Kea Aerospace facility boosts Canterbury aerospace growth

New Kea Aerospace facility signals next phase for Canterbury’s $1B industry ambition

The opening of Kea Aerospace's new manufacturing and operations facility in Christchurch marks an important milestone in Canterbury's ambition to build a $1 billion aerospace sector by 2035.

The new 3,000m² facility will not only support the growth of Kea's high-altitude aircraft programme, but also provide space for other aerospace businesses to co-locate, collaborate and scale alongside one of the region's leading aerospace companies.

For ChristchurchNZ, the facility represents a tangible example of the Waitaha Canterbury Aerospace Strategy being put into action.

Building a connected aerospace ecosystem in Canterbury

A defining feature of the new facility is its role as a home for the wider aerospace sector.

Among the first organisations joining the site are Astrix Astronautics, which develops inflatable deployable spacecraft components, and Aerospace New Zealand, which will establish its headquarters at the facility.

The hub forms part of ChristchurchNZ's new Business Landing Pad initiative, designed to help innovative companies explore opportunities, establish a presence and accelerate growth in Ōtautahi Christchurch.

Aerospace: A key growth sector for Christchurch

Aerospace has been identified as one of Christchurch’s key growth sectors, with potential to contribute $1 billion annually to the regional economy and support more than 1,500 high-value jobs by 2035.

Developed by the Canterbury Aerospace Leadership Group, the Waitaha Canterbury Aerospace Strategy is focused on growing local capability, attracting investment and creating a connected aerospace ecosystem.

ChristchurchNZ Chief Executive and Canterbury Aerospace Leadership Group Chair Ali Adams says the new facility demonstrates how that vision is beginning to take shape.

"This is exactly the kind of infrastructure and collaboration envisaged in the strategy," Adams says.

Since the strategy was launched, the sector has already contributed more than 56 new high-value jobs across the region.

How the Kea hub supports growth across the sector

Mark Rocket, CEO of Kea Aerospace, President of Aerospace New Zealand and a member of the Canterbury Aerospace Leadership Group, says the facility will help strengthen both Kea and the wider aerospace community.

"For Kea, this gives us the infrastructure to build, test and operate our aircraft at a much greater scale, and to run increasingly advanced flight operations from a dedicated mission control environment," Rocket says.

"At the same time, by opening up this space to other aerospace companies, we're helping create the connections and capability that will support a stronger and more collaborative aerospace sector in Canterbury."

Key takeaways

• Kea Aerospace's new 3,000m² Christchurch facility is a major investment in Canterbury's aerospace sector, providing manufacturing, testing and operational capabilities to support the company's high-altitude aircraft programme at a larger scale.
• The facility serves as a collaborative aerospace hub, with organisations including Astrix Astronautics and Aerospace New Zealand co-locating on site to foster innovation, knowledge sharing and industry growth.
• The hub supports the Waitaha Canterbury Aerospace Strategy, a regional plan aimed at growing Canterbury's aerospace industry into a $1 billion sector by 2035 and creating more than 1,500 high-value jobs.
• Christchurch is positioning itself as a leading aerospace centre in New Zealand, with initiatives such as the Canterbury Aerospace Hub and ChristchurchNZ's Business Landing Pad attracting innovative companies and investment to the region.
• The facility demonstrates the importance of industry collaboration in aerospace growth, helping businesses build capability, strengthen connections and accelerate commercialisation within Canterbury's expanding aerospace ecosystem.