Marlborough's First Tourism Resilience Living Lab

A Living Lab is a user-centered, co-created, open innovation ecosystem and tool for resilience.

Bluewater Endeavours is a locally-led, place-based Living Lab, first founded (initially as an education and advisory initiative) in 2023 by local Queen Charlotte Sound/ Tōtaranui resident, Deborah Early, PhD. With a background as a writer, author and educator she sought to share adaptation, resilience and place attachment insights and evidence-based expertise nationally and internationally. Further informed by her 2025 Lincoln University postgraduate research, learnings at AF2025 and drawing on the quintuple helix (Public, Private, Professionals, People, Place) this initiative has expanded to include others in her local community wanting to co-create their resilient future.