University welcomes support for Newmarket Innovation Precinct in Auckland City Deal

The University of Auckland has welcomed the government’s landmark Auckland City Deal, which includes support for the Newmarket Innovation Precinct as part of a broader strategy to boost economic growth and innovation in the city.

The Deal establishes a long-term partnership between central government and Auckland Council aimed at unlocking Auckland’s potential, with a strong focus on infrastructure, housing, transport and innovation.

It involves work on a strategy for innovation precincts, including around the University of Auckland’s flagship innovation centre in Newmarket. The Deal also commits to considering how best to support the University’s role in medtech development, including initiatives such as MedTech-iQ, a national collaboration focused on developing new medical technologies. Central government will consider the most appropriate way to provide this support through National Infrastructure Funding and Financing.

Vice Chancellor Professor Dawn Freshwater says the agreement recognises the valuable role universities play in shaping cities through research and innovation, with the Newmarket Innovation Precinct highlighted as a key contributor to Auckland’s future growth.

“We welcome the acknowledgement of our University’s Newmarket Innovation Precinct in the Auckland City Deal. This reflects the important role universities play in driving innovation, research commercialisation and high-value job creation.

“We have been working closely with both central and local government to help shape a shared vision for innovation-led growth in Auckland, and we’re encouraged to see that collaboration reflected in this agreement.”

The Newmarket Innovation Precinct brings together researchers, industry and entrepreneurs to accelerate the development of new technologies. Anchored by the University’s cutting-edge facilities, the precinct supports the translation of research into real-world impact and fosters partnerships that strengthen New Zealand’s innovation ecosystem.

The Auckland City Deal signals more coordinated investment and planning between central government and Auckland Council, with a focus on lifting productivity, creating jobs and improving living standards across the country.