Minter Ellison Rudd Watts is committed to being a good corporate citizen through our Dare to Care Programme, as part of our wider commitment to corporate social responsibility. Our particular focuses are the areas of youth and education.
 
Through our Balance Value which includes our community relationships, we will strive to contribute and give back to the community in which we live and work. We see the benefit of our Dare to Care Programme extending both ways. Both in how we value our staff and how we interact with the wider community.
 
We have a commitment to building long term partnerships with organisations with a combination of pro bono, volunteer support and sponsorship.
 
To recognise the importance of our Balance Value we have appointed a partner to be the champion of this value, just as we have with our other three values (Excellence, Integrity & Trust, and Enduring Relationships).

 

Community involvement and volunteer support
 
Community involvement
 
We support low decile schools through partnership with the ‘Building Better Schools through Business Partnerships' Programme.
 
Through our involvement with the Step Up Programme, we assist in inspiring and challenging teenagers to imagine a different future for themselves.
 
Both staff and partners serve on school boards on a voluntary basis, and act as trustees for community organisations.
 
Minter Ellison Rudd Watts also supports the Gateway Programme which combines study at school with workplace learning.  The firm is working with High Schools on the Auckland North Shore to provide practical work experience for senior students that can be credited towards national and industry qualifications.  Every week we provide work experience to three high school aged students through the Gateway Programme.
 
Pro bono work
 
Supporting community law centres
 
Minter Ellison Rudd Watts supports the Nga Ture Kaitiaki Ki Waitako Community Law Centre, a charitable trust that provides subsidised legal services to members of the community, and relies on financial contributions from the local business community and from government. Our lawyers provide free legal advice to clients who visit the Centre in relation to civil disputes, basic contract disputes, consumer legislation disputes and employment matters.
 
Our lawyers are also involved with the Wellington Community Law Centre, YouthLaw Tino Rangatiratanga Taitamariki, and NZ Citizens Advice Bureau.
 
Supporting local charities
 
Our Corporate and Commercial team have supported via pro bono work the Specific Learning Disabilities Federation (SPELD). This not-for-profit organisation helps children who are not realising their educational potential because of various specific learning disabilities such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia, aphasia, attention deficits (ADD and ADHD) and various degrees of autism.
 
We are a valued partner for Special Olympics NZ - which provides sporting opportunities for over 5,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities in New Zealand.

 

Minter Ellison Rudd Watts also supports through pro bono work:

Minter Ellison Rudd Watts’ business sponsorships are based on innovation and internationalisation.

 

Minter Ellison Rudd Watts has been a major sponsor of the Trans-Tasman Business Circle since 2003.