# Boost — Full Site Content > Complete content from boost.co.nz for LLM consumption. --- ## Home URL: https://boost.co.nz/ ### Proven in government Our projects deliver positive impacts for the people of New Zealand, on time and on budget. ### A low-cost way to test an idea A Proof of Concept project allows you to test an idea, build a working prototype and get stakeholder buy-in - without committing to the cost of full development. [Find out how](https://www.boost.co.nz/services/proof-of-concept/) ### Plan, size and cost your next project Build your business case or get your project ready to kick-off with a free, fully-facilitated one day workshop. --- ## Services URL: https://boost.co.nz/services Boost offers agile software development, design, and digital strategy services for government and public sector organisations. --- ## Agile delivery URL: https://boost.co.nz/services/our-agile-approach Boost's Agile approach to design and software development delivers value early, cuts risk, and keeps you involved at every step. ### Intro At Boost, we approach all our projects using Agile, a collaborative way of working that delivers work in small chunks to allow for constant feedback and quick adjustments. We're flexible and pragmatic in our approach. We believe strong relationships and deep collaboration create the best outcomes, so we focus on getting to know your organisation, goals and users, and tailor our Agile process to deliver the best outcome for you. We started using Agile in 2007, so we’ve had plenty of time to develop a process that delivers value while cutting risk, and guarantees our constant attention to great design and technical excellence. #### 1. Understand your organisation and users We find out about you, your users and what you want to achieve, and work with you to identify the best solution for your users. We take a co-design approach to all our projects, getting user and stakeholder input from the beginning. [Learn more about how we do co-design](http//www.boost.co.nz/) #### 2. Build in prioritised stages We break your project into manageable, two-week cycles of design, development, and testing. We tackle your highest priority features first and deliver working software every cycle, starting in the first two weeks. You stay in control, approving features as they’re built. #### 3. Measure success Our testing begins on day one. Delivering working software early and often means you can confirm we’re building what you need, and we can test our solution with the people who will use it. #### 4. Improve and finalise Using the feedback from each cycle, we refine our understanding of what your customer needs. You decide where we focus in the next stage. We repeat the cycle of build, test and learn until you’re satisfied we’ve got it right. #### 5. Launch and grow Our partnership doesn’t end when we launch your product. After go-live, you enter our monthly maintenance cycle, and we’ll stay in touch to understand how things are working and create a strategy for the next phase of your project. ### Collaborative development Working with Boost, you become part of the development team. Our Agile process creates space for your insights and expertise to shape the final product. For the duration of your project, you'll give us direction, input and feedback in daily standups, and fortnightly planning and retrospective meetings. You get a clear view of progress, the flow of work and project budget, and insight into how well your product is meeting user needs. ### How Agile cuts risk Agile is designed to avoid the risks that come with traditional "Waterfall" software development. We use four key strategies to make sure we deliver high-quality software that meets genuine user needs, within our clients' budgets and timelines. ### 1. Content prioritisation We deliver all your make-or-break features, even if priorities change as the project progresses. ### 2. Transparency and communication Standards, priorities and progress are always clear and visible. ### 3. Small tasks We keep chunks of work manageable to avoid bottlenecks and delays. ### 4. Limit work in progress We avoid broken focus by completing batches of work before moving on. [Read our guide to reducing risk with Agile](https://boost.co.nz/blog/2019/03/reducing-risk-agile) → ### Support We're the only Wellington development company with the Agile expertise to provide Scrum and PSM-certified Agile training to our clients. As well as getting free Agile training, you'll have a dedicated Agile coach to help your team get the most from the process. [Get information about our Agile training](https://boost.co.nz/pages/contact) → --- ## Design URL: https://boost.co.nz/services/design Human-centred design from Boost — intuitive, accessible digital experiences for everyone, delivered through co-design and user research. ### Intro We do design differently at Boost. We involve users and clients in our design process from day one, and our Designers work hand-in-hand with