Shared space for public good
A new Nelson shared business space wants more collaborators with a ‘‘public good’’ focus .
The Mahitahi Colab was officially launched at Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology on Wednesday, with around 100 invited guests given a glimpse at the new collaboration facility.
Located in the former reception and staffroom of the A Block on Hardy St, the Colab is a collaboration between founding partners the Nelson Regional Development Agency, NMIT and the Nelson Tasman Chamber of Commerce.
NRDA chief executive Mark Rawson said the Colab’s establishment was the next step in a journey of partnering with public and private sectors to attract and retain talent, visitors and investors to the region.
The space features open-plan offices for both the NRDA and Chamber of Commerce, a hot-desk space for up to eight collaborators, a technology-enabled board room and a common area.
Spaces are available to the collaboration partners to use on a casual or in some cases more permanent basis or for outside hire.
In addition to the founding partners, a range of key public good focused businesses and talent development organisations have been invited to be part of the Mahitahi Colab.
Rawson said the colab are actively looking for other collaborators to join them.
The rates for joining the Mahitahi Colab range between $1000 and $3000 per year.
However, he clarified that they were
If it is cheap rental you are looking for, we are not the place to come, unless you can contribute to the wider goals.
Marl Rawson
not creating a private sector co-working space.
All collaboration partners need to have a public good focus, such as business or talent development, public funded business development, education organisation or the wider innovation community.
‘‘If it is cheap rental you are looking for, we are not the place to come, unless you can contribute to the wider goals.’’
Any potential partner must be able to demonstrate how they can contribute to improving connections and collaboration within the Nelson Tasman innovation community to influence and inspire economic development in the region.
NMIT interior design graduate Bec Deacon and current graphic design student Luke Hippolite were engaged by the Colab partners to provide the fit out and branding design of the space .
Hippolite, 21, used flax weaving as his inspiration for his chosen logo idea, merging the colours of the three founding entities into the final design.
‘‘When they told me it was about businesses collaborating, I thought the flax concept would be perfect – how they unite together and it makes them stronger.’’
He said seeing his design used prominently in the business community was ‘‘very rewarding’’.