It may be a hotdesk for a couple of hours or a board room, and already dozens of people have signalled their interest in the new co-working space in Māpua, Mahitahi Tasman.
The Stafford Drive development is nearing completion with part of the space within it being leased by Mahitahi Tasman.
It’s innovation manager, Nikki Neate, says the space with around 40 desks, meeting rooms and board room is about collaboration and gaining knowledge, rather than being siloed.
“Silo thinking for our region just does not work. We’re too small. We need to work together on a lot of things. Inspiring each other with fresh thinking, sharing information and intelligence and expertise. And that can happen in the kitchen when you’re making coffee.”
One of the main drivers behind the working space is the desire to increase productivity in the region by the not-for-profit organisation which is a partnership between Nelson Tasman Chamber of Commerce, Nelson Regional Development Agency and Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT).
It has been running a space in Nelson for several years, Mahitahi Colab, and chairman Russell Manning says they have been looking for the right space in Tasman to bring remote workers together where they can access technology and knowledge to help them grow their businesses. He also recognised the growing frustration with traffic and the need to have a space in Tasman where people don’t need to head into town when they want to work with other people.
Once completed, Russell says Mahitahi Tasman will offer permanent working space as well as the option of a hotdesk for a day or less, or the use of its rooms. While one aspect of it is to help people grow their businesses or get an idea off the ground, he says it’s for anyone and he has had a tradie interested in a desk one day a week to do their accounts.
Nikki says the organisation will be able to offer a wide range of knowledge to those who use Mahitahi Tasman and she will be available as a “problem solver”. She has a long history with local entrepreneurs such as Chia Sisters, Pics Peanut Butter and Proper Crisps and says every entrepreneur is different, but it’s all about working with ideas.
“Innovation is around ideas and then there’s execution and communicating what you’re doing. We can all have ideas, but until something is done, it’s just an idea.
“And then until you tell people about what you are doing, it’s just something that has been done. That’s why we call this the home for thinkers and doers.”
Where there’s gaps in knowledge, the organisation will work with other partners to run courses or workshops, including AI and building digital resilience, which she says is particularly needed in rural Tasman.
“AI is coming fast and the Government is encouraging people to get on board with that, but for businesses, they don’t know what they don’t know. There are two things around education: how does AI help me be more productive in the business and what are the tools I can use? Secondly, what is the cost? Cost is top of mind for, I would say, 99 per cent of businesses. How can we fast track it so they are feeling comfortable with what is out there and available to them. I think that is going to be a real key for us in the Tasman space.
“Productivity is where AI can make a big difference as long as it’s done mindfully and with purpose. AI can be a brilliant unlocker of productivity.”
A site visit is being held this week to show people the space and how it will work, and there will be other opportunities to view it with the official launch planned for the end of September or early October when the build is completed.
Nikki says there is also a fundraiser campaign underway, Furniture the Future, where anyone can sponsor a desk to the value of $500 as a way of “supporting the chairpersons of the future”.