our Developers, creating solutions together as part of the same Agile process. It makes our work more efficient, saving you time and money and giving us space to focus on what matters — creating the best possible experience for everyone who uses your product. ### Our work See examples of how we've applied our design skills to real projects: - [Supergold](https://boost.co.nz/pages/supergold) — Redesigning the SuperGold card experience for seniors - [DigitalNZ](https://boost.co.nz/pages/digitalnz-update) — Making New Zealand's digital heritage accessible - [Check What You Get](https://boost.co.nz/pages/check-what-you-get) — Helping New Zealanders understand their entitlements - [Archives NZ](https://boost.co.nz/pages/archives) — Improving access to government records --- ## Development URL: https://boost.co.nz/services/development View Boost's web application, software and mobile app design and development services. Our flexible 5-step Agile process delivers more value with less risk. ### Header To maximise the value we deliver our clients, we concentrate on complex challenges that make the best use of our Agile development expertise. Because we continuously deliver working software, you can constantly check you're getting the solution you and your customers need. We focus on custom software and applications, not off-the-shelf implementations. Where we build websites and mobile apps, we specialise in those that provide services, not just information. Learn more about how we choose [projects that create a positive and lasting impact](https://www.boost.co.nz/blog/2019/10/ideal-boost-project). __The result: Digital relationships with your customers that deliver the impact you need.__ ### Intro We build and configure digital services for New Zealand government organisations. Our team of experienced full-stack Developers delivers high-performing, secure solutions that make lasting impacts for our clients. As experts in data delivery, we specialise in delivering solutions that use our open-source aggregation tool Supplejack to tackle complex technical and business challenges. [Find out how libraries and archives use Supplejack](https://www.boost.co.nz/development/digital-collection-aggregation) ### Ruby on Rails Ruby on Rails is our primary development framework, and for good reason. It's the same technology behind [GitHub](https://github.com), [Shopify](https://shopify.com), [Basecamp](https://basecamp.com), and [Airbnb](https://airbnb.com) — companies that need their software to be reliable, scalable, and maintainable. Rails lets us build high-quality web applications faster than most other frameworks. Its convention-over-configuration approach means less time on boilerplate and more time solving your actual business problems. Combined with Ruby's elegant syntax, it makes for code that's easy to read, test, and maintain long after the initial build. ### Why we use RoR #### Quick development Rails' convention-over-configuration approach and rich ecosystem of gems means we can build and ship features faster, reducing your time to market. #### Proven at scale From Shopify processing millions of transactions to GitHub hosting the world's code, Rails has proven it can handle enterprise-grade workloads. #### Strong testing culture The Rails community has a deep commitment to automated testing. This means fewer bugs, more confidence in deployments, and lower maintenance costs. #### Security built in Rails includes protection against common web vulnerabilities like SQL injection, XSS, and CSRF out of the box — keeping your application and data safe. #### Active community With thousands of contributors and a mature ecosystem of open-source libraries, Rails gives us battle-tested solutions for common problems. ### Why choose Boost #### 1. The Agile experts We don't just use Agile — we teach it, coach it, and live it. Our development process is genuinely iterative, with regular demos and feedback loops that keep you in control. #### 2. Government experience We've been building software for New Zealand government organisations for over 15 years. We understand the procurement, security, and accessibility requirements. #### 3. Full-stack capability From front-end interfaces to back-end systems to cloud infrastructure, our team covers the full technology stack. No need to coordinate multiple vendors. #### 4. Quality and testing Every feature we build comes with automated tests. We use continuous integration and deployment to catch issues early and ship with confidence. #### 5. Long-term partnerships We don't disappear after launch. Many of our clients have worked with us for years, and we provide ongoing support, maintenance, and feature development. #### 6. Wellington-based team Our team works from our Wellington studio. We're available for face-to-face collaboration and we understand the local context. Ready to discuss your project? [Get in touch](https://boost.co.nz/pages/contact) — we'd love to hear what you're working on. ### Why