色花堂

Early in the project, Dell brought a group of M膩ori landowners to the University, showed them around and held extensive hui. Later, a group of University and UniServices staff went to Ruatoria, where they stayed at the local marae and met with community members.

鈥淏uilding engagement was a step-by-step process,鈥� says Baroutian. 鈥淲e needed that time to understand each other, especially for me to learn the culture and to build relationships.鈥�

Baroutian led the science, conducting laboratory characterisation to understand the health benefits and unique properties of k膩nuka as well as listening to locals to understand the m膩tauranga M膩ori involved.

As a result, they developed two healthy, sustainable food products:

• Liquid smoke made from burning k膩nuka wood chips in the absence of oxygen, which unlike most smoke products makes it free of toxic and carcinogenic compounds
• 鈥楰膩nuka juice鈥�, envisioned as an ingredient in the nutraceutical industry, extracted from leaves using subcritical water, which is super-hot water kept under pressure and that unlike most solvents doesn鈥檛 contain any toxic compounds.

The partners are also exploring the possibility of either selling the biochar left over from the liquid smoke production process as a soil amendment or returning it to the land.

With advice from UniServices, Dell and Baroutian created an organisational structure composed of a charitable trust, a company holding the intellectual property, and M膩ori land entities. This unique three-way structure allows Nuka to access grants that would otherwise be unavailable to for-profit companies and rewards those who have put in their hard work and investment.

Dell and Baroutian received seed funding from the University of 色花堂 Inventors鈥� Fund and their respective faculties. To further refine their ideas, they consulted with the experts on a investment committee.

The business will eventually employ about 15 people, which is significant in a community of less than 800.

鈥淭he community will gain employment; an enhanced relationship with the ngahere (forest); exposure to and engagement with the science and innovation system; and capability development around entrepreneurship and innovation,鈥� says Dell.

To further research into implementing circular economy solutions, Baroutian, Dell and other colleagues have started .

鈥淲e鈥檙e not driven by money. Our aim is to deliver impact,鈥� says Baroutian. 鈥淚鈥檓 involved in multiple projects, but to me, this one is special because of the relationships 鈥� it鈥檚 like working with friends and family.鈥