Moananui: growing the blue economy

Nelson has the potential to be a global example of collaboration within the growing blue economy, according to the CEO of the region’s new cluster organisation in this space.

Moananui’s CEO Jodie Kuntzsch says there is a myriad of exciting opportunities in the wind.

“Our purpose is to work in attracting capability, capacity and capital in one of our region’s most important industries.

This will benefit the Nelson economy, such as enticing and securing the next generation workforce,” she says.

There are nearly 400 maritime-related businesses in Nelson Tasman, we have the largest fishing port in Australasia, and play host to a range of scientific organisations and emerging blue technology companies.

Jodie says the concept of Moananui can be viewed a bit like how a university is set up.

“Like on campus where you have people of all different disciplines coming together, there is huge opportunity to work together and build on each other’s strengths and expertise.

“It is understanding where the points are for collaboration and where they are for competition and respecting that difference.

“I hold firm the most potential we have can often be found in the most unlikely of partnerships,” she says.

Moananui, a blue economy cluster, started with nine foundation partners last year, and now has 28 less than 12 months later.

A cluster is an organisation which facilitates the collaboration of organisations and businesses within a particular industry; imagine the Silicon Valley in the USA, which is an example of a technological cluster.

‘Blue economy’ is made up of marine activities that generate economic value and contribute positively to the ecological, cultural and social well-being of the region.

Nelson City Council is therefore committed to enabling, where possible, avenues that enhance the work of Moananui.

To acknowledge this commitment, Nelson City Council has signed a collaboration agreement with Moananui, which Mayor Nick Smith says is part of Council’s plans to expand Nelson’s connections with New Zealand’s vast oceans.

“One of my ambitions for Nelson is for us to grow our industries, science, environmental leadership and recreational links with the sea.

“Council signing this collaboration agreement is about recognising the importance of having the public and private sectors working together on the blue economy opportunities,” he says.

Jodie says the organisation’s job is to enable and facilitate connections between these organisations for the benefit of our region, and to have NCC officially involved is a critical step to making that happen.

“We play a role in this region to help innovation and development – we can’t do it on our own, we need our affiliates and our partners to help us with this across the entire economy ecosystem.

“This agreement with NCC enables us to trust each other to have the hard conversations through a collaborative and transparent relationship.

“I feel it is allowing the blue economy in this region to build a bridge in all those places where it simply didn’t have one before,” she says.

For more information check out moananui.org.nz