivering robust results. BP&A's willingness to perform quickly and on-time has helped us deliver significant research, shaping major policy decisions." – Graeme Colman, Manager ShapeNZ, Communications Manager, Business Council

Client: Auckland City Council How can the council understand and respond to migrant business needs in town centres, to increase participation and maximise opportunities within the mainstreet programme. We identified a number of ways in which the council can improve its relationship with migrant businesses owners by gaining a closer understanding of their needs and challenges. This research project was complex because the target audience is difficult to access. We partnered with Gravitas Research and Strategy and used our combined networks of skilled interviewers and researchers from a number of nationalities to build relationships with the participants and to carry out in-depth interviews in their own language. We used the information to develop a series of recommendations on how the council will work with the mainstreet organisations to facilitate more collaboration and effective engagement with the migrant business owners and promote sharing of knowledge and new ideas. "Ben, and the team he assembled, have given us a great insight into the complex issues and challenges of the migrant business community. His collaborative and flexible approach was greatly appreciated and we will continue to use the research findings to help the mainstreet organisations develop services and programmes to help Auckland's business community." – Viju Srinivas, Economic Development, Auckland City Council

Client: Auckland City Council How can the council provide a supportive and sustainable planning framework, underpinned by an innovative District Plan, to ensure the Auckland isthmus develops to its full potential? We wrote a strategy that ensures the council engages effectively with relevant stakeholders. This community input can be incorporated into the council's plans. We designed the community engagement strategy, advising who to engage with, how and when. The strategy included a range of engagement and evaluation techniques to explore the strengths, needs, issues and aspirations of the isthmus' communities and stakeholder groups.
We also explored community issues and aspirations for each of 10 areas across the isthmus by facilitating stakeholder workshops for the community boards. "We have had very positive feedback from the workshops and stakeholder meetings Ben designed and facilitated. The process has been very valuable in capturing the community's aspirations for their area, and we are well placed to deliver a useful and innovative District Plan. It is always a pleasure to work with Ben." – Karyn Hill, Project manager - Future planning framework, Auckland City Council

Client: Public Health Advisory Committee (PHAC) and Beca How can the Ministry of Health influence urban and transport planners to place greater emphasis on public health outcomes in their planning work? We were able to give PHAC insights into the extent to which planners consider health outcomes in their work, and the factors that prevent them from doing so more often. Our research gave clear indications on how to encourage planners to consider the links between town planning and the health of a town's inhabitants. Working in partnership with Beca, we designed and managed an online survey of a nationwide sample of planners. "Ben and his team were fantastic to work with and the input they gave us ensured we could deliver a great report to PHAC. The information will be of great value in highlighting the importance of ‘healthy planning'. Ben is a skilled researcher and was very flexible in meeting our needs" – Greg Pollock, Business Director, Planning, Beca

Client: Auckland City Council How can the council make it easier and safer to walk, cycle and use public transport in and around Grey Lynn? We identified a number of ways in which the council can improve accessibility and safety for pedestrians, cyclists, bus users and peoplee with mobility impairments. In partnership with T Walsh Consulting and TouchPoll, we designed and implemented a range of community engagement processes to capture diverse community views. The team conducted street, online and hard-copy surveys, stakeholder workshops, open days and one-on-one discussions. "BP&A helped us to understand how we might be able to improve the streets for people who want to walk and cycle around Grey Lynn. They suggested a range of innovative ways for us to collect this information and were great to work with." – Claire Covacich, Senior Transport Planner, Auckland City Council

Client: Wellington Zoo What impact would increasing the admission price have on the number of people who come to the zoo, and the frequency with which they visit? We gave the zoo guidance on how much people were prepared to pay to visit the zoo, and showed the likely impact of higher admission fees. We interviewed zoo visitors and explored their attitudes towards the zoo and its admission prices. "Just wanted to pass on some feedback that everyone (including our CEO) is very impressed with your research - especially the way the information has been presented. Hopefully we will be able to work together again in the future." – Beth Houston, Manager Commercial Development, Wellington Zoo Trust

