Massey University partners with NZVRARA to support development in virtual reality
The New Zealand VR/AR Association Inc. (NZVRARA) and Massey University School of Design have jointly announced a
strategic partnership to support the fast-growing New Zealand virtual and mixed reality sector.
Virtual reality technologically isolates a user from the real world to create a simulated one; while augmented or mixed
reality merge real and virtual worlds to produce new environments and visualizations where physical and digital objects
co-exist and interact in real time.
Professor Brian Lucid, Head of the School of Design, is a founding board member of the NZVRARA and oversaw students at
Massey University establishing New Zealand’s first tertiary VRAR Club, VRTX, in early 2017, going on to establish a
specialised VRAR room on the Wellington campus.
Professor Lucid says the development of virtual and augmented reality, and the public’s access to it, was expected to
greatly expand before the end of the decade.
“The mixed and virtual reality industry in New Zealand is estimated to double within two years,” Professor Lucid says.
“The School of Design is committed to building expertise in story-telling and content creation for immersive
technologies to ensure that New Zealand has the capacity and capability to remain a leading force in this sector. Our
partnership with the NZVRARA not only supports educational and student initiatives, but builds stronger connections
between student and faculty research, industry partners and sector members.”
Massey University is ranked in the top 1.2% of universities in the world, and the School of Design within the College of
Creative Arts is ranked the number one design school in Asia-Pacific by the prestigious Red Dot Awards. Professor Lucid
says Massey University continues to push the boundaries in design and innovation and recognises virtual and mixed
reality as a transformational technology.
NZVRARA Executive Director, Courteney Lomas expressed excitement at the partnership with Massey University to build
closer relationships between both international and national industry corporations and staff and students at Massey.
“The incredible design-led work from Massey graduates promises a bright future for the New Zealand VRAR industry and we
enjoyed celebrating their success at the NZVRARA inaugural Graduate VRAR Exhibition earlier in December.”
The New Zealand VR/AR Association was established to champion, support and grow innovation in the virtual, augmented and
mixed reality sectors.
Association Chair, Michael Gregg says the NZVRARA is is seeking to build deeper links to the academic and research
community.
“Connecting with Massey University at this level sends a strong signal of our intentions to play an active role in
cultivating a strong VR-capable graduate community to provide a skilled workforce for burgeoning New Zealand-based cross
reality (XR) businesses to employ, as well as creating the next wave of start-ups.”