Kura Matahuna – Unleash Space
Unleash Space’s Māori name is Kura Matahuna – the School of Hidden Potential. Unleash Space is your space to discover your hidden potential – create, play, make, invent, hack, experiment and do. Join us to build your skills and networks in a fun and supportive environment.
For those interested in exploring the world of innovation and entrepreneurship, there are workshops, a bookable meeting room, brainstorming spaces, experts and inspiration for your projects and ventures.
Unleash Space is also home to:
Start-up Studio – A dedicated co-working space, Start-up Studio is actively used by a group of entrepreneurs and start-ups using Unleash Space as their home and place of work. Learn more
Velocity – More than an innovation and entrepreneurship student club, Velocity is New Zealand’s leading student entrepreneurship development programme. Learn more
Find us
We look forward to seeing you at Unleash Space!
Unleash Space is located at the corner of Grafton Road and Symonds Street at the University of Auckland’s City Campus. Enter via the Engineering Building (Building 402), 20 Symonds Street.
Email:
cie@auckland.ac.nz
University of Auckland parking information
Opening hours
General Unleash Space
Monday to Friday, 8.30am-6.30pm.
Makerspace
Monday to Friday, 11am-6pm
Semester breaks and public holidays – CLOSED
Opening hours may be subject to change due to activities and events held in Unleash Space. We will do our best to limit disruptions to our regular hours, but please check our calendar for the latest updates.
Makerspace
Unleash Space is also home to the University of Auckland’s state-of-the-art Makerspace, where we offer free equipment and technology trainings for University of Auckland students of all faculties and staff.
All University of Auckland students and staff are invited to use the Makerspace – but we ask that you complete the online orientation first.
Once you’ve completed the online orientation, you will get access to the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s canvas course page.
Some tools and technology in the Makerspace require equipment-specific training before use. Equipment training is delivered in two parts (interactive video plus in-person training).
Log into the CIE canvas course to book and start your creative journey!
Once you have completed the relevant training, take advantage of the opportunity to use the equipment and resources at the Makerspace for your own projects during opening hours (Monday to Friday, 11am-6pm).
3D printers – Create models and prototypes quickly and easily. Book training now
Laser cutter- Cut out designs or engrave materials such as acrylic and wood. Book training now
Vinyl cutter – Create, cut and apply vinyl designs for T-shirts and more. Book training now
Sewing machines – Create a unique masterpiece. Book training now
CNC Router – cut and shape 3D objects out of hard block material. Book training now
Soldering station – connect componentry and create circuit boards. Book training now
See our Makerspace in 3D
Opening Hours
During semester
Monday to Friday, 11am-6pm.
Semester breaks and public holidays.
CLOSED
Opening hours may be subject to change due to activities and events held in Unleash Space. Please check our calendar for the latest updates.
Who can use the Makerspace?
All University of Auckland students and staff are invited to use the Makerspace – but we ask that you complete the online orientation first.
Once you’ve completed the online orientation, you will get access to the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s canvas course page.
Some tools and technology in the Makerspace require equipment-specific training before use. Equipment training is delivered in two parts (interactive video plus in-person training).
Log into the CIE canvas course to book and start your creative journey!
Our Story
Kura Matahuna
Unleash Space’s Māori name is Kura Matahuna, gifted by Matua Rereata Makiha (Ngāti Whakaheke, Te Aupōuri, Te Arawa) and Matua Manuka Henare (Ngāti Hauā, Te Aupōuri, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Kahu). It means the School of Hidden Potential.
Rereata Makiha explains:
Māori were great lovers of wisdom and philosophy, and it is to these subjects that the term “Kura” applies – vade mecum: Hongi p153
Kura in the old language means precious treasure, sacred wisdom, and philosophy. It also represents divine law and natural phenomena. Kura Tawhiti was an ancient sacred wisdom tree that grew at the center of the earth, where all known and unknown knowledge was kept. This knowledge was accessed by tohunga through the Kura Wānanga. The knowledge tree in the movie Avatar is a perfect image of Kura Tawhiti.
Matahuna refers to the unseen face or the unknown source. The wind, for example, is a matahuna. It can’t be seen, but it can be detected by its impact on something (Tukāki Waititi: Ngāti Hine / Whānau a Apanui). This concept reflects a group challenging the unknown and unseen—exploring yet-to-be-developed territory. Much like our ancestors, who relied on collective knowledge—stars, animals, fish, and bird migrations—to develop a wayfinding system that enabled them to populate 6.5 million square miles of ocean without any instruments. They used the knowledge gathered from Kura Tawhiti.
So, Kura Matahuna represents a new journey into the future—one that challenges the status quo.
Unleash Space
Unleash Space was founded as a partnership between the University of Auckland’s Business School and the Faculty of Engineering. Its creation and continued management have been led by the Business School’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Unleash Space was made possible due to the vision and generosity of our Founding Partners, who share our values of instilling an entrepreneurial ethos and skillset into the next generation of New Zealanders.
Learn more.
EMAIL
CIE@AUCKLAND.AC.NZ
POSTAL ADDRESS
THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND BUSINESS SCHOOL
PRIVATE BAG 92019, AUCKLAND
