ChristchurchNZ: Fostering Global Collaboration in Space!

In a major step towards international cooperation in the aerospace industry within the business events sector, the Space Cities Network (SCN) took shape at the ICCA Congress in Abu Dhabi last year, bringing together the combined strengths of four industry spearheads: Lausanne (Switzerland), Houston (USA), Seoul (South Korea) and Christchurch (New Zealand) - the city we will explore in this in-depth interview. Each of these global hubs will play a key role in driving innovation and sustainability in the sector, fostering a collaborative environment between research institutions and industry leaders. The SCN aims to provide a platform for knowledge sharing between the public and private sectors and cross-border cooperation for the success of current and future projects.

With the global space economy expected to be worth $1.8 trillion by 2035, innovation, technology and space exploration have become attractive avenues offering huge opportunities for event destinations and sustainable goals in a circular economy. Christchurch will play an integral, legacy role as the South Pacific hub for events supporting the space community, hosting conferences, summits, and meetings that bring together industry leaders, researchers, and policymakers. In this interview with Emma Renowden, ChristchurchNZ Aerospace Cluster Lead and SCN Advisory Committee Member, and Claire Hector-Taylor (right), ChristchurchNZ BDM International and SCN Cities Committee Co-Chair, we explore the various edges and angles of this international collaboration with an eye on New Zealand space.

In 2019, the first aerospace meetings were held under the name ‘Christchurch Aerospace Centre’, which was later renamed ‘Aerospace Christchurch’. The city was the first to have a formally established aerospace organisation and aspires to be a global centre for New Zealand's aerospace industry. How did the conditions come together for this to happen?

Emma Renowden (left): In which way did this strategy play out between the geographical and business conditions, and the built infrastructure? Emma The establishment of Aerospace Christchurch in 2019 marked a significant milestone for the city's aerospace ambitions. This achievement was facilitated by several key factors. Christchurch's robust hi-tech manufacturing sector, the second largest in New Zealand, provided a solid foundation for the aerospace industry. Established businesses such as Tait Communications, Dynamic Controls and Hamilton Jet pioneered the way, building a reputation for precision manufacturing and export quality technology.

The University of Canterbury's deep pool of engineering talent played a crucial role in supplying the necessary expertise and an ongoing pipeline of talent. Christchurch was already home to the presence of pioneering businesses with a vested interest in developing the sector such as Kea Aerospace, led by Founder and CEO Mark Rocket who has been a driving force in building a community of aerospace businesses via Aerospace New Zealand industry group.

The city’s collaborative approach to working meant the sector was able to grow quickly with partnership and an ability to work across private business, regulatory bodies and government organisations. These factors, combined with the region’s natural advantages, such as clear open skies and favourable orbits for testing, further bolstered its aerospace potential and ability to attract more talent and businesses. Together, these elements created the perfect conditions for Christchurch to emerge as a global centre for New Zealand's aerospace industry.

With a current global value of 360 billion dollars and estimates of a 2.7 trillion-dollar industry by 2050, the future aerospace and transport sector offers great opportunities for Christchurch and the Canterbury region. How can space events and scientific conferences contribute to these goals? What opportunities could this economic boost provide for the local industry, entrepreneurs and new start-ups?

Claire Hector-Taylor: Hosting international business events in Christchurch brings wide-ranging benefits to the city. As well as the obvious economic benefits, hosting global experts in domains of space means our sector is not only learning and sharing knowledge with other experts from around the world, but building valuable relationships.

Christchurch boasts a strong start-up ecosystem, with businesses already collaborating on a global scale. However, the value of meeting and sharing knowledge through face-to-face conferences should never be underestimated. The partnerships that are created through business events are invaluable – especially for a small nation in the heart of the Pacific.

Being part of the SCN presents a unique opportunity to attract international aerospace business and investment. These events will not only strengthen global ties but also showcase Christchurch's aerospace sector to the world – one that drives innovation, advances humanity, and positively impacts our people and place.

The Tāwhaki National Aerospace Centre is an innovative aerospace venture led by indigenous companies that covers testing, flight and launch capabilities. On the other hand, there are three world-class universities with a strong record of academic research, with the University of Canterbury leading the way in the field of engineering. Can the Space Cities Network inspire the next generation of aerospace professionals in Christchurch?

ER: The Tāwhaki National Aerospace Centre, an innovative venture led by the indigenous people of Kaitorete, alongside the three world-class universities your mentioned, positions, indeed, the city as a hub for aerospace excellence and career development opportunities. The SCN has the potential to inspire the next generation of aerospace professionals in Christchurch by fostering a robust pipeline of talent that is globally connected through industry, research and events. To ensure the sector's growth and continuous innovation, it is crucial to attract young individuals to careers in science, research, engineering, and mathematics, as well as essential skills such as project management, communication, planning, and teamwork.

A key focus is on mentoring and supporting young people, but particularly underrepresented groups, including Māori, Pasifika, and women, into these career paths. This diversity enhances decision-making and drives innovative solutions. Christchurch's aerospace sector supports this through various initiatives, including bespoke educational programmes, internships, mentoring, and school visits, thereby integrating space exploration with employability, social inclusion, and academic training.

The national Aerospace Pathways group is run in Christchurch and is a collaboration across education and industry institutions to build, inspire and pathway young people across New Zealand into future focused careers in the aerospace sector.
 

“The proximity to Antarctica allows for (…) rapid testing and development of technology in extreme environments or advancements in remote sensing, satellite communications, and environmental monitoring.”

