New Zealand's first NEST launches in Ōtautahi Christchurch

Ministry of Awesome has launched NEST Christchurch, the first hub in a nationwide startup network designed to connect founders, investors and innovators across New Zealand.

Crowd watching speaker at the Ministry of Awesome launch

Ministry of Awesome builds national network for startup success

Ministry of Awesome (MoA) last night celebrated the opening of the New Zealand Startup Hub (NEST) Network, a new initiative designed to manufacture entrepreneurial density in Aotearoa.

The event was attended by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Economic Growth Nicola Willis, and Minister for Science, Innovation, and Technology Penny Simmonds.

Christopher Luxon at the Ministry of Awesome launch

A nationwide collective of startup hubs

The NEST Network is Ministry of Awesome's vision for a nationwide collective of startup hubs with many front doors to New Zealand's rapidly growing startup ecosystem.

NEST Christchurch, the first of these startup hubs, is located at 829 Colombo Street and will serve as MoA's base in Ōtautahi and the pilot model for the wider network. The expansive 1,100m2 space has the potential to bring together one of the country's highest concentrations of startup talent under one roof.

By collocating founders, mentors, investors, academics, corporate partners, and government representatives, it will provide access to the physical assets of work stations, meeting rooms, event spaces, recording studios, and even full service changing rooms and garage usage. Similarly, it will offer opportunities to startup ecosystem stakeholders to participate in programmes, mentoring, investments, community connections, and business development.

Connecting New Zealand's startup ecosystem

Beyond NEST Christchurch, the network is intended to act as connective tissue between existing startup hubs, programmes, and communities across the motu, helping founders have the right conversations with the right people at the right time.

MoA CEO Graham Scown says each regional hub gives ambitious Kiwi startups access to the support, expertise, and professional network they need to grow while building critical infrastructure to ensure long-term economic prosperity for New Zealand as a whole.

“History has shown us that one Rocket Lab can give birth to several new unicorns. That's the ambition of a space like this, and programmes like ours. We've already seen huge successes, like Partly, come out of Ministry of Awesome.”

Ministry of Awesome CEO, Graham Scown

Accelerating startup success

Each hub will directly support significantly more founders and startup companies, giving them faster, easier access to the space, community, mentoring, and networks that accelerate the journey from idea to investment to export.

“By deliberately creating environments where shared knowledge building, community, and chance encounters between founders are more likely, we can profoundly accelerate the incidence of startup success and contribute to the productivity of NZ Inc.”

NEST Christchurch provides a base for that work, with the model having the potential to be replicated by existing regional partners in large metro areas, such as Wellington and Auckland, as well as smaller areas like Whangārei, Taranaki, Nelson, or Wānaka.

Strengthening Christchurch's innovation ecosystem

Martin Cudd, General Manager of Innovation and Business Growth at ChristchurchNZ says the new hub builds on Christchurch's growing reputation as a place where startups can get support they need to grow and succeed.

“Startups play a vital role in creating high-value jobs, attracting investment and developing solutions that can be scaled globally. Christchurch has built a strong reputation as a city where ambitious founders can start, grow, and scale their businesses.”

Martin Cudd, General Manager of Innovation and Business Growth at ChristchurchNZ

“The new premises adds to that momentum, creating a space for founders from across the country to connect, collaborate and access the support they need to succeed. It's another important step in building a resilient, future-focused economy for New Zealand.”

For government, corporates, universities, and investors, the network creates a clearer way to engage with Aotearoa's next generation of high-growth startup companies while helping strengthen the pathways for founders to access capital, expertise, and customers.

The NEST Network is designed around a practical operating model with tiered memberships, regional expertise, and corporate sponsorship, with the ambition of increasing the number of high-growth globally-focused startups in New Zealand to one per 1,000 people in the population, or about 5,000 total.

About Ministry of Awesome:

Ministry of Awesome is a national organisation headquartered in Ōtautahi Christchurch with the kaupapa of driving economic growth through founder-first and founder-led innovation.

Its three operating pillars - programmes, events, and communities - work in concert with one another, creating a virtual cycle and, ultimately, leading to prosperity across New Zealand.

You can get in touch at info@ministryofawesome.com