Massey University - Closer than you'd think!
Venture Taranaki has partnered with Massey University since 2012 to help Taranaki businesses and industry sectors access Massey University’s expertise, knowledge, and innovation when looking to innovate. We help support Taranaki businesses in gaining access to Massey’s expert team for information or research and development expertise, and we also have strong ties with capable students who can be engaged for internships or jobs in Taranaki.
The partnership builds on the long association Massey University has with Taranaki and serves to expand longstanding research, teaching, and alumni connections between Massey, Taranaki’s business sector, and wider communities.
The economic drivers for Taranaki are also amongst Massey’s strengths – food, agriculture, horticulture, fundamental and natural sciences, and sustainability. With Massey’s drive to support innovation and to work on some of the big challenges for New Zealand, it’s an exceptionally good fit.
We have a Massey University staff member based in the Venture Taranaki office, who helps Taranaki organisations identify opportunities where the University’s faculties, staff, and research centres can be of assistance.
Internships
Engaging interns to work on R&D projects is a great ‘win-win’. Interns can be students who are currently undertaking their university studies, or recent graduates. They bring theoretical knowledge and practical skills obtained via their studies, as well as ‘fresh thinking’ to projects, and can be a dedicated resource to ensure the job gets done. The win for the intern is the opportunity to apply themselves to a project of consequence, add to their real-world learning, and build industry networks.
There have been many Massey students, from all levels of studies, working with businesses in Taranaki – completing either Summer or 6-month-long internships.
Applied Capstone Projects, Applied Masters and PhDs
A good number of companies in Taranaki have had projects completed by final-year bachelor’s degree students or postgraduate students – students who are able to complete a real-world project towards their Bachelor's, Master’s or PhD qualifications. Not only are the students who undertake these projects well-qualified to undertake them, but the projects also benefit from the backing of Massey’s expertise, facilities, and equipment.
Funding and Scholarships
The type of organisation, project type, and duration, will influence what sort of co-funding might be available for internships or applied projects. It's worthwhile talking to our Massey representative here in Taranaki about what you are planning to achieve.
In addition to co-funding for companies, or fellowships on offer to support Applied Masters or PhD projects, there are a range of scholarships that students can apply for themselves. These can usually be awarded severally and help encourage students to undertake applied projects while studying for postgraduate qualifications.
Pivot Award
The Pivot Award is a partnership between the Bashford-Nicholls Trust and Massey University. Offered annually since 2019, these Awards supports collaborative projects whereby Taranaki and Massey University seek to apply research-in-action to innovation initiatives which have potential to re-shape agriculture for the future.
Case Studies
Lan Luo, Van Dyck Fine Foods
Grant: Callaghan Innovation R&D Career Grant
Role: Master’s Graduate Project - Subsequently appointed to a permanent position
Project: Product Development
Lan Luo, a Master’s graduate in Food Technology, undertook a nine-month project at Van Dyck Fine Foods, with the first six months funded by an R&D Career Grant. Lan worked on a range of projects relating to Van Dyck’s product range and manufacturing processes. Lan’s ‘fresh eyes’ were highly valued, and the company was grateful for the opportunity the R&D Career Grant had provided, allowing them to get a good understanding of her capabilities, which ultimately led to offering Lan a permanent role. Lan credits her Bachelor’s and Master’s studies with growing her skills and knowledge but is also rapt about her career development whilst at Van Dyck’s.
Jordan Iremonger, Howard Wright
Grant: Callaghan Innovation R&D Experience Grant.
Role: Summer Internship
Project: Product Development
Jordan Iremonger, an Industrial Design Honours graduate from Massey University, completed a summer internship at Howard Wright Ltd. He worked on a critical project focused on improving elements of Howard Wright’s M9 Trauma Stretcher to minimise visual artefacts during X-ray procedures, which will improve image quality. His project involved extensive research into materials, joint geometry, and alternative manufacturing methods. Jordan collaborated with R&D team members, toolmakers, and radiologists, including hands-on testing at Taranaki Base Hospital, gaining valuable insights into the world of medical product design.
The internship was Jordan’s first time living in Taranaki, and he was quickly won over, drawn in by the lifestyle, outdoors, and strong sense of community. Grateful for the opportunity, he says the internship gave him real-world experience, boosted his confidence as a designer, and forged lasting connections. Thanks to post-internship support from Venture Taranaki, he has secured a permanent role with Formsteel, fulfilling his goal of launching his design career in a region he’s grown to love.
For Howard Wright, having Jordan integrate within their team to solve a long-standing problem proved extremely valuable, with his work allowing them to improve upon the design of their popular medical trauma stretcher for future updates.
Jerome Chua, Ocean Pearl Fisheries / Egmont Seafoods
Grant: Bioresource Processing Alliance Fellowship
Role: Applied Master’s project
Project: Product Development
Jerome Chua, a Massey University Master’s of Food Technology student undertook an twelve-month project at Ocean Pearl Fisheries funded by a Bioresource Processing Alliance Fellowship grant. Jerome worked on a project designing an innovative sausage bait made from crayfish waste to solve a rig fishing challenge whilst keeping dolphins safe. Drawing on his food technology expertise, Jerome developed a unique bait sausage using crayfish industry waste stream and a specialised binder system to ensure the bait stayed on the hook—offering a compelling, sustainable lure for rig. The results exceeded expectations. Rig readily took the bait, and the collaboration turned unavoidable crayfish mortalities into a valuable resource. The project not only keeps fishers in business but also strengthens circular practices across multiple fisheries.
Photo credit: Seafood New Zealand
Find out more about the Massey University partnership
- Contact Business Development Manager Eve Kawana-Brown
- Phone: 06 759 5162