Aerospace - Opportunities: Nelson Tasman Businesses Leaning into the Future

On Wednesday 25 February, Nelson Regional Development Agency, in partnership with Aerospace New Zealand, Kea Aerospace and ChristchurchNZ, hosted;Aerospace - Opportunities at Mahitahi Colab, Nelson.

The room was full of business leaders, engineers, innovators, and forward-thinkers exploring what aerospace really means for Nelson Tasman - and more importantly, where the opportunity sits for our region.

Aerospace is no longer a niche sector reserved for launch pads and laboratories. It is a fast-growing, high-value industry intersecting with engineering, advanced manufacturing, agritech, food production, digital technology, and primary industries. The message was clear: this is practical, commercial, and already underway.

Emma Renowden (ChristchurchNZ / Aerospace New Zealand) outlined the scale and trajectory of New Zealand’s aerospace sector and why regions like Nelson Tasman are well placed to participate. The national direction is strong, coordinated, and ambitious - with clear supply-chain and collaboration opportunities emerging.

Mark Rocket (Kea Aerospace / Aerospace New Zealand) shared his journey - from early involvement with Rocket Lab to leading high-altitude, solar-powered aircraft technology through Kea Aerospace. His insight was direct: many businesses underestimate how accessible this sector is, and how transferable their existing capability can be.

Dave Froggatt from Aerial Surveys Nelson added a grounded, practical lens. With a career spanning photogrammetry, LiDAR, aerial mapping, and imagery across New Zealand and internationally, Dave demonstrated how advanced aerial data and sensor technology are already embedded in sectors such as forestry, infrastructure, land management, and environmental monitoring. Aerospace capability is not theoretical — it is operating here and now.

The evening was not a technical deep dive. It was a business-led conversation about diversification, resilience and future-proofing.

For Nelson Tasman, the opportunity is not to “become” something different - it is to recognise the capability already here and position it into future growth sectors.

Thank you to our speakers, partners and everyone who joined the discussion. The level of engagement in the room signals that our region is ready to lean into what’s next.

If you are interested in continuing the conversation or exploring how your business might connect into aerospace supply chains or partnerships, get in touch with NRDA.

The sector is moving. The question is how we position ourselves within it.