News and releases

Today the Government signed the ‘Agreement between the Government of the State of Israel and the Government of New Zealand on Cooperation in Technological Innovation, Research and Development’ with Israeli Ambassador HE Dr. Itzhak Gerberg in Wellington.

New Zealand researchers and engineers will join NASA’s Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) mission after the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment signed a science partnership agreement with the world’s biggest space agency in Washington DC last year.

Today the Government announced it has signed a memorandum of understanding with urban air mobility company Wisk (the new trading name of Zephyr Airworks) to support a world-first passenger transport trial of the company’s all-electric, self-flying air taxi ‘Cora’ in Canterbury.

A short documentary by Shirley Horrocks focusing on plastics in New Zealand – the issue, facts and work being done to address and rethink our use of plastics.

The Government issued the Venture Capital Fund Policy Statement on the 19th December 2019. It outlines the high level requirements for investments from the new $300m venture capital fund and gives effect to the Venture Capital Fund Act which was assented to on the 13th December 2019.

The government has today announced $2 million in funding to support 31 projects across the country aimed at engaging more New Zealanders in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).

Six New Zealand research projects have received $500,000 each to fund the development of innovative space technologies including satellite control systems and ocean and coastal monitoring satellites.

New Zealand has joined its first official space mission as a country to combat climate change and the mission control centre will be located in New Zealand.