First tech company in \'innovation centre\'

Auckland has a completely unique opportunity to create an "environment of innovation" at Wynyard Quarter, says Sir Peter Gluckman, who last night opened the offices of the primary technology company to transport to the realm.

The Prime Minister's chief science adviser spoke on the launch of 3D software-firm Nextspace's new premises.

Nextspace is the primary firm of its type to open up shop in Wynyard Quarter, which the Auckland Council and the govt. plan to show right into a high-tech mecca.

The proposal for the Wynyard Quarter Innovation Precinct - which Waterfront Auckland chairman Bob Harvey said could become a "mini Silicon Valley" - was announced in October last year.

Waterfront Auckland said yesterday the business case for the precinct was still being prepared and was due for release on the end of April.

Gluckman said the project was a critical step in driving innovation in Auckland.

"It isn't possible to assume any way New Zealand can reach an international where knowledge-driven innovation often is the major source of monetary growth unless a genuine innovation ecosystem develops in Auckland," Gluckman said.

However, Gluckman said an innovation step-change required changes in attitude from both the private and non-private sector.

"We're seeing [this] beginning to appear.

"The reconstruction of central ministries has started, Auckland City has began to put real effort behind the concept that and today we see one example of the non-public sector responding."

Nextspace chief executive Gavin Lennox said the move into Wynyard Quarter offered the firm the danger to be towards clients because it grew and gained traction out there.

Nextspace was developing software since 2007 but its latest focus was on Visual City, which permits users to make virtual models of city spaces.

Visual City pulls together data resembling maps, plans, resource consents, building models, transport routes and footage and presents them over an interactive 3D map.

The appliance have been utilized by the Auckland Council to speak proposals in its spatial plan and Melbourne's South East Water also is using the platform to scale back the price of building a brand new sewer system.

By Hamish Fletcher | Email Hamish