Executive Summary
Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust plays a critical role in delivering lifesaving aeromedical services across New Zealand. As the organisation continued to grow, it identified the need to modernise its internal communication and information management capabilities through a modern digital workplace.
CorIT Tech partnered with Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust to design and implement a modern Microsoft 365 intranet built on SharePoint Online and Microsoft Teams. The project focused on improving information accessibility, enhancing collaboration, establishing governance foundations, and delivering a more consistent user experience for both office-based and frontline staff.
The result was a modern, scalable intranet platform that centralised information, improved document management, enabled stronger collaboration, and provided a future-ready foundation for continued digital transformation.
Client Overview
Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust is one of New Zealand’s leading emergency rescue organisations, providing critical aeromedical services and emergency response capabilities to communities across the upper North Island.
Operating in a fast-paced environment where timely access to information is essential, the organisation relies heavily on effective communication, document management, and collaboration between operational, administrative, and support teams.
As part of its ongoing digital transformation strategy, Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust sought to modernise its existing intranet and create a centralised digital workplace that better supported staff, volunteers, and organisational communications.
Challenge
Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust identified several challenges within its existing information management environment:
- Disorganised and duplicated content across multiple locations.
- Difficulty locating important information and documents.
- Outdated documentation and inconsistent content ownership.
- Limited governance and information lifecycle management.
- Inconsistent user experience across collaboration platforms.
- Limited support for mobile and frontline staff accessing information remotely.
- A need to improve internal communication and organisational engagement.
These challenges were creating inefficiencies for staff and reducing the effectiveness of knowledge sharing across the organisation. Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust engaged CorIT Tech to deliver a modern SharePoint intranet solution.
Objectives
The key objectives of the project were to:
- Create a modern and intuitive digital workplace experience.
- Centralise organisational information and documentation.
- Improve collaboration through Microsoft 365 integration.
- Establish governance, ownership, and security foundations.
- Improve document discoverability through metadata and search.
- Provide a consistent user experience across devices.
- Support frontline and operational staff with improved mobile accessibility.
- Deliver a scalable platform capable of supporting future digital initiatives.
Solution
CorIT Tech implemented its Modern Workplace Hub framework using Microsoft SharePoint Online and Microsoft Teams.
The solution included:
Technologies Deployed
- Microsoft SharePoint Online
- Microsoft Teams
- Microsoft 365 Collaboration Services
- SharePoint Metadata Framework
- Security and Permissions Model
Delivered Components
- Modern SharePoint intranet homepage
- Business unit landing pages
- Corporate document libraries
- News and communications hub
- Metadata-driven information architecture
- Organisational security and permissions structure
- Microsoft Teams integration
- Administrator training and knowledge transfer
Approach
CorIT Tech followed a structured methodology consisting of:
- Discovery workshops
- Information architecture design
- Governance and intranet standards development
- User experience and branding alignment
- SharePoint configuration and deployment
- Teams integration
- Testing and validation
- Training and change enablement
- Go-live and handover
The solution was aligned with Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust’s branding and operational requirements while leveraging Microsoft best practices for modern workplace design.
Implementation
The onboarding process was carefully structured to minimise disruption while ensuring a smooth transition to managed services.
Discovery and Assessment
The project began with stakeholder workshops to understand how staff currently accessed information and where the greatest inefficiencies existed.
CorIT Tech designed a structured information architecture that centralised content into dedicated business unit areas while introducing standardised document libraries, metadata tagging, and improved navigation.
A modern intranet homepage was developed to provide quick access to:
- Corporate news and announcements
- Business unit information
- Organisational documentation
- Events and communications
- Microsoft Teams collaboration spaces
To ensure long-term sustainability, CorIT Tech implemented governance controls covering permissions, ownership, content management, and document organisation.
Training sessions and knowledge transfer workshops were delivered to key stakeholders and administrators, ensuring the organisation could confidently manage and expand the platform after project completion.
The project was successfully delivered within the agreed scope and transitioned into operational use through a structured handover and hypercare process.
Technologies Used
- Microsoft SharePoint Online
- Microsoft Teams
- Microsoft 365
- Microsoft Entra ID
- SharePoint Metadata Framework
Results / Outcomes
Information Accessibility
- Centralised organisational information into a single digital workplace.
- Significantly improved document discoverability through structured navigation and metadata.
- Reduced reliance on fragmented content repositories.
Collaboration Improvements
- Enabled stronger collaboration through Microsoft Teams integration.
- Provided dedicated business unit collaboration spaces.
- Improved communication through centralised news and announcements.
Governance & Compliance
- Established clear ownership and governance foundations.
- Implemented structured security and permissions controls.
- Created a scalable framework for future compliance initiatives and content lifecycle management.
User Experience
- Delivered a consistent and modern user experience across desktop and mobile devices.
- Improved accessibility for operational and frontline personnel.
- Aligned the digital workplace experience with Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust’s evolving brand direction.
Strategic Outcomes
- Established a future-ready platform capable of supporting workflow automation, compliance initiatives, and enhanced employee experiences.
- Positioned the organisation for ongoing digital transformation within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
Conclusion
The Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust SharePoint Intranet Modernisation project successfully transformed the organisation’s digital workplace, creating a secure, scalable, and user-friendly platform that supports communication, collaboration, and information management.
By leveraging Microsoft 365, SharePoint Online, and Microsoft Teams, CorIT Tech delivered a modern workplace solution that not only addressed existing challenges but also established a strong foundation for future growth and innovation.
Today, Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust benefits from a centralised information hub that empowers staff, improves organisational efficiency, and supports its mission of delivering lifesaving services to communities across New Zealand.
If your organisation is struggling with outdated file shares, poor information discoverability, or fragmented collaboration tools, CorIT Tech can help. Book a free consultation today.
Client Testimonial
“The new intranet is going to revolutionise how we communicate across the organisation. Not only is it incredibly user-friendly, but it will also provide significant value as a central repository for historical records and organisational knowledge. The platform brings people together, makes information easier to access, and creates a much better experience for everyone using it.”
Emma Wright, Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust
