Blenheim’s tech and innovation hub, Te Au Pūngao, could close at the end of the year, less than two years after it was opened by Marlborough District Council as part of its regional Long Term Plan and Economic Wellbeing Strategy.
Tenants of the hub’s co-working space told Marlborough Weekly that council held a recent meeting informing them that the current arrangement for the space would end in December.
Marlborough District Council Strategy Manager Neil Henry confirmed council is considering the hub's future, but that a final decision isn't expected until December.
David Buckman, a user of the co-working facility, explained that most tenants have monthly agreements to rent desks, while some have longer-term contracts. Council indicated the contracts would be honoured until their end.
The hub opened in February of last year on the second floor of the former Blenheim Library and includes up to 28 hot desks, meeting rooms, video conferencing facilities and a prototyping room. It is managed day-to-day by Louisa Murray, managing director of business support service Whiringa ltd.
The hub was designed to support innovators, start-ups, freelancers, researchers and agri-businesses, giving them a space to connect and collaborate.
Kim George, who rents a desk in the co-working area on Fridays said she’s “gutted” at the proposed closure and feels the space hasn’t been given enough opportunity to succeed.
“We couldn’t really work in here for about six months because there were renovations going on downstairs, so it just feels like it hasn’t been given a good shot.”
She added that users had built a community around the hub: “we ran a hackathon here for local kids, that was really inspiring. We’ve done a lot in the space out of our free time to contribute to it. I hope something can be done.”
Tonielle Purdy, a sole trader who works in the hub every day expressed disappointment at having to find alternative working arrangements, saying hub users had become colleagues and friends.
David agreed, saying a valued network was developing among users.
“There’s an organic community growing here and it would be a shame if it ended.”
Te Au Pūngao was established as a three-year trial and council said at the time it would "create new business solutions, investment opportunities and long-term prosperity for our region."