choose Boost ### 1. The Agile experts We are leaders in Agile software development in New Zealand. Our team applies Agile methodologies to deliver high-quality software that meets your evolving needs. ### 2. Years of experience With over 15 years of experience delivering software for government and the public sector, we have a proven track record of successful projects. ### 3. Quality by design Quality is built into every stage of our process. We use test-driven development, continuous integration, and code review to ensure excellence. ### 4. Active in the community We contribute to the open source community, share knowledge through our blog and events, and support the New Zealand tech ecosystem. ### 5. Positive impact, positive energy We believe in using technology to make a positive impact. Our team is passionate about delivering solutions that benefit people and communities. ### 6. Fit for purpose Every solution we build or configure is tailored to your specific needs, goals, and constraints. --- ## Digital collection aggregation URL: https://boost.co.nz/services/digital-collection-aggregation Learn how to make cultural heritage collections easier to find, share and use with the Supplejack digital collection aggregation platform. ### Intro With Supplejack, you can give your users a single, seamless digital experience of all the records in your collections — even if they're held on multiple sites, or by other organisations. ### How it works #### Step 1: Harvest - You define which internal or external sources you gather records from, and what metadata you harvest. - Supplejack's flexibility means you can gather records from anywhere — an internal database or another organisation's website. - You can manage Supplejack's performance by scheduling harvests and controlling the number of records it gathers at once. #### Step 2: Transform Supplejack combines the records' metadata, and transforms it into a consistent structure. This means it can be indexed by a single search. #### Step 3: Share - A new website makes all the harvested records searchable in one place. - Users can see item thumbnails and key information or detailed listing pages, and create and share collections of records. - Supplejack can be paired with AI technologies like natural language searches to make your records easier for users to find, use and share. ### Supplejack In Action Here are a few examples of ways that cultural heritage institutions are using the Supplejack digital collection aggregation platform. --- ## Proof of concept URL: https://boost.co.nz/services/proof-of-concept A quick, low-cost Proof of Concept project from Boost helps you validate your idea before committing to full software development. ### Intro Innovation almost always comes with uncertainty — but that doesn't mean it has to be risky. Our proof of concept (POC) projects validate your ideas quickly and affordably. If you're exploring cutting-edge technology or testing a fresh concept, a POC helps you evaluate feasibility, secure stakeholder buy-in, and set a strong foundation for success. ### How it works A POC is a focused project designed to test out an idea or technology. In a short, limited time — usually from two weeks to a month — we deliver a working prototype or clear validation that shows whether your concept can meet its goals. By keeping the scope small and outcomes specific, a POC gives you valuable insight without the investment of a full-scale build. ### Our approach Our Agile methodology is a perfect fit for POCs. It ensures we deliver working solutions quickly, with space for feedback and iteration. Here's how we approach your project: #### 1. Understand your idea We'll explore your concept, its goals, and the people it's for, helping identify technical solutions that could deliver your vision. #### 2. Create an action plan We'll work with you to understand your budget and timeline, and make a plan to deliver maximum value within those constraints. #### 3. Build iteratively Working in short sprints, we'll develop a focused, functional prototype that showcases your idea's potential. #### 4. Test and learn Feedback is central to our process. We test each iteration, learning what works and refining the prototype for better results. #### 5. Prepare for the future Your POC isn't just an experiment — it's a stepping stone. We help you identify what's next, whether that's full-scale development or further exploration. [Learn more about our Agile approach](https://boost.co.nz/services/our-agile-approach) → ### Small teams We build small, focused teams that work closely with you throughout the project. This keeps costs low and gives our developers the freedom to adjust their approach as new information comes to light. ### Proven results Our clients have used POCs to explore and get stakeholder support for a wide range of cutting-edge projects, from AI chatbots to legal data aggregation. [Find out how we built an AI chatbot for a government