They're already calling it 'Tech-apuna' and now there's a push for Auckland's North Shore to be turned into New Zealand's own Silicon Valley.

Massey University wants to foster the potential of the area, and help create an innovation district.

It wants to play the sort of role Stanford University does in Silicon Valley.

Massey's new entrepreneurship researcher Dr Rebecca Gill is researching the idea, and said innovation is already happening on the North Shore.

"People will very quickly point to the example of Takapuna, which has been branded 'Techapuna', we see these small pockets or small clusters cropping up"

Dr Gill says there is lots of potential to grow those areas, create news ones and increase networking.

"We want to look at how do we improve that? how do we enhance that? how do we get it so that people are talking outside of the groups that they are already part of, outside of the organisations that they are already part of, and hopefully bringing in new ideas and becoming more innovative."

She claims there are already lots of cutting-edge companies and thinkers based on the North Shore.

Dr Gill is leading a research project into the idea which will be presented in November.