When the work is stuck, we help you find the next move.
Hūnuku is an Auckland-based business and community consultancy. We bring fresh eyes and practical experience to complex or stuck work, helping reconnect purpose, people and delivery so progress can move again.
Fresh eyes for the gaps that are hard to see from inside.
Hūnuku was founded by Chris Stone, bringing together more than 25 years of experience across business, transformation, operations, governance, sport and community leadership.
Chris sees a common challenge in both businesses and community organisations: people become absorbed in the rhythm of running the organisation, and over time a gap can form between what the organisation is doing and what its customers, members or communities actually need.
Chris looks for that gap and brings it to the surface. The approach is disciplined and practical: define the issue, measure what matters, analyse what is driving it, improve the experience or system, and put controls in place so better outcomes can be sustained.
Experience from both sides
Chris has worked inside complex corporate environments and across community organisations as a participant, coach, official, administrator, governor and leader. That breadth helps Hūnuku connect strategy with the people who experience the outcome.
Chris leads the work, with Hūnuku able to bring in additional people or specialist contractors where the challenge calls for them.
When the work is complex or stuck, we help create clarity and momentum.
We bring fresh eyes, practical planning and delivery experience, and a strong network of people and technology expertise when the next move is not obvious.
Open the situation that sounds closest to yours.
We can work with a leadership team, a programme or a specific problem that needs a practical next move.
Direction and prioritiesDo you have a clear vision, and where do you start?
Vision to delivery planning
Find or refresh your vision, build practical streams of work from it, and plan at the level you need: themes, quarterly or sprint.
You get: a one-page vision, themes or streams with clear owners, and a plan at your chosen level.
Prioritisation and value session
Work out where to start, what comes next and how to rank it, based on value rather than the loudest voice or latest crisis.
You get: a ranked list (start, next, later, stop), the value measures behind it, and a way to re-rank as things change.
Risk and resilienceWhat happens if something goes wrong tomorrow?
Risk and resilience review
Walk through realistic scenarios. Check which risks are documented, which may have been missed, what mitigations exist and how well informed your stakeholders are. Talk through audit readiness, and look at the worst case and what it would truly cost.
You get: your top risks and gaps, the worst-case story with a cost estimate, where stakeholders are under-informed, and a short action list.
Digital and AIWhy is this digital project stuck, and where does AI fit?
Digital projects, jargon and AI session
Plain-English translation between tech and business, a look at why a digital project has stalled, and a practical conversation about where to start with AI and how it might fit now or later.
You get: a plain-English picture of what is happening, the three or four things most worth fixing, and a sensible first step on AI.
AI for your team
Coaching for your team on specific processes: where AI can save time, how to use it well, and what to keep human. We also cover what not to put into AI tools, particularly customer, member and staff data.
You get: a short list of processes worth improving and a practical way to start.
Prototype sprint
Take one idea to something testable, using AI-assisted building where it helps. Put it in front of real people, gather feedback, then decide whether to go ahead.
You get: a testable prototype, real feedback, and a clear go or no-go decision.
Leaders and teamsHow do you build a team that is great to be part of?
Leader and team coaching
Coaching for leaders and teams to clarify accountability, make priorities visible and sustain better team practices after support ends.
You get: clearer ownership, priorities everyone can see, and working practices that last.
When work is stuckSomething matters, and you are not moving.
Fresh eyes session
A focused working session on what is really going on, with a one-page written summary and a recommended next move.
Stuck-to-moving diagnostic
A short, structured look at where the work is stuck, ending in a prioritised plan.
Interim lead or recovery support
Embedded leadership for delivery, transformation or operations when you need someone to step in.
Helping your people and community thrive and prosper.
We help boards, clubs and community organisations turn good intent into clear priorities, stronger participation and achievable action.
Practical support for clubs, boards and community groups.
We help organisations strengthen governance, participation, community connection and the outcomes they can deliver for members, communities and funders.
Club health checkWhere are you strong, and where are the gaps?
A conversation and a short written summary of your strengths, gaps and next steps.
Plan on a page workshopCan you agree where you are heading, and what to do first?
A half-day with your board or committee, ending with a clear direction and 90-day actions.
Board and committee mentoringHow can your governance work better for your members?
Practical mentoring for chairs, presidents and committee members on roles, meeting rhythm, decisions and volunteer engagement.
Community building and engagementIs your club visible, relevant and connected to the community around it?
Chris listens to how you currently attract, engage and retain people, then compares that with current practice and what successful clubs and community organisations are doing today. Together we look at membership experience, community relationships, communications, events, partnerships and profile.
The aim is to identify where awareness or participation is being lost and where practical changes can help your organisation become more visible, more connected and increasingly recognised as a heart of its community.
