Project Partners

NIWA,  is a Crown Research Institute with annual revenues in excess of $120million and a staff of over 750. NIWA has research programmes focused on aquaculture sustainability and finfish farming and a state-of-the-art warm water facility at Bream Bay.

In September 2008 NIWA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Wakatū Incorporation to work together to undertake detailed feasibility studies to ensure the commercial and financial sustainability of this project, including:

•  hydrodynamic, water quality and benthic ecology studies to ensure the suitability of the seawater and the most appropriate pipeline locations for intake and discharge waters, and
• an economic cost-benefit analysis for aquaculture species that would be enabled by Horoirangi.

NIWA’s  finfish aquaculture R&D is progressing rapidly and it is anticipated that this will require expansion to early-stage commercial scale with industry in the next two to three years. This would most likely require a  significant investment in a new cold-water facility at Horoirangi, providing a platform for the commercialisation of new finfish species in the Nelson-Marlborough region. 

Cawthron Institute  is an independent aquatic and environmental scientific research organisation established in 1919 with annual revenues in excess of $17million, and over 180 scientific and technical staff based in Nelson and Marlborough. Cawthron has research programmes focused on shellfish aquaculture.

Cawthron has operated from Horoirangi since 1991.

Building upon Cawthron Institute’s existing Horoirangi Aquaculture Research and Technology facility, including land, seawater reticulation, consents and licences, the New Zealand Government in April this year contributed $1.69million to develop a shared research facility for seafood and aquaculture innovation.

This new facility, comprising specialist laboratories, education and training facilities and supporting infrastructure critical for the successful transfer of research and development outcomes, is expected to cost $6million in total on completion.

Plant & Food Research is a Crown Research Institute with annual revenues of $92million and a staff of over 950 based at sites across New Zealand as well as in Europe, the USA and Australia. Plant and Food has research programmes focused on fish harvesting and post-harvest handling techniques, seafood processing and preservation and consumer product creation.

Plant & Food Research has worked closely with other project partners, confirming an interest in co-location of its aquaculture and research and development activities at Horoirangi and believes this will significantly benefit New Zealand aquaculture and seafood industries. 

NMIT, the region’s largest tertiary education provider, is a financial partner with Cawthron Institute to deliver seafood and aquaculture courses from the new Research and Development and Education facility.

 
“The co-location of research and education with industry will lead to new innovations which will accelerate growth of the aquaculture industry for the benefit of all New Zealand”, says Tony Gray, CEO, NMIT …more

The EDA’s  Economic Strategy identifies “Aquaculture presents the most promising opportunity for development of any of the region’s sectors”.

 
“We strongly support the need to build infrastructure to develop commercial aquaculture activities at Horoirangi, providing significant economic and social benefit to the region”, says Bill Findlater, CEO, EDA.  

Nelson City Council recognise the significant economic opportunities that Horoirangi offers, not only for aquaculture, but the region as a whole.

 Neighbouring regions of Tasman and Marlborough incorporate much of the best aquaculture water space in the country. These regions too are committed to expanding the economic opportunities for aquaculture and to encourage the development of high value crops.  

Te Tau Ihu Iwi are recipients of the largest aquaculture settlement in New Zealand.

This settlement gives Iwi the means to participate at various levels in an important growth industry, with their future interest in aquaculture also protected in legislation in that they will be recipients of 20% of all new water space allocations.