Aerospace in Christchurch
About this event
In collaboration with Aerospace New Zealand, join Hardware Meetup NZ on 27th November 2025 for a relaxed evening at EPIC Innovation in Christchurch, where we will showcase several companies leading the way in Aerospace.
Aerospace New Zealand is an industry body that promotes the interests of our nation. They encompass broad aspects of aerospace: aviation, space flight, rocketry, manufacturing, engineering, geospatial mapping, data analytics, education, training, and services. Aerospace New Zealand works with individuals and organisations that want to grow the economic wealth and aerospace capability in New Zealand, as well as organising the annual New Zealand Aerospace Summit.
This event will feature a fireside chat with founders and builders, who are building interesting products from Aotearoa. Hear more about their products, their journey so far and their dreams for the future.
Our events are designed to bring together a wide range of the community, from startup founders and execs, to subject-matter experts, investors, students and general startup enthusiasts from all around NZ.
A live stream will also be available for those who cannot attend in person - you can register to receive the link prior to the event start time.
Date and time
Thursday, November 27
5:30pm - 8:30pm
Venue: EPIC Innovation, 76/106 Manchester St, Christchurch Central, Christchurch 8011.
Food: pizza, snacks and non-alcoholic drinks
Get your tickets here
Speakers
Speaker 1: Mark Rocket from Kea Aerospace
Internet and aerospace entrepreneur, Mark Rocket founded two internet companies in 1998 and sold one of those ventures to Telecom Yellow Pages in 2006. Mark was the first New Zealander to reach the Kármán line on his 2025 Blue Origin spaceflight and was the seed investor and co-Director of RocketLab from 2007 to 2011. In 2018 Mark started up Kea Aerospace to develop commercial aerospace projects and is committed to growing the New Zealand aerospace ecosystem.
Speaker 2: John Mann from Tāwhaki Joint Venture
John Mann is a Project Manager at Tāwhaki Joint Venture, managing the Tawhaki National Aerospace Centre on Kaitorete, an aerospace test facility an hour South of Christchurch. He is an aerospace engineer with over a decade experience in design, test and management for industrial research and commercial R&D in both the UK and NZ.
His mission is to support the hardware tech and aerospace sectors in Aotearoa develop and grow, solving some of our key challenges and using technology to enrich people and communities.”
Speaker 3: TBA FROM TBA
MC: Mikayla Stokes
Mikayla Stokes is a mechatronics engineer at Crown Equipment making autonomous forklifts. She loves using tech to make cool wearable things like a light-up dress or 3D printed earrings. She's passionate about creating an inclusive community where any kid can pursue a future in STEM, and is the two time overall female winner of the BrightSparks inventing competition.
Event Sponsors
GPC Electronics
GPC Electronics, is Australasia's largest contract electronics manufacturers, specializing in a wide range of sectors including Industrial Controls, Power Electronics, Aerospace, Medical and Defence. GPC Electronics provides comprehensive services from design and prototyping to full-scale production and testing, leveraging advanced technologies to deliver high-quality electronic solutions globally.
Invenio
Invenio empowers manufacturing businesses with cutting-edge design-to-production solutions, including SOLIDWORKS, 3DEXPERIENCE, CATIA, and advanced technologies like AI-driven automation, CAD to ERP integration, and industrial 3D printing. We provide expert guidance to streamline workflows, reduce costs, and accelerate product development, ensuring smarter, more efficient manufacturing.
Christchurch NZ
ChristchurchNZ is Ōtautahi Christchurch’s sustainable economic development agency. We lead initiatives to grow the city’s economy for the benefit of all residents, with a focus on high-value sectors including aerospace, healthtech, cleantech and food, fibre and agritech. Through our Innovation and Business Growth team, we support the development of innovation ecosystems, facilitate investment and connect businesses with research, talent and infrastructure. ChristchurchNZ has been a catalyst for the Canterbury Aerospace Sector and leads the implementation of the Waitaha Canterbury Aerospace Strategy, which aims to position the region as a global leader in aerospace innovation by 2035.
Lune Digital
Lune Digital is an embedded systems expert specialising in high-tech, IoT and wearable solutions. For the past 10 years, Lune Digital has been assisting visionary companies with hardware design, electronics engineering, embedded software development, and technical advice. They excel in optimizing battery life, boosting power efficiency, enhancing wireless connectivity, and creating scalable, future-proof systems.
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Event Alignment: This is an independently run initiative and is not aligned with any one organisation.
Media Permissions: By attending this public event, you grant Hardware Meetup NZ permission to photograph, video record, and audio record the event and to use these photos, videos and recordings in our website and Social Media Channels.
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