A strategy to support the growth of our space and advanced aviation sectors

We want thriving space and advanced aviation sectors in New Zealand to help rebuild our economy. These sectors are already innovative and inspiring, employing a productive and highly skilled workforce to develop capabilities that improve our lives. We have an opportunity to take this even further.

By 2030, space and advanced aviation will be key contributors to New Zealand's economy. New Zealand’s capabilities will have greater international recognition, and generate more export revenue, high quality employment, research and development activity, and foreign direct investment. This will enable New Zealand to better realise the opportunities that the space and advanced aviation sectors present to grow and diversify our economy.

This strategy sets out our plan for the space and advanced aviation sectors (referred to collectively as the aerospace sector), covering aircraft and spacecraft that operate at different altitudes, from drones that operate at low levels to rockets that reach Earth’s orbit and beyond. These sectors include transportation, research and development, manufacturing, operations and application of data.

Aerospace technologies are essential to the day to day functioning of our country, enabling navigation and communication, security and defence, environmental monitoring, disaster response and recovery, weather forecasting, and natural resource management.

Space and advanced aviation are regulated under the Outer Space and High-altitude Activities Act and the Civil Aviation Act respectively. While traditional aviation is not within the scope of the Space and Advanced Aviation Strategy, the development and adoption of advanced aviation technologies supports the traditional aviation system.

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