“Infrastructure data might sound dry, but on Mangaia it’s deeply human – it’s about safe water, reliable power, and pride in looking after what’s ours.”
Upper Hutt City Council kaimahi, Connor Spence, Spatial Team Leader, and Mike Paterson, Senior Assets Analyst, recently visited Mangaia in the Cook Islands through PacificTA. The goal of their visit was to support the Mangaia Island Government to strengthen its approach to infrastructure asset management.
Their focus was on practical, hands-on support that would help local staff manage and maintain the island’s asset information more effectively, both now and into the future.
What the visit involved
Working alongside Lydia from Mangaia Island Government and Jerome from Infrastructure Cook Islands (ICI), Connor and Mike:
- Trained local staff to use the Univerus Assets system
- Updated the island’s asset register
- Inspected 15 community water stations and verified asset data
- Added new condition ratings and photos
- Set up GIS integration between Univerus Assets and ArcGIS Pro
- Discussed future links between Mangaia’s systems and national Cook Islands agencies, including ICI, CIIC and EMCI
Connor and Mike were impressed by the enthusiasm of the Mangaia team, by the second day, Lydia was confidently leading asset data entry, showing how quickly capability can grow when learning is practical and directly connected to day-to-day work.
Connor added, “Over just three days, Lydia and Jerome’s confidence soared, showing the power of working side-by-side with local teams rather than in the background.”
Real-world learning
A previously undocumented water station at a village church was also identified during the visit, reinforcing the importance of local knowledge in building accurate and reliable asset information.
Connor and Mike noted that while tools and systems are important, the strongest progress came from working closely with local staff and building relationships based on trust and shared goals. Even with occasional connectivity challenges, the team maintained momentum and focus throughout the assignment.
Mike reflected, “The Wi-Fi might drop, but the motivation doesn’t! We learned that the best “connectivity” on Mangaia isn’t between devices, it’s between people.”
Looking ahead
The visit highlighted the value of connecting island asset registers with central Cook Islands systems. The workflow developed on Mangaia will now be explored as a potential model for other Pa Enua islands.
For Mangaia, the short-term gains include more accurate data and improved confidence in managing community assets. For Connor and Mike returning to Upper Hutt, the visit reinforced how adaptable their asset management approaches can be in other contexts.
Considering PacificTA?
Connor and Mike encourage others to get involved with the PacificTA programme if they get the chance:
“It’s one of the most rewarding professional experiences you can have. The combination of practical problem-solving, cultural exchange, and seeing your skills make an immediate difference is hard to match.”