Chris has tested a range of practical approaches to participation and engagement and has supported the recovery of several clubs and trusts.
You get: a clear picture of where you are today, practical opportunities to lift participation and awareness, and a prioritised plan for strengthening your role in the community.
Funding, impact and community outcomesCan you show the difference your funding is meant to make?
Connect funding opportunities with the outcomes your community needs and the benefits funders want to see delivered. We look at who benefits, what success should look like, how the activity creates lasting value, and how to demonstrate participation, reach, connection and ongoing community benefit.
The goal is stronger alignment for everyone involved: communities see tangible benefit, organisations make better use of funding, and funders can see how their investment contributes to meaningful outcomes.
You get: a clearer community-outcomes story, practical measures of success, stronger alignment between your plans and potential funding, and a better foundation for funding applications, stakeholder conversations and reporting.
Funding-ready packageHow do you make the case for support?
Shape your need, outcomes and evidence into a clear proposition for funders or councils. Move from simply asking for funding to demonstrating the community outcome worth investing in.
Any of these can include a prioritisation session, a light risk and resilience check, or a conversation about digital tools and AI for your club.
Finding the right people can be part of the work.
We connect clubs and community organisations with useful people, funders, products and expertise, help align community outcomes with the benefits funders want to support, and bring experience in international cultural and sports exchange where that can create value.
More than 25 years across business and community.
Hūnuku brings practical experience from critical operations, transformation, coaching, governance, volunteers, events and community leadership.
Business
- Air New Zealand, 2004 to 2026: Chris led 24/7 support of critical airline systems across a network of up to 50 airports, with technical teams of up to 20 and budgets up to $6 million.
- Chris led customer self-service transformation across more than 20 airports. A full rebuild of the kiosk application contributed to a 17% increase in completed kiosk transactions (previous role).
- Chris replaced 234 kiosks across 12 New Zealand locations, including the RFP and contract negotiation.
- Chris led the digital response to airport closures and restarts during Covid, including the Trans-Tasman travel bubble.
- As Business Performance Coach and Enterprise Agile Coach from 2022 to 2026, Chris coached leaders and teams across Cargo, Finance, People, Safety, Risk, Internal Audit, Resilience, Engineering and Maintenance, and Digital Platforms to plan, prioritise and sustain new practices. The Risk and Internal Audit coaching received an industry award for innovation.
- Chris led a cross-functional dangerous-goods programme to completion ahead of schedule.
- Earlier: Systems Engineer and Database Administrator, Minter Ellison Rudd Watts, 1997 to 2004.
- AI and practical digital tools: Chris has worked with AI tools such as ChatGPT, coached teams to use AI to speed up processes, and built websites and small applications for use. He has strong networks in the AI space and helps inform customer needs for problem-solving solutions, particularly for sports clubs and community organisations.
Community governance and sport
Chris has worked across the full sporting system: as a participant, coach, official, instructor, administrator and governor, with experience spanning youth through to senior masters sport.
- Auckland Dragon Boat Association: inaugural board member, Chair from 2009 to 2018, and Life Member. As Chair, Chris led 20 committee members and 100+ volunteers, with about $150,000 turnover and events of up to 1,600 competitors and 10,000 spectators.
- Board Member, New Zealand Dragon Boat Association: 2010 to 2015 and 2020 to 2022.
- Board Member, New Zealand Canoe Federation: 2017 to 2020.
- New Zealand American Football Association: Board Member from 2002 to 2005, and Manager of the Ironblacks 2004 campaign.
- Club creation: co-founder of City Dragons Dragon Boat Club and Polar Bears Dragon Boat Club.
- President, Oratia Bowling Club, 2021 to present: member participation, community events and a growing community cafe.
- Trustee, Oratia District Primary School Board, 2007 to 2010: community governance experience with executive responsibility for building, property, health and safety matters.
- Coach, St Mary's College dragon boat teams: since 2009.
- Paddler and masters coach: paddler, coach and current Head Coach of the Auckland Retro Rockets Masters Dragon Boat Team for the Pan Pacific Masters Games.
- Regional dragon boat steersperson instructor: 2023 to 2026.
- International cultural and sports exchange: experience building international sporting relationships and contributing to cultural and sister-city exchange, including Auckland–Guangzhou engagement.
- International Dragon Boat Federation Certified Race Official: officiating experience includes Chief Official for the Auckland Dragon Boat Championships, the New Zealand Dragon Boat National Championships and the 2017 World Masters Games.
Tell us what you are trying to achieve.
If something is stuck, complex or simply needs fresh eyes, start with the outcome you want. Every enquiry is read and replied to personally.