Ideas to benefit the River City

The Wanganui Innovation Network will create outstanding and world class products, Whanganui Employers' Chamber of Commerce president Jenny Duncan says.

And she said its lofty aim of positioning Wanganui as New Zealand's most progressive broadband centre was "completely do-able".

The network had its first meeting on Thursday night last week, attended by 35 people who put their heads together to come up with ideas. "We had the right people in the room."

The network (WIN) is one of the ideas to come out of the chamber's business strategy group and former PEC owner John Williams is a key member. Other organising committee members are Ms Duncan, Dot McKinnon, Jason Simons from Wanganui District Council and Abby Kingi.

On Thursday night, those attending the meeting first mingled with drinks before splitting into tables of six, after being asked not to sit with work colleagues.

After introductions, Mr Simons gave a short talk about ultrafast broadband.

Then the various groups were allotted a task that had to be completed in 20 minutes. This involved coming up with an idea for a new product or service - with a carrot of a prize for the best one.

"I watched the groups and they were so engaged, it was a delight. You don't get that too often," Ms Duncan said.

A lot of the ideas involved information technology and the winner was an idea about giving people virtual experiences, down to sensations such as touch and smell.

But Ms Duncan said while future ideas had to be innovative, they didn't necessarily have to involve technology. And the innovators could come from any walk of life.

"It could be someone working on a fuel-injection system in their back garage. It's the connection between ideas that gets the third wave product."

Network members will now be asked to email their feedback on how the first meeting went with the idea of getting together every two months.

One beneficial result of the meetings is that they will make members aware of the quality products and services available in their own district.

"Wanganui doesn't know what Wanganui has got. We are world class so often," said Ms Duncan, who is hoping new products and services come out of the meetings.

Members will also be able to find out new ways to make their businesses work better such as Cloud-based computer software and social media marketing.

And they will be introduced to e2e, an organisation that incubates start-up businesses and assesses their viability. It's linked to the Bio Commerce Centre, a Massey University commercialisation partner. Synergies are to be developed between the Wanganui and Manawatu groups over the next 12 months.