New Zealand’s rapidly growing space and advanced aviation sectors have been on show at the 76th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Sydney this week and as the Space Minister I was excited to be there.
I spoke at the International Astronautical Federation’s Ministers and Members of Parliament meeting in the New South Wales Parliament and at an Australasian Space Innovation Institute event. I was promoting New Zealand’s innovation in space research and development, manufacturing, launch services and satellite technologies and some of New Zealand’s most exciting space companies were with me as part of the New Zealand delegation.
In 2024, our space sector supported 17,000 jobs, with total estimated revenue of $2.68 billion - a 53 percent increase across five years. The space sector and advanced aviation sector offer huge potential to grow our economy and improve the lives of New Zealanders, and we have set an ambitious target of doubling the size of both sectors by 2030.
Following on from IAC, our largest aerospace conference, the New Zealand Aerospace Summit 2025, is being held in Christchurch on 8 October.
These two major industry events hosted right here in Australasia underscore just how pivotal this region has become in shaping the future of space and aviation.
I am proud of the plethora of talent, ambition and momentum confidently driving these space and advanced aviation sectors.
Education takes a leap forward
My colleagues in Parliament have also been busy introducing new methods and funding, none more so than Hon Erica Stanford Minister for Education.
At a recent meeting in the Papakura Electorate, she filled the participants with hope for the youngest members of society who have recently started school and those now in intermediate or secondary school. Over the last 12 months teachers have received professional training to support teaching a new curriculum that focuses on literacy and maths. The new curriculum recognises the importance of these subjects as the foundations of learning and success in later life.
Minister Stanford thanked the Minister of Finance Nicola Willis for providing the large budget for funding for this and many other changes like those planned for senior students around NCEA qualifications, while maintaining a value for money approach but not a programme of austerity, as education is something New Zealand’s children need and deserve.
The support of Minister of Finance Nicola Willis has allowed Minister Stanford to announce that the Government is accelerating investment of $413 million in school infrastructure with the dual purpose of improving school facilities across New Zealand and providing ongoing work for trades like plumbers, electricians, roofers and builders.
The plan is to accelerate school maintenance so it occurs over the summer with $250 million expressly destined for rural and isolated schools and $58 million for general maintenance across the board. The final $100 million will be spent over 5 years on the Supplementary 5-Year Agreement (5YA) property maintenance funding which is additional to the $250 million already committed.
This expenditure will be widely effective as the Government’s initiative to cut the cost of a classroom down to $620,000 using a generic plan, off-site manufacture and standard materials, will speed up delivery and halve material costs so more work can be done across more schools.
Minister Stanford also noted that positive change for New Zealand is happening with the Resource Management Act reforms that have already enabled consent for the Ports of Auckland project and a land package for Nelson as examples.
She also referred to the Agriculture sector which is once again providing excellent returns from its overseas exports, greatly helped by the work that Hon Todd McClay is doing to secure new agreements with Saudi Arabia, UAE, Singapore and Switzerland.
