Mahitahi Tasman: For trailblazers and opportunity makers

Lauren Walker, Coworking Plan Member at Mahitahi Tasman

Published in STRONG Magazine, March 2026

“I had a quick chat with a partner last week, and that’s already led to two exciting new national connections, some amazing encouragement and guidance, and a lovely compliment on my website”.

Lauren Walker is an early adopter of the new Mahitahi Colab based in Māpua and has already experienced positive benefits from using it as her work base. “I’ve only been working at Mahitahi Tasman for a month, but I can already see how great it is going to be for new connections and support.”

For Lauren, it’s not just been the wider business network it provides, but she has also already learnt new skills and saved hours of time after connecting with a fellow collaborator to get a lesson on AI during a lunch break. “I got AI to consolidate three, 28-page annual progress reports into one simple table. It's exactly what I needed and would have taken me over a day to create myself. All from one training session with Digital Tempo”.

Tasman has the largest work-from-community in New Zealand (Figure.nz) with nearly a quarter of its workforce typically working from home. The colab is looking to build a destination space for those keen to broaden their social and collaborative opportunities. Lauren’s positive experiences won’t be unique. The space is more than a collection of hot desks and meeting rooms, it’s a chance to learn and share. With flexible zones for everything from quiet, focused work to spontaneous watercooler connections, Mahitahi Colab adapts to how its community actually works. The facility features permanent and casual desk options, informal soft-furnished collaboration areas, quiet zones, a fully equipped event space, breakout areas, a boardroom, and small meeting rooms.

The facility also addresses a crucial need in the Tasman region - providing the Mahitahi partners with a physical presence in Tasman, alongside supporting digital capabilities, start-ups, and entrepreneurship. Unlike many innovation spaces that rely on government funding, Mahitahi Tasman is forging its own path, free to experiment and support bespoke ideas that answer real regional needs.

"Everything starts with a conversation, and we'll be having lots of them to ensure we optimise potential and opportunities," says Russell Manning, Chair of Innovate Charitable Trust that operates as Mahitahi Colab. "We're providing a place for Tasman's talent to work, connect, and collaborate - creating business opportunities within a like-minded community where the sky truly isn't the limit."

It’s a successful formula that has operated for almost a decade at the colab in Nelson.

Mahitahi Tasman welcomes trailblazers and opportunity makers. Enquiries for workshops and events are also welcome. For more information, contact : trina@mahitahicolab.nz