A young researcher’s internationally recognised work is revealing how resident‑driven innovation can guide Tauranga’s next wave of technology development, reports senior writer Mary Anne Gill.
Tauranga’s waterfront boardwalk. Photo: Tourism Bay of Plenty
When 22‑year‑old Ben Jones began exploring how everyday residents could influence the technologies shaping Tauranga’s future, he didn’t expect the project to become a case study in how regional partnerships can accelerate innovation.
Ben Jones
Now his work is being recognised on the international stage – and offering a glimpse into how cities like Tauranga can build smarter infrastructure, stronger talent pipelines and commercially relevant digital solutions.
Jones, 22, a University of Waikato graduate now completing a Master of Science (Research) who attended Pāpāmoa College, recently presented his findings on community co‑design for smart cities at OzCHI 2025 in Sydney, one of Australasia’s leading human-computer interaction conferences.
The research has also been published as an Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) long paper – a significant milestone for an emerging researcher and a signal that Tauranga’s innovation activity is gaining global visibility.
The project, developed with Tauranga City Council and local residents, examines how communities can meaningfully contribute to the design of smart‑city technologies.
While co‑design is widely used in product development, applying it to city‑scale digital infrastructure is still relatively new in New Zealand. For councils and businesses, the approach offers a way to reduce project risk, improve adoption rates and ensure investment aligns with real‑world demand.
Jones worked alongside Software Engineering senior lecturer Jessica Turner to engage residents, students, council staff and community groups in shaping early‑stage concepts.
The results of a brainstorm session with local community looking at how technology can improve Tauranga.
“It has been amazing seeing research we started in Tauranga recognised internationally,” he says.
“(This research) shows how collaboration between students, researchers and council can create ideas that are both innovative and grounded in
“Seeing how a large organisation like Tauranga City Council operates was a valuable learning experience, and I really appreciated their openness to exploring what technology could make life better for our city.”
The study surveyed 248 residents and held a co‑design workshop with 13 participants, using an interactive toolkit aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Traffic congestion, environmental monitoring and public safety emerged as top priorities – areas that represent significant cost centres for councils and major opportunities for technology providers.
To make complex technology accessible, the team used two international toolkits – the Tiles IoT Inventor Toolkit from Norway and the Futurice IoT Service Kit – which turn technical problem‑solving into hands‑on design.
Ideas flowed at the Tiles Idea Generator workshop.
For industry, this kind of early engagement can help validate concepts before major investment, reducing development time and improving commercial viability.
Turner says the project demonstrates the value of designing with communities rather than for them.
“When residents and students collaborate with council, you get solutions that are both innovative and realistic for the city.”
While Tauranga City Council’s involvement has been exploratory, the partnership has already created momentum.
Dave Parsons – council’s senior programme manager – says partnering with the university on the Summer Research Programme was rewarding.
“A year on, we’re excited to prototype one of last year’s concepts and explore how local partnerships can help bring these ideas to life.”
Exterior of Waikato University Tauranga campus
Council Innovation lead Holly Simons says the research reinforces the importance of human‑centred design in the public sector.
“It can help the public sector design solutions that respond to real community needs to create meaningful value in people’s daily lives.”
The study has already generated two new summer research scholarships with students and the council. Software Engineering’s Jack Little and Blake Smith from Computer Science will develop a prototype of the Manu Meter – a concept first imagined during the co‑design workshops.
The Manu Meter uses artificial intelligence and environmental sensors to measure splash height from manu jumps on Tauranga’s waterfront, while also providing insights into water safety and water quality.
Beyond its playful origins, the project demonstrates how environmental monitoring, computer vision and public engagement can intersect – areas with growing commercial potential in tourism, recreation and environmental tech.
Turner says the collaboration highlights the strategic role universities can play in regional innovation.
“We’re giving students the opportunity to see their research make an immediate difference,” she says. “It shows how universities can act as connectors between community, industry and local government to co-create ideas that matter.”
As Tauranga continues its transformation into a centre for research, technology and high‑value industry, projects like this signal the emergence of a more coordinated innovation ecosystem – one where talent development, public‑sector partnerships and commercial opportunity are increasingly aligned.
Waikato University Tauranga campus exterior
