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Although the aerospace industry is relatively new in New Zealand, it’s already a billion-dollar business.
ChristchurchNZ’s Business and Investment Attraction Manager Liz Eden says this is attractive from an investment point of view because when the industry grows, so do high value jobs across many industries.
The Aerospace sector relies on engineering talent but the supporting jobs in professional services and advanced manufacturing mean it is an exciting prospect for people a range of different skill sets.
Apart from bringing investment into the city, Eden also looks after the aerospace and future transport Supernode, an area of cluster development that supports innovation and collaboration in these high-tech industries.
One of Christchurch’s key industry players is Kea Aerospace, a company transforming aerial imaging with a solar-powered aircraft that will fly continuously for months in the stratosphere to collect frequent, high-resolution images.
“In the same way [New Zealand] is a gateway to the Antarctic, Christchurch will be a gateway to space,” says Kea Aerospace CEO Mark Rocket, “By 2030, Christchurch will be the home to hundreds of aerospace companies providing thousands of aerospace jobs.”
With four universities, Christchurch has a strong future talent pipeline. Canterbury University has an aerospace club, a drone centre, and a launch site at Birdlings Flat.
“ Being a student in a city with access to the coast has great benefits; within a 45 minute drive, UC students can be testing rockets,” says Eden.
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