Derelee shared with us her invention which is sustainable materials for hygiene manufacturers of disposable nappies and other applications with the main driver to replace plastic. The materials offer unique benefits only made possible by supercharging sheep wool. She shared how this invention was driven by a realisation of just how damaging products such as disposable nappies currently are to our environment. This was her solution to reduce waste by creating a material that replaces some plastic materials with her biodegradable fibre. She then identified an opportunity for New Zealand Strong wool. Strong wool makes up 90% of NZ wool production but is significantly underutilised and undervalued so the material is a great opportunity for wool growers to increase their revenue. Production currently takes place overseas due to machinery not being available in the Southern Hemisphere however NZ Wool is exported and used to produce the material. Woolchemy believe they can raise the price of wool up to USD$4.50 (less cleaning, freight costs) which will make it more economic and sustainable for farmers and compete with synthetic fibres and other sustainable fibres.
Greg Skelton, CEO from Wellington Electricity shared their plan on how to deal with the future increased demand of electricity primarily driven by an increase in electric vehicles He explained the expected impact of the increased demand on the current power supply and what plans are currently being discussed to combat this in the long term.
Kristy Grant, CEO, Lane Street Studios, shared a virtual tour of what the completed studios will look like. She gave an update on the construction of the purpose-built TV, film, gaming and interactive media studios in Upper Hutt due for completion in 2022. Lane Street Studios is Aotearoa’s newest studio development. They will provide a screen production experience that is flexible and purpose built for TV, film, gaming and interactive media. The studios are nestled in the Hutt Valley nearby the beautiful Hutt River. Surrounded in trees and close to all local amenities the location offers a complete work/life experience. Next door to Brewtown – a group of craft breweries, a distillery, cafes and onsite entertainment. The studios are close to public transport, and Upper Hutt is growing to provide affordable housing. Lane Street Studios is an opportunity just waiting to change the lives of people from the Hutt Valley and across Aotearoa. At full capacity Lane Street Studios will create 600 jobs by the middle of 2022. Around the studios and across the Hutt Valley there will be countless other jobs created as businesses grow and support the studios to deliver excellence in film, digital and online.
