Sense Partners
Sense Partners is a Wellington-based boutique economic consultancy employing approximately six senior economists to provide regulatory economics, cost-benefit analysis, CGE modelling, and public policy advisory services to New Zealand government agencies, business associations, and select private-sector clients.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersWellington, New Zealand
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Sense Partners does
Sense Partners is a boutique economic consultancy headquartered at 330 Lambton Quay, Wellington, New Zealand, founded in 2016. The firm employs approximately six senior economists and provides advisory services across regulatory economics, cost-benefit analysis, economic modelling, energy and climate policy, and housing and urban development. Its client base is concentrated among central and local government agencies — including NZ Treasury, MBIE, the Ministry for the Environment, Te Waihanga (Infrastructure Commission), the NZ Productivity Commission, the Electricity Authority, and MFAT — alongside quasi-governmental bodies such as BusinessNZ, the NZ International Business Forum, the NZ-US Council, and the NZ China Council. A small number of NGO and private-sector engagements (e.g. Depression Recovery Trust) round out the book.
The firm's technical foundation centres on quantitative economic modelling. Its flagship proprietary asset is the MDG-NZ dynamic Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model, covering 72 industries across 8 New Zealand regions and capable of analysing infrastructure investment, climate policy, and macroeconomic scenarios. Companion proprietary assets include the MDG6-NZ climate policy model, the NZ Economic Uncertainty (NEU) Index (text-based media analysis back to 1995), the NZ-TPU Trade Policy Uncertainty Index, the FTA Partner Suitability Index, a Structural Gravity Model for global trade, and Household Expenditure Benchmarks derived from Stats NZ's Household Economic Survey. The Forecasting Warrant of Fitness provides a structured methodology for testing and improving forecasting performance.
Sense Partners operates on a project-based professional services model, generating revenue through commissioned consulting engagements rather than standardised packages or self-service distribution. Marketing is driven by thought leadership — detailed research reports published via the firm's website, conference presentations, and government submissions — supplemented by direct client referrals within the New Zealand policy and business community. The Household Expenditure Benchmarks have been packaged as a subscription data product distributed through Perpetual Roundtables to banks and lending institutions, representing an early move toward productised recurring revenue. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, and the firm remains privately held with no external institutional investment.
Sense Partners firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sense Partners
- Legal name
- Sense Partners
- Website
- https://sense.partners
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Sense Partners is a Wellington-based boutique economic consultancy employing approximately six senior economists to provide regulatory economics, cost-benefit analysis, CGE modelling, and public policy advisory services to New Zealand government agencies, business associations, and select private-sector clients.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sense Partners industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Economic Consulting
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Strategic Partnerships, Alliances & JVs Advisory (BPAHADAI)
Keywords
Where Sense Partners is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wellington
- HQ country
- New Zealand
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Sense Partners business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Economic Consulting Services: Project-based consulting engagements for government agencies and businesses requiring economic analysis, policy advice, modelling, and cost-benefit analysis. Engagements appear to be bespoke, commissioned work rather than standardized service packages.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Sense Partners product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sense Partners is a boutique economic consultancy that provides regulatory economics, cost-benefit analysis, economic modelling, and public policy advisory services to New Zealand government agencies and businesses. The firm applies quantitative tools including dynamic Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) models, statistical analysis, and demographic projections to assess the economic and emissions impacts of policy, infrastructure, and regulatory decisions. It also offers the Forecasting Warrant of Fitness assessment service and a subscription Household Expenditure Benchmarks data product for lenders.
Product overview
Sense Partners is a boutique economic consultancy offering a portfolio of advisory services focused on regulatory economics, cost benefit analysis, economic modelling, and public policy. The core offerings include specialized consulting engagements and proprietary analytical tools such as the Forecasting Warrant of Fitness (for testing forecasting performance) and Household Expenditure Benchmarks (a subscription data product for lending decisions). The firm also conducts specialized CGE modelling including MDG-NZ and MDG6-NZ models. Services are delivered through client engagements rather than a software platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Regulatory Economics Advisory service helping businesses understand how government proposals may impact them, and identifying sound solutions to market or regulatory failure in sectors such as electricity, telecommunications, international trade, and environmental services.
- Cost Benefit Analysis Systematic and rigorous application of data and evidence to evaluate options and determine return on investment, spanning environmental policies, cost recovery methods, building standards, and government services assessments.
- Economic Modelling Quantitative tools including modelling of specific projects, statistical evaluation of policies and regulations, and forecasting of economic and demographic trends using CGE models and other analytical frameworks.
- Public Policy Advisory Expert insights on mega trends impacting sectors including energy, climate change, and housing and urban development, with analysis of unintended consequences and regulatory failure.
- Forecasting Warrant of Fitness Assessment service that tests forecasting performance and provides actionable advice on how to improve forecast method, process, and communication, comparing performance over time and against best practice.
- Household Expenditure Benchmarks Subscription data product of household living expense benchmarks for banks and other companies making lending decisions, estimating typical spending given pre-tax income, number of adults, and number of children, based on Stats NZ's Household Economic Survey of Expenditure.
