Who we are

Our Mission:

Empowering those in need through the provision of engineering assistance.

Our Vision:

EWB envisions a world where all individuals can meet their self-identified human needs and lead lives of opportunity. We seek to achieve this through the provision and implementation of sustainable engineering projects, while fostering local awareness and education. EWBNZ aims to improve the lives of those in need and create a society of New Zealanders who are conscious of global issues and are empowered to take action to affect positive change.

Our Values:

In all the work that we do, EWB upholds its core values of people, integrity, quality, learning and sustainability.

People: Ensuring that the self-identified needs of the communities we work with are paramount in all our operations, and that being involved with EWB is a valuable and fulfilling experience 

Integrity: Acting with professionalism to provide engineering solutions in an ethical, collaborative and transparent manner.

Quality: Facilitating outcomes in an appropriate, safe and professional manner.

Learning: Developing knowledge to empower communities, and building a culture of active learning and reflection. 

Sustainability: Promoting lasting and meaningful outcomes within communities and seeking to promote environmental and cultural sustainability within both our own operations and those of our partners.  

History:

The foundations of EWBNZ began in 2006 by a group of eight engineering students under the name PULSE, led by Holly Corbett and professional engineer mentor Craig Omundsen. They undertook a water scheme design for World Vision in Vanuatu in 2006 and an assessment programme of village-managed water schemes in Samoa in 2007. The impact these trips had made inspired another group to form in 2007 called CREW, led by Haydn Luckman. Their work in Samoa included installing water tanks and the designing and constructing of a new wharf together with the locals in a remote community.

The two groups based in Auckland merged in early 2008, combining their experiences and adopted the EWB international model for engineering aid. Independent of this, a group from the University of Canterbury recognised the need for an administration body for engineering aid work, and student Sofian Irsheid concluded that the EWB model, given its success in Australia, could also be applied successfully in New Zealand. These two branches are now in close contact and co-ordinating the growth of EWBNZ.