Igniting Intellectual Capital for a Brighter Future in Whakatū

WICK is a capacity- and capability-building civic organisation, designed to help Whakatū Nelson forward, toward greater prosperity, equitability, liveability, sustainability and vitality.

Living up to our legacy in Te Tauihu

With a strong history as an intellectual hub of NZ, the current strong intellectual capital community, and continued growth in this area, Nelson-Tasman and all of Te Tauihu have a strong claim as a bastion of the knowledge economy and as an intellectual hub of NZ. This is the pou or foundation on which WICK is built.

To improve the lives of everyone

Innovation will drive Nelson forward to a more prosperous, fairer and more sustainable future for…

  • Artists and creatives

  • Innovators and inventors

  • Entrepreneurs

  • Scientists and researchers

  • Idea generators and influentials

  • Mature citizens

  • Young families

  • Children and youth

  • Everyday working Nelsonians

  • Environmentalists

  • Visionaries and change makers

  • Policy makers

And help overcome some of our most pressing challenges

Whakatū Nelson is facing a range of challenging social and economic deficits. These economic and demographic trends show we need to take strategic economic development seriously:

  • The 2nd lowest productivity in the nation

  • Declining work age population

  • Lagging average wages compared to national averages

  • Wage growth slower than the national average

  • Rising average age – more people over 65 than under 16

  • Youth “flight” – Young people believe that they must leave in order to achieve their hopes and dreams.

  • Underemployment at levels beyond the national norms

  • Unaffordable housing and growing economic gap between the top and bottom of our community

  • Squandering of the human capital resources of our older residents

  • Marginalisation of lower socio-economic status residents, youth and elderly

Find out more about our Projects here

Our Projects