Judges decide no winner in Rotorua Land Innovation Challenge
A competition aimed at finding viable alternative land uses for landowners in the Lake Rotorua catchment did not find a
winner.
While several entries for the Innovation Challenge were deemed to have potential, the judging panel found they did not
address all key components of the competition. Entries needed to provide for long-term, measurable nitrogen reductions
as well as provide research and analysis to show the business case detailing the solution’s economic viability.
The competition was run as part of the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme to find solutions to reduce nitrogen from land
use for water quality objectives. Entries received ranged from changes to land management practices and robotic devices
to treat urine patches, to alternative horticultural crops that can be grown in the Rotorua district.
The final Judging Panel which assessed the entrants’ business cases consisted of four business experts and
entrepreneurs; Bill Murphy founder of Bay of Plenty’s Enterprise Angels, Dr Warren Parker Chief Executive Officer of
Scion, Cheryl Reynolds creator of Waikato’s entrepreneurship hub SODA Inc and Dr Charlotte Severne, a science and
business specialist working with Māori businesses.
The Judges acknowledged the effort entrants put into their entries, but with a $20,000 prize there was a high
expectation to provide detailed analysis to support the feasibility of the innovation for alternative land-uses in the
Lake Rotorua catchment.
“After much discussion we decided not to award the $20,000 prize money,” Mr Murphy said. “We scored each entry based on
the level of innovation, the significance or scale of proposed solution and the business analysis supporting the
feasibility of the idea.
“We found some entries were really innovative but didn’t provide the business analysis to support the solution or
feasibility. Other entries, while feasible, didn’t score well on the innovation side. Overall no entry scored over 50
per cent and we could not in good conscience award the prize,” he said.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council General Manager Natural Resource Operations, Warwick Murray, said he appreciated the
efforts of all entrants.
“This Challenge was no easy task and I would like to recognise the time taken by the entrants who submitted their ideas.
“While we didn’t get an overall winner, the Challenge has helped raise awareness of the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme
and the challenges in particular for the Lake Rotorua catchment,” he said.
“The Challenge has reinforced that there is no silver bullet for landowners to reduce nutrient losses. Landowners will
need a suite of solutions to reach the nutrient reduction targets.”
Mr Murray said the submitted entries would be used to start a toolkit of alternative land-use options for landowners.
“We are committed to helping find solutions for nutrient reductions and will continue to work with the community,
farmers, industry and research institutes to provide options for landowners,” he said.
ends