Client: Prism Software How should we position our new management information system to make its launch as successful as possible? We helped Prism develop their positioning and key messages for the new concept, based on the needs and motivations of their target market. Our research pointed to a number of potential opportunities. It also revealed some risks for the new service and we worked with Prism to overcome them. We interviewed a sample of business owners in Prism's target market to explore their needs and their perceptions of the concept. "Ben's research was extremely useful in helping us position our new offer (Prism WIN SBE) based on the needs and business issues of our target market." – Lee Findlay, General Manager, Prism Software

Client: Ascari Partners What should Ascari focus on to optimise its market position and client relationships? We helped Ascari develop a solid sense of its brand position, strengths and opportunities. This understanding has informed its strategic plan and helped cement the company's position in the public policy marketplace. We interviewed a range of Ascari's clients about their experiences and working relationships. "Ben gave us some fantastic insights into how our clients see the Ascari brand. These have been very helpful in creating our brand strategy. We look forward to working with Ben and his team again soon." John Williamson – Principal, Ascari Partners

Client: Diners Club International How can Diners Club International help its smaller Asia Pacific offices improve their services? We helped staff learn more about their members' and merchants' needs and motivations so they could improve their services. We worked with Diners Club International to develop cost-effective research templates that staff in smaller centres could use quickly and easily. We also wrote training guides to teach staff how to use the templates.

Client: Auckland Zoo Are the zoo's interpretive signs effective in encouraging behaviour change, or do they need to be improved? Our research showed the zoo's marketing team how effective their interpretive signs were at explaining the dangers of palm oil and how to reduce its effects on wild Orangutans. We interviewed zoo visitors to determine how many had read the signs and could recall their message. "BP&A are always great to work with. We value Ben's contributions highly and appreciate his input, flexible working style and sense of humour." – Alistair Kirk, Sales and Marketing Manager, Auckland Zoo

Client: Wellington Zoo What customer research, data and analysis will best meet the Zoo's information needs and help it to achieve its strategic goals? We identified a number of critical questions the Zoo needed to answer in order to achieve its goals, and developed a simple, cost-effective strategy to answer these questions. BP&A facilitated a workshop of the Zoo's leadership and marketing teams to draw out the Zoo's strategic imperatives over the next 3-5 years and figure out what data was required to help achieve them. We then worked with the Zoo, using the output from the workshop, to craft a series of research questions and a five-step plan to answer them. The process will ensure the Zoo conducts the research and analysis it needs to meet its goals, and does not conduct extraneous research that doesn't meet a strategic need. "Our team really enjoyed the workshop and the research strategy you have created is fabulous! It's great to have it all down on paper and now we know what we need to do." – Beth Houston, Manager Commercial Development, Wellington Zoo Trust.

Client: Manukau City Council How can crime prevention and security resources in the Manukau central area be most effectively managed to improve safety and public perceptions of the area? Drawing on a wide range of data and perspectives, we identified the biggest issues in the area and suggested a number of priorities to improve safety and perceptions. Our research helped build a collaborative relationship between the Police, Ministry of Justice (Manukau District Court), Manukau City Council, Manukau Central Business Association and Westfield. It provided a shared vision between the parties that to date have worked independently on crime prevention and safety. BP&A conducted a crime and security scan, collating and analysing data on the current levels and patterns of offending in the area, the allocation of security resources, public perceptions, stakeholder input and principles and practices from further afield. The scan identified priorities for short-term security measures and longer-term environmental design approaches. "We have had nothing but positive feedback on the scan, from Councillors, Directors, the Police and all involved. BP&A's approach is very hands on; not about the production of a piece of work that potentially 'gathers dust on a shelf'. BP&A were very much part of the team and the scan produced a realistic list of practical recommendations." – Jez Pellow, Town Centres & Business Precincts, Manukau City Council.