organisation](https://boost.co.nz/blog/2024/01/ai-chatbot-poc) → ### Bring your idea to life Our POC projects are tailored to your needs, combining technical expertise with collaborative problem-solving. If you're ready to test an idea, [get in touch](https://boost.co.nz/pages/contact) to see how we can help. --- ## AI Chatbot POC URL: https://boost.co.nz/case-studies/ai-chatbot-poc ### Intro Exploring new technologies with a low-risk, high-reward approach is key to discovering their potential. Our recent collaboration with a government organisation with a customer-facing role allowed us to demonstrate the potential of an AI chatbot, without the cost or risk that comes with a full-scale development project. The challenge was to find an innovative solution to lighten staff workload and improve customer experience, without committing extensive resources upfront. A two-week proof of concept (POC) project offered the perfect solution. ### Get in touch By working collaboratively with our clients, we ensure that every project - no matter the scale - delivers meaningful insights and opens the door to long-term value. If you have an idea you'd like to test without committing to a full-scale development project, [get in touch](https://boost.co.nz/pages/contact) to discuss how we can help. ### High query volume, low efficiency The organisation was facing an issue: their staff often received email and phone queries of a similar nature. The questions could have been answered using their website content, but customers preferred to send an email enquiry or call the organisation than to search for answers. While staff appreciated the customer engagement, it meant they had less time to focus on more specialised work. The organisation had considered the idea of a chatbot for some time, but weren't sure whether an AI model could effectively handle the queries they received. A POC was the ideal first step in answering this question, allowing us to trial the concept before committing to a full-scale implementation. ### Trusted answers from complex information Staff feedback about the type of enquiries the organisation was receiving highlighted a major requirement for the chatbot: it needed to synthesise complex and occasionally out-of-date or incomplete information into clear, trustworthy answers. The organisation's website contains a lot of content, intended for a number of different audiences. Some customers contacted the organisation because they were struggling to navigate it all to find the answers they needed. Trust and accuracy had to be our central principle in designing the chatbot. ### A retrieval-augmented chatbot For the POC, we designed a retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) chatbot. RAG models only use the data in their knowledge base — in this case, the organisation's website — to answer questions. This helps them avoid one of AI's common pitfalls: fabricating information. We built trustworthiness into the chatbot by designing it to always cite its sources. This feature, alongside its ability to handle complex questions, made the RAG model an ideal one for the organisation to test in a controlled environment. It also meant that people who wanted could find more information in the sources for the chatbot's responses. Finally, to protect the organisation's information in accordance with government guidelines, we turned the model's learning function off. ### Reducing the risk of a restricted budget While the technical construction of the chatbot was relatively straightforward, most of our work focused on crafting the right prompts and improving the accuracy of responses. We began by integrating the chatbot with the organisation's existing data, ensuring it only pulled from trusted sources so it provided accurate, verifiable information in every interaction. We also designed it to clearly cite its sources, so users could check its answers and find extra information if they needed it. Prompt engineering was the most critical and time-intensive aspect of the project. This involved training the chatbot to understand and respond correctly to user queries, while making sure it didn't "hallucinate" incorrect answers. We refined the prompts several times, adjusting how the chatbot interpreted queries and extracted the right data from the knowledge base. We focused on ensuring that when it was asked a question it couldn't fully answer, it wouldn't make an answer up or draw on sources outside its knowledge base - instead, it would direct users to a contact within the organisation. ### Showing future potential During the POC, the chatbot successfully answered common customer queries, showing its potential to free up staff for more specialised tasks. Its reliable, well-sourced responses built trust within the organisation and feedback from staff provided insights into areas for improvement. These included broadening the chatbot's knowledge base to include the organisation's legislative framework and improving the website content it drew