Auckland Council and the MBIE have launched its innovation precinct in the Wynyard Quarter on Auckland's waterfront.
It has identified the gritty 90 year old John Lysaght art-deco building as the first stage in the development of a ICT and digital media hub.
Work will start on the redevelopment later this month on the 1,600m2 development which will house the first 6 tenants for the hub.
Eventually, the Wynyard Quarter will be home to about 7,000 businesses, and is expected to employ some 35,000 people.
The five year, NZ$1 billion project which will include the innovation hub will also include hubs for the food industry and the creative arts. The Auckland Theatre Company is also about to redevelop a property in the area.
The innovation hub will represent about one third of the area.
Auckland Council and MBIE are aiming to build this area as a showcase development for New Zealand's national innovation strategies.
They say "innovation in New Zealand is not in bad shape" but we lack the "cultural dynamic" a concentrated hub can bring.
They also point out that there is a talent war for ICT skills developing worldwide and our attempts to attract international employers will be helped by having an icon area on which to focus recruitment.
"It will put Auckland on the map as a cluster of like-minded businesses in the Asia-Pacific region, attracting investment, collaboration and skilled immigration."
The Wynyard Quarter already has a successful restaurant strip, complimenting the Auckland Fish Markets, and in June the new ASB Bank headquarters will open with its unusual design features. The new Viaduct Events Centre is also part of the area.
The area's development got a kick-start with a focus on getting waterfront restaurants operating for the Rugby World Cup.
Auckland Mayor Len Brown says the creation of a new home for innovation in Auckland is long overdue. “Innovation is key to Auckland and New Zealand’s future. The innovation precinct at Wynyard Quarter will support the region’s thriving ICT and digital media sectors, and attract international attention. The precinct will generate jobs and encourage rapid economic growth."
“This will be a hub that attracts smart high-tech talent from within New Zealand and the world, and it will become a destination for international customers looking for smart companies to work with."
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