Quantifiable outcome
- Rail infrastructure investment analysis: Real GDP rises 0.35% ($1.9bn) above baseline by 2042; 22,800 additional FTE jobs by 2100; $5.3bn additional household spending by 2075
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Sense Partners
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Sense Partners technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature9 records
Sense Partners partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- PwCcoreWorked in partnership with PwC to prepare a cost benefit analysis of the Medium Density Residential Standard proposal for government consideration. Combined Sense Partners' economic modelling expertise with PwC's advisory capabilities.
- Perpetual RoundtablescoreHousehold Expenditure Benchmarks are distributed as a subscription service through Perpetual Roundtables, which handles the commercial distribution to banks and lending institutions.
- Motu ResearchminorProfessor Arthur Grimes, Senior Fellow at Motu Research, provided review comments on the Whakamātūtū assessment report. Collaboration between academic research institution and Sense Partners.
- Victoria University of WellingtonminorAcademic collaboration with Professor Arthur Grimes, Professor of Wellbeing and Public Policy at Victoria University of Wellington's School of Government, on review of research reports.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Sense Partners competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- NZIER (New Zealand Institute of Economic Research): NZ's flagship independent economic research institute providing macroeconomic forecasting, policy analysis, and economic modelling to government and business. Most directly comparable peer: a senior Sense Partners economist (John Ballingall) was previously NZIER Deputy Chief Executive, and both firms compete for the same central-government consulting commissions using overlapping CGE and forecasting capabilities.
- Infometrics: Wellington-based economic consultancy providing forecasting, economic modelling, and policy analysis to NZ government and private sector. Closely comparable on service mix (modelling, regional economics, public policy advisory) and target customer base, though Infometrics operates at a larger scale.
- BERL (Business and Economic Research Limited): NZ economic and social research consultancy delivering cost-benefit analysis, regional and sector analysis, and iwi/ Māori economic research. Comparable on cost-benefit methodology and public-sector client base, with a particular strength in regional and community impact assessments.
- Castalia: Economic and regulatory advisory firm operating in NZ and the Pacific with focus on infrastructure, energy, and public policy. Comparable on regulatory economics and infrastructure cost-benefit analysis, particularly in sectors where Sense Partners' CGE modelling is applied.
- Sapere Research Group: Wellington-based research and consultancy firm providing economic, regulatory, and policy advisory to government and private clients. Direct peer on regulatory economics, public policy advisory, and cost-benefit work, with overlapping domain expertise in health, energy, and competition.
Regional players
- NERA Economic Consulting: Global economic consultancy specialising in regulatory economics, antitrust, energy, and trade policy. Comparable on economic expert witness work and regulatory impact assessment, though primarily serving offshore clients and competing for occasional NZ mandates.
- Frontier Economics: Global economic consultancy with strong CGE modelling and regulatory economics capabilities across energy, climate, and competition. Comparable on CGE and cost-benefit methodology, though operating from Australia/UK rather than competing directly in the NZ domestic market.
Emerging players
- Motu Research: NZ economic research institute producing high-quality empirical and policy research, including housing, labour, and environmental economics. Already an academic partner (Professor Arthur Grimes reviewed Sense Partners' Whakamātūtū report) and competes for policy research commissions in overlapping domains.
Broad incumbents
- Deloitte New Zealand: Big 4 advisory firm providing economic analysis, public-sector consulting, and policy advisory in NZ. Competes with Sense Partners on larger, multi-disciplinary government mandates where breadth of service and staffing scale are decisive.
- PwC New Zealand: Big 4 advisory firm with substantial economic advisory, regulatory economics, and cost-benefit capability. Already a partner of Sense Partners (jointly delivered the Medium Density Residential Standard CBA) and competes for the same large government mandates at scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sense Partners social profiles
Digital presenceSense Partners financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sense Partners leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Sense Partners funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sense Partners M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sense Partners
What does Sense Partners do?
Sense Partners is a boutique economic consultancy that provides regulatory economics, cost-benefit analysis, economic modelling, and public policy advisory services to New Zealand government agencies and businesses. The firm applies quantitative tools including dynamic Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) models, statistical analysis, and demographic projections to assess the economic and emissions impacts of policy, infrastructure, and regulatory decisions. It also offers the Forecasting Warrant of Fitness assessment service and a subscription Household Expenditure Benchmarks data product for lenders.
Is Sense Partners a public or private company?
Sense Partners is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Sense Partners founded?
Sense Partners was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Sense Partners based?
Sense Partners is headquartered in Wellington, New Zealand, in the Oceania region.
How does Sense Partners make money?
One revenue line is on record: economic Consulting Services.
Who are Sense Partners's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are NZIER (New Zealand Institute of Economic Research), Infometrics, BERL (Business and Economic Research Limited), Castalia and Sapere Research Group. Regional players are NERA Economic Consulting and Frontier Economics. Motu Research is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Deloitte New Zealand and PwC New Zealand.
Does Sense Partners have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sense Partners.
What industry is Sense Partners in?
Sense Partners's product category is Economic Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHADAI, Strategic Partnerships, Alliances & JVs Advisory. Its SIC code is 8742.