upon, as well as design improvements. The POC allowed the organisation to explore AI's potential in a low-risk, cost-effective manner. By trialling the chatbot with internal staff, they gathered valuable feedback and avoided the high costs of a full rollout. This iterative process ensured that the chatbot was refined before any broader implementation, helping the organisation validate its usefulness and secure stakeholder buy-in for future development. For this government organisation, the POC laid the groundwork for a smarter, AI-driven approach to customer queries. --- ## Anzac Sights and Sounds URL: https://boost.co.nz/case-studies/anzac See how we helped Ngā Taonga and the Australian Film Archive bring together two countries by unearthing our shared ANZAC audiovisual heritage. ### NDF Award --- ## CreativeNZ URL: https://boost.co.nz/case-studies/creativenz-community-arts-toolkit The web design and development for CreativeNZ's Community Arts Toolkit highlighted videos to demonstrate how community arts create value for New Zealand. *__Bottom left:__ Nelson Fringe Festival 2017. Photography by Doug Brooks. __Right:__ A Waka Odyssey, Wellington (2018), A Waka Odyssey Creative Team, New Zealand Festival and Te Āti Awa / Taranaki Whānui Iwi. Image courtesy of Jeff McEwan.* *__Bottom right:__ A children’s spoon carving workshop underway at the Rekindle workshop, at Te Matatiki Toi Ora Arts Centre, Christchurch – Rekindle is a recipient of a 2019 Arts Grant. Image: Johannes van Kan.* *__Left:__ Nukulaelae Tuvalu Group performs at Pacific Arts Fono 2017. Photography by Raymond Sagapolutele. __Bottom right:__ Cuba Dupa 2019. Photography by Oliver Crawford* --- ## DigitalNZ URL: https://boost.co.nz/case-studies/digitalnz-update We helped bring Kiwi culture to life by building an award-winning world-first, a one-stop site that makes it easy to find, share and use our digital treasures. DigitalNZ currently uses Supplejack to harvest, search and share 30 million metadata records More than 200 content partners share their resources with DigitalNZ The DigitalNZ website has an average of 320 active users every day --- ## Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision URL: https://boost.co.nz/case-studies/ngataonga Ngā Taonga asked us to build their corporate site after our success with their award-winning Anzac site. Learn how we helped them celebrate New Zealand's audiovisual history. collections items simple search --- ## SuperGold URL: https://boost.co.nz/case-studies/supergold Learn how developing an integrated SuperGold platform of mobile and web applications is helping seniors find savings anywhere, anytime. https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/document/HansS_20200311_052650000/8-question-no-8-seniors --- ## WW100 URL: https://boost.co.nz/case-studies/ww100 To bring the country together in commemoration and ramp up engagement we released new features for this site for each phase of the centenary. ### WW100 - Stats of Kiwis engaged with the centenary --- ## Government Showcase URL: https://boost.co.nz/pages/government-showcase Working with New Zealand Government Boost has a track record of successfully completing projects that deliver positive impacts for public sector agencies and the people of New Zealand ### Make sure your next project delivers Find out how we can ensure your next development project meets or exceeds the expectations of your agency, minister, stakeholders and the country as a whole. As New Zealand’s Agile development experts, Boost has been selected as a supplier of choice on the government Marketplace, Web Services Panel and Consulting panel. **MSD** __Helping all Kiwis thrive by making it simple to get support__ This web application makes it easy for people to find all the MSD support they’re entitled to. Our intense focus on ease-of-use was rewarded when one user shared his wife’s experience. She was able to complete the process, even with reduced abilities following brain surgery. **SuperGold** __Making it super easy for seniors to stretch their money further__ MSD wanted to help seniors get SuperGold deals anywhere, using any device. We had five months to deliver mobile apps for both Apple and Android phones, along with a new web application and API. Released on schedule, the apps went to No. 1 in the New Zealand app stores. ### Department of Internal Affairs **DigitalNZ** __Bringing Kiwi culture to life by making it easy to find, share and use our digital treasures__ This one-stop search site makes it easy to find Kiwi digital content, over 30 million items from 200+ partners. DigitalNZ needed to scale legacy tools so, in our own time, we prototyped a new solution. This became the award-winning Supplejack platform and API, a world-first and now used internationally. **National Library** __Powering the nation by maximizing access to our collective knowledge__ We maximise the cultural and economic value that the National Library creates by maximising access to their online services. Their website received the [highest score of all government websites](https://www.boost.co.nz/blog/2018/08/accessible-digital-services-cultural-heritage) assessed for the Auditor-General’s *Digital access to information and services* report. **Archives NZ** __Digital transformation shares our past to shape our future__ Our ground-up rebuild of the Archives website created a one-stop shop for interacting with Archives. Accessible anywhere, anytime, by anyone regardless of device or disability, the site has already seen satisfaction jump by 34%, and will be the foundation for Archives’ continuing digital transformation. **AnyQuestions** __Setting kids up for success by giving them the skills to research online__ The multi-award winning AnyQuestions website lets students chat online with librarians who help them find reliable sources of information and build vital information literacy skills. By designing a site that actively appeals to school-age children, we increased usage by 74%. ### Creative New Zealand **CNZ** __Helping Kiwis build a strong, prosperous and creative New Zealand__ An online best-practice guide, the Toolkit inspires and guides Kiwis to create successful community arts projects. Taking part helps them develop the connections, skills, cultural identity and knack for problem-solving that we need to succeed as a creative nation. ### Te Puni Kōkiri **Pātaka Digital** __Enabling visual communication that increases Māori achievement__ The Pātaka internal digital asset management platform helps staff improve outcomes for Māori by quickly finding the right visual resources for their communication and engagement work. Our Agile approach ensured phase one was a success and phase two finished ahead of schedule. ### Process: How we deliver the outcomes you need, on time and on budget Making use of our Agile development expertise, we minimise risk and maximise the impact you have for New Zealand and New Zealanders. #### Delivering from day one __Clear outcomes__ We start by running co-design discovery workshops with your key stakeholders. These workshops ensure everyone is clear on the: - project vision - strategic outcomes - priority user groups - outcomes you’ll deliver these users - priority features needed to deliver these outcomes. __Clear progress and quick results__ Working together in short iterations, we then develop working solutions for your highest priority features. These you check, so you can feed what you learn into the next iteration. As a result, your progress, costs, timeframes and risks are transparent at every stage. __Security, privacy and accessibility assurance__ This transparency lets you take a risk-based approach to security, privacy and accessibility. Our extensive public sector experience gives us the expertise to consistently meet the government Web Accessibility and Usability Standards, and security and privacy requirements. #### Get the stakeholder engagement you need to succeed Stakeholder engagement is baked into our development process, giving you simple and effective ways to get input and support from those with an influence on or interest in your project. __Co-design builds buy-in__ The stakeholder engagement starts with our [co-design](https://www.boost.co.nz/blog/2020/12/co-design-for-digital-services) discovery workshops. Practical, collaborative and interactive, these align your stakeholders behind an inspiring vision of the outcomes you’ll deliver and the path to get there. __User-centred development builds satisfaction__ Iterative delivery of working software means you — and your key stakeholders and user groups — can regularly review and test your work in progress. As a result, you constantly get feedback on how well you're meeting user needs and organisational outcomes. You also build engagement by empowering stakeholders, crucial for effective change management. #### Make change work for you, not against you Too many projects are locked into a plan, meaning new priorities bring new costs and delays. We cut the cost of change by only building what is a priority today, not what might be needed tomorrow. __Respond to changes in your operating environment__ Your operating environment changes constantly as your project progresses. New risks and opportunities arise. Organisational and ministerial priorities change. Responding to these changes is key to meeting expectations. __Respond to evolving project insights__ As well as responding to what you learn about user needs, working iteratively also means you can respond to new solution options. You’re free to adopt new approaches revealed by the work so far, and new technologies released since your project started. ### Capabilities: The skills that drive successful development projects Because we deliver working solutions each iteration, we put these capabilities into action continuously, not in separate phases. For example, in your first iteration, you might see the results of your discovery workshop turned