Meet Steven Vincent

People Behind the Space: Basestation

Some coworking spaces are built around desks and memberships. Others are built around people. Basestation, co-founded by Steven Vincent, falls firmly into the second category. Located in the heart of Tauranga, this long-standing coworking space has become known for its strong sense of community, thoughtful design, and people-first approach to flexible work.

Basestation started in a surprisingly simple way, with a few spare desks inside an oversized office. More than a decade later, it has grown into one of New Zealand’s most established coworking communities, bringing together founders, creatives, freelancers, remote teams, and entrepreneurs under one roof. 

In this People Behind the Space feature, Steven shares the story behind Basestation, from transforming a former police station into a coworking hub to fostering a culture grounded in connection, hospitality, and collaboration.

Steven Vincent, co-founder of Basestation

Basestation famously started because your office was “too big.” Can you take us back to that moment when a spare desk turned into a coworking community?

It all started back in 2012, I was running an IT company with a business partner. We had some extra desks and space in our office, so we started offering that space to other small business owners and sharing resources such as printers and tech as part of the offering. We were essentially coworking before we even knew that’s what it was called!

Tauranga wasn’t exactly known for coworking in 2014. What made you believe the city was ready for something different?

The four original co-founders of Basestation shared a vision of fostering community and supporting entrepreneurship. Recognising the demand, when the opportunity to refurbish a building in Tauranga’s CBD arose, we knew we had to seize it. We also heard rumours of a university opening on the same street someday, so we decided to invest in what we believed would become the future ecosystem.

Moving into a former police station sounds like a bold choice. What drew you to the Durham Street building, and how did it shape the identity of Basestation?

It was a case of the right building becoming available at the right time. It ticked all the boxes in regard to location, size, and being in need of complete refurbishment. This gave us the exciting opportunity to build it from the ground up and make it exactly how we wanted it to be without any compromises.

You and the team took a very hands-on, DIY approach to designing the space. How did that process influence the culture and personality of Basestation today?

We had a clear vision of incorporating Open-Source technology, which greatly influenced the design and aesthetics of the furniture and fittings. From the start, we intentionally chose to handle the design ourselves rather than outsource it, partly to stay within budget. After visiting and observing how other office spaces were being designed for inspiration, we were also influenced by the introduction of Open-Source plywood furniture, which shaped the look and feel of the internal walls. This combination ultimately gave rise to the distinctive Basestation ‘style’.

Basestation brings together tech founders, creatives, freelancers, and small teams. What do you think makes this mix work so well?

Over the years, we’ve seen that the type of people who have been attracted to coworking has changed and continues to evolve with a diverse range of individuals and businesses. We’re also seeing more teams setting up regional/satellite offices for national and international companies. The mix works well because coworking offers flexibility as well as the benefit of being a part of an already established community.

Community has always been at the heart of Basestation. What’s one moment or milestone that really captured the spirit of the space for you?

What still continues to surprise and delight me is the organic way our residents interact with each other at a personal and professional level. I still recall a time when I overheard two individuals organising a social event, and I asked them if they already knew each other prior to being at Basestation, and to my surprise, they declared that they only recently met at Basestation, but are now firm friends and making plans for the weekend with their families!

You joke about being in charge of watering all the plants, but what does a typical day actually look like behind the scenes?

My typical day varies from ensuring that our facilities are clean and well presented, giving tours to visitors who drop by, onboarding teams in a private office, setting up our meetings and event spaces, hosting a shared lunch or social event for residents, as well as watering all the plants in the building. We like to think that we operate Basestation as a unique blend of a workspace with hospitality, creating a dynamic environment where professionals can work, collaborate, and relax seamlessly, as part of a community in a versatile and welcoming setting.

How has Tauranga’s startup and business ecosystem evolved since Basestation first opened its doors?

We’re really proud that Basestation has been contributing to the local business scene by giving people a great space to connect, work, and share ideas. We’ve also run some awesome events like business clinics for advice and support, and hosted events like Startup Weekend to get entrepreneurs buzzing. On top of that, we’ve thrown in some fun things like hosting STEM festivals to inspire young techies and future scientists. Overall, we’re all about creating a place where people can come together, learn, and grow together.

If you could invite any three people, innovators, entrepreneurs, or thinkers, to work from Basestation for a day, who would they be and why?

I like to think that we attract people who bring positive energy and genuinely enjoy being part of the community. These are the kind of folks who motivate those around them, share good vibes, and really want to make a difference. They thrive on connection, collaboration, and supporting each other, creating a friendly and inspiring atmosphere for everyone. In the end, it’s all about building a space where people feel welcomed, motivated, and excited to be involved.

Looking ahead, what excites you most about the next chapter of Basestation and the community you’ve helped build?

I believe that Basestation’s role continues to be supporting those doing good for people and the planet. We are embracing being a ‘Third Place’ concept by supporting community groups and providing a venue for their gatherings during and outside of office hours.

We support the movement to champion coworking, ensuring that it is a clear differentiation from the “flexspace industry”. We strongly believe that any new developments and buildings should be designed with coworking in mind instead of the old-style tenancy format.

We are advocates of “Unreasonable Hospitality” and understand that we are a hospitality business first and foremost. This has been at the core of our mission since the beginning, but we just didn’t have a word for it until recently.

In the future, we believe that any “work from home” should be heavily supplemented with coworking from a well-being perspective. Humans thrive on social connections. Therefore, it makes sense to create a space where individuals and teams can gather, support one another, and nurture a strong sense of community. This is the coworking experience when you come to Basestation.

Basestation: Building More Than Just a Workspace

What makes Basestation stand out isn’t just the building or the fit-out. It’s the intention behind it.

From the very beginning, Steven and the team approached coworking as something more than shared desks and office infrastructure. Their focus has always been on creating an environment where people feel supported, connected, and genuinely excited to spend time.

As the way people work continues to evolve, Basestation reflects a growing shift toward spaces that prioritise flexibility, wellbeing, and community alongside productivity. It’s a reminder that the best workspaces are often the ones that bring people together in meaningful ways.

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