Christchurch suffered an earthquake 13 years ago, which destroyed around 90% of the central business district. This required a complete rethink of urban management on the part of the political authorities – not just in rebuilding the city, but in revisiting a circular environment with an eye on people's lives and a much smaller carbon footprint. How can investing in the aerospace industry alongside innovation in technology and R&D lead to a more cohesive sustainable ecosystem for the city?

ER: Investing in the aerospace industry, coupled with advancements in technology and R&D, can significantly contribute to a more cohesive and sustainable ecosystem for Christchurch. The city's post-earthquake rebuilding efforts have already demonstrated a commitment to innovative urban management and environmental sustainability. By integrating aerospace initiatives, Christchurch can further enhance these efforts.

The aerospace industry drives technological innovation, which can be leveraged to develop sustainable urban solutions. For instance, advancements in aerospace technology can lead to more efficient energy systems, improved waste management, and smarter infrastructure. Additionally, the focus on R&D fosters a culture of continuous improvement and adaptation, ensuring that the city remains at the forefront of sustainable practices. Companies like Kea Aerospace and Dawn Aerospace are already leading the way with their technologies – solar powered aircraft and green propulsion systems.

Alongside this, the aerospace sector can create high-quality jobs and educational opportunities, attracting a diverse talent pool and promoting social inclusion. This not only strengthens the local economy, but also ensures the benefits of innovation are widely shared.

In terms of driving sustainability in space, Christchurch can lead by example through its commitment to environmentally responsible practices. This includes developing technologies that minimise the environmental impact of space exploration, such as reusable launch systems and sustainable satellite operations. By prioritising sustainability both on Earth and in Space, Christchurch can position itself as a global leader in creating a greener future.

Christchurch is also New Zealand's gateway to Antarctica, one of only five in the world, supporting scientific programs and international research to meet the challenges posed by climate change, food production and natural sciences. Given that Christchurch is the only city with this proximity within the network, do you think this could bring added value in terms of seizing business events and scientific synergies?

ER: Christchurch's unique position as New Zealand's gateway to Antarctica presents significant opportunities for the aerospace community. This strategic location supports a range of scientific programmes, international research efforts and is the gateway to Antarctica for the US, Italian, Korean, China, German and French programmes.

The proximity to Antarctica allows for unique collaborations and synergies between aerospace and polar research, fostering innovation and knowledge exchange, for example rapid testing and development of technology in extreme environments or advancements in remote sensing, satellite communications, and environmental monitoring.

Christchurch's exclusive proximity within the network can bring added value in capturing business events and scientific synergies. Hosting international conferences, workshops, and collaborative projects can attract global experts and stakeholders to the city, boosting its profile, economic growth and opportunities for collaboration. This convergence of expertise and resources can further solidify Christchurch's role as a leader in both aerospace and Antarctic research, driving sustainable development and technological progress.

Sarah Fleming - SFA Connect, Gerald Howard - Lausanne, Claire Hector-Taylor - ChristchurchNZ, Daniel Palomo - Houston, Jin Park - Seoul

What collaborative projects has Christchurch run with other cities? Can you reveal any events or meetings co-organised by Christchurch that have come about through this network?

CHT: Christchurch is open to partnering with other cities on projects that align with shared goals and have mutual benefits. We are currently working with another city in New Zealand to bring a particular conference to both our cities on a rotation basis over the coming few years. Having a multi-year agreement brings benefits for associations – with certainty on location and venue, consistency and quality of themes and in programming, increased partnership and sponsor opportunities, and more.

The SCN represents the first time Christchurch has been involved from a business events perspective with other cities around the world. It’s exciting to have a shared vision to achieve the growth and development of a particular sector – and utilising the business events sector to help enable this.

We are currently in discussions with two separate international organisations to host two different space-related business events here – both are embargoed as we work through the bid process – as a direct result of being involved in this Network. The Network is very young, having been launched at ICCA Congress in November 2024, so we envisage many more opportunities to bid for and host space-related events in Christchurch over the coming years.
 

“The University of Canterbury's deep pool of engineering talent played a crucial role in supplying the necessary expertise and an ongoing pipeline of talent”

PCMA's Convening Leaders 2025 highlighted the SCN as an innovative model for cross-border collaboration. How did the forum provide opportunities to engage with peers from other member cities? How do these exchanges strengthen the network's future projects?

CHT: As the SCN cities are located all around the globe, we do not often meet in person. When the chance arises where both scientific and business events committee members are present, it is a great opportunity to build our relationships and have discussions around shared vision and objectives. It is important to have in person conversations to really understand the focus areas of each city and understand the future possibilities for the Network.

PCMA Convening Leaders in Houston provided an excellent platform to connect, network, and share information on the Network in two panel sessions that were in the conference programme – one of which included Mark Rocket from Christchurch – Committee President of Aerospace New Zealand and CEO of Kea Aerospace. The value of having both formal sessions in the programme where others could come along and hear about our alliance, as well as impromptu in-person conversations, is really valuable for us.

Looking ahead, how do you see Christchurch, with its rich legacy and future-focused innovation ecosystems, contributing to the long-term vision of the SCN? What opportunities do you see for the city to both lead and learn from its fellow member cities?

CHT: The Network cities are diverse in size, geographic location, focus areas, systems of government, and many other aspects. Despite these differences, each city is a valuable member, contributing unique strengths and opportunities to the collaboration.

Christchurch, along with New Zealand, boasts a burgeoning aerospace sector. This sector is dedicated to delivering aerospace solutions that advance humanity and positively impact both people and the environment. As a city, Christchurch is committed to promoting aerospace for good, enhancing our global reputation, and attracting investment, talent, and business. The SCN plays a crucial role in achieving these goals.