into a working wireframe and deployed to the cloud for user testing. **Delivery assurance** ### Delivery assurance - Digital strategy - Agile project management and training - Co-design discovery workshops - Business analysis - Customer journey mapping - Security and privacy assurance - Web accessibility - Testing and quality assurance - Change management **Design and user experience** ### Design and user experience - Service design - User insight - Information architecture - Content design - Visual design - Interaction design - Wireframing and prototyping - Brand integration and style guides - Usability testing **Development** ### Development - Solution architecture - Front-end development - Back-end development - Web application development - Responsive development - Mobile and native application development - Database architecture, development and integration - API development and integration - CMS implementation **Infrastructure** ### Infrastructure, systems and support - Hosting - Amazon Web Services management - Performance and cost optimisation - Scaling and availability - Cloud migration - Devops and continuous integration - Maintenance and upgrades - Monitoring and support - Analytics and search engine optimisation --- ## About Boost URL: https://boost.co.nz/about-us About us Kia ora, we're here to help you have a bigger impact ### Supporting purpose driven Government organisations to have positive and lasting impacts in the world This is our purpose as a company. It gives our work direction and meaning. It makes sure our whole team is on the same course and it guides us on the journey. As a freedom-centred workplace, our team is empowered to deliver. We developed our purpose together as a team and it describes what we actually do, not our aspirations. Learn more about [how we defined our purpose](https://www.boost.co.nz/blog/2018/02/business-purpose). ### The values behind our purpose Boost is known for the collaborative way we work. That’s because we share the same values and the same ideas about the best ways to work together. - **Te hopo whitia | Courage**: We have considered opinions but hold them lightly. We are at our best when we embrace constructive conflict and commit to being authentic and vulnerable. Feedback is a gift to give and receive, we lean into difficult conversations. Be brave and give it a go! - **Haepapatanga | Responsibility**: We have a responsibility to have an economically successful organisation to ensure stability and opportunities for team members, stakeholders and clients. We take responsibility for our customers outcomes. We are in charge of our own learning and sharing knowledge with the wider team. - **Rangatiratanga manukura | Servant leadership**: We are all leaders and at Boost all leaders serve. We are focussed on what we can do for others and developing our teams. We balance the needs of the individual with those of the organisation. We listen. We coach, we are humble and trusting. We value service not status. - **Manaakitanga**: We make everyone feel welcome. We create an environment where everyone can be successful; we nurture relationships, raise others up and work to create and maintain safe spaces. ### The clients and projects that create positive impacts Based on 20 years’ experience delivering successful software projects, we’ve assessed the kind of work that achieves our purpose. With the right client and the right project, we’ve found we can consistently deliver positive and lasting impacts, on time and on budget. If you and your project fit the bill, we’d love to work together to make the world a better place. **Are you Boost’s ideal client?** **Purpose-driven** Is your organisation working to make the world a better place? **Flexible and pragmatic** Are you focused on outcomes and flexible on features? Are you happy to work in an Agile way? **Relationship-focused** Do you want to build an ongoing partnership that maximises the value we deliver together? **Are you planning Boost’s ideal project?** **Impact focus** Do you have a vision of the positive impact the project will have? **Dedicated Product Owner** Will your project have a Product Owner with the time and authority to be responsive and decisive? **Complex problem** Does your project address a complex problem and require an innovative solution? ### Next steps Here’s more detail on our [ideal clients and projects](https://www.boost.co.nz/blog/2019/10/ideal-boost-project). We only have limited capacity to take on new clients, so contact us today to secure the development resource you need. Start making a positive impact tomorrow. --- ## Workshop URL: https://boost.co.nz/workshop Plan, size and cost your next project Build your business case or get your project ready to kick-off with a free, fully-facilitated one day workshop. ### Here are some organisations who have set themselves up for success with one of our workshops. ### Free planning workshop gets you good to go A successful project needs engaged