Kaikōura Harbour: rebuilding for the future
The harbour at Kaikōura can't support the aspirations of the tourism or marine research sectors, so we developed a business case for re-investment.
A pathway to the future.
Following the devastating earthquake, the harbour at Kaikōura was rebuilt – but only to back to the original specification. If the region is to grow, then it needs a harbour that can support the economic, cultural and social growth aspirations of the region. Council and central government required a business case that showed how a larger, safer and more sophisticated harbour makes economic sense.
Workshopping the possibilities
Over a period of 12 months we worked with the Kaikōura business community, local leaders, iwi, the Council and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment to understand what's needed for the future economic and cultural prosperity of the district.
Assessing the options
We looked at all the potential pathways for Kaikōura, building on the incredible wealth of marine knowledge that comes from its unique setting and ecosystem. Collaborating with the community and engineering consultants, we collectively arrived at a harbour design that supports expanded eco-tourism and a world-class marine research precinct.
Making the case
To gain funding support for the investment, we developed a clear and thorough business case for Ministers, supported by high-quality educational video from the Council project team. And the resulting document has provided a platform for ongoing conversations about the co-investment partnership to build the prosperity of Kaikōura.
Mapping out the future of the district was a collaborative process.
It's tempting to think the harbour is about hard infrastructure – sea walls, berths, piers. Yet it's really about how the people of Kaikōura interact with the ocean and its unique ecosystem, and how they bring the experiences and knowledge of the moana to the rest of the world – through visitor experiences and ongoing leading-edge marine research.
So we spent time listening and talking, in myriad workshops with business leaders, iwi, key community members, and people from all walks of life in Kaikōura. We spoke with central government officials to explore the financial possibilities, and modelled the economic and social effects of co-investment.
The result is a business case document that follows Treasury's Better Business Case structure, but which tells the story of the place and its people and their aspirations – in their words, with their images, in order to deliver their vision of the future. The business case is an important step along the road to a sustainable, nature- and science-based economy for a unique part of Aotearoa.
The business case was presented to the Government and received encouraging support; however, the project was delayed by the change of government at the 2023 election and an alteration in national priorities. Conversations with officials and Ministers are continuing, although work on the next stages of the project has yet to commence.
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