and aligned stakeholders, a clear vision of the benefits you'll bring, and a plan for getting there. Our experienced facilitators will guide you and your stakeholders through a series of practical, collaborative activities to: ### Step-by-step process sets you up for success - Define the vision - Create customer profiles - Identify customer outcomes - Plan features to deliver the outcomes - Agree priorities - Estimate size and cost > The workshop was key to starting our project on the right foot. > — Rocky Webster, IT and Data Management Adviser, FinCap ### What we do for you #### Plan We customise workshop agendas to suit your team, your task and your timeframes, and guide you on who should attend and how to prepare. #### Host Our central Wellington studio has everything you need. Manaakitanga is one of our core values so your attendees will be well looked after. #### Document You leave with clear, engaging, actionable deliverables that set out how you will achieve the outcomes you have planned. #### Facilitate Our experienced facilitators create a fun, focused, creative atmosphere. We have facilitated workshops for dozens of organisations. ### Interested in finding out more? We would love to hear from you. Email: sean.romans@boost.co.nz Phone: +64 4 9390062 --- ## Blog URL: https://boost.co.nz/blog Latest thinking from the Boost team on agile, design, and government digital services. --- ## What affordable oversight looks like URL: https://boost.co.nz/blog/2026/07/what-affordable-oversight-looks-like Author: Nathan Donaldson Date: 2026-07-20 Picture an agency that pays income support. It has granted an agent the authority to progress routine cases: thousands of decisions a week, each one appealable, each one someone’s money. The plan p… --- ## Oversight is a capability that runs, not a gate you pass once URL: https://boost.co.nz/blog/2026/07/oversight-is-a-capability-that-runs Author: Nathan Donaldson Date: 2026-07-09 Most government systems are overseen the same way: an approval board signs off before go-live, an audit comes round once a year, and a compliance unit steps in when something has already gone wrong… --- ## Layers and planes: the stack and the relations URL: https://boost.co.nz/blog/2026/07/agentic-government-layers-and-planes Author: Nathan Donaldson Date: 2026-07-06 Picture a caseworker in a New Zealand government agency. Her morning starts with a laptop that logs her in through a national identity service, opens a case in a system older than her career, and c… --- ## The future of government in an agent-driven world URL: https://boost.co.nz/blog/2026/06/the-future-of-government-in-an-agent-driven-world Author: Nathan Donaldson Date: 2026-06-28 Looking at what people are writing about agent-driven government this year, the conversation has two halves, and most of the published thinking lives on one side of it. --- ## An agentic front door, if citizens want one URL: https://boost.co.nz/blog/2026/06/an-agentic-front-door-if-citizens-want-one Author: Nathan Donaldson Date: 2026-06-14 Two recent papers point at the same idea at the citizen end. The Agentic State (Berlin Global Government Technology Centre, May 2025). And the Tony Blair Institute’s Governing in the Age of AI (May… --- ## When the audit trail shows up late URL: https://boost.co.nz/blog/2026/06/when-the-audit-trail-shows-up-late Author: Nathan Donaldson Date: 2026-06-03 Imagine a debt notice arrives in the post. It says you owe Centrelink several thousand dollars. The number on the page comes from a calculation a computer did. Nobody at the agency picked your case… --- ## Layer 3: capability isn't preference URL: https://boost.co.nz/blog/2026/06/agentic-government-layer-3-citizen-interface Author: Nathan Donaldson Date: 2026-06-02 Layer 3 of Boost's 5-layer model is the citizen interface, the front door. The machines can greet you. The open question is whether you want them to, especially when the stakes are high. --- ## Layer 1: the foundation everything stands on URL: https://boost.co.nz/blog/2026/06/agentic-government-layer-1-substrate Author: Nathan Donaldson Date: 2026-06-02 The first layer of Boost's 5-layer model of agentic government is the least glamorous and the most load-bearing. Here's why the substrate decides everything above it. --- ## Five layers, not five rungs URL: https://boost.co.nz/blog/2026/06/agentic-government-5-layer-model Author: Nathan Donaldson Date: 2026-06-02 A map of agentic government in five layers: substrate, internal coordination, citizen interface, work, and oversight. Five parts that have to stand together, not five rungs to climb. --- ## Layer 2: where agents land in government first URL: https://boost.co.nz/blog/2026/06/agentic-government-layer-2-internal-coordination Author: Nathan Donaldson Date: 2026-06-02 Layer 2 of Boost's 5-layer model is internal coordination, the invisible re-wiring of how a case moves between agencies. It's where the real leverage sits, and where the audit problem starts.