With enough investment, Christchurch could become the country's space hub within five years and offer thousands of aerospace-related jobs.
That's according to a new government-commissioned report suggesting the city is the ideal spot for developing, testing and launching space equipment, thanks to factors like its climate and current facilities.
Christchurch Aerospace Centre - a group of about 200 industry members - have been working with stakeholders like the University of Canterbury, the Space Agency and the Christchurch City Council's tourism arm, ChristchurchNZ, to carve out a future for space tech in the city.
The group approached MBIE for support, and MBIE commissioned a report to provide them with a five-year strategy that was published this week.
The Aerospace Centre's chairman, Mark Rocket, said it showed the city had all the essential elements for success in the aerospace industry, but it also indicated the need to move quickly.
"Over the next few years we definitely want to be pushing hard to attract businesses to operate from Christchurch - both start-ups and existing companies. We'd like to see dozens of companies emerge here in Canterbury and ultimately have thousands of jobs," he said.
Among the report suggestions is the construction of testing facilities near Christchurch, the establishment of an Aerospace Advisory Group, and financial incentives for new aerospace businesses.
It also sets the goal of attracting 20 aerospace companies to the city by 2025, who might be researching, building or testing equipment like space launch vehicles, drones, satellites and manned or unmanned spacecraft.
For ChristchurchNZ spokesman Richard Sanford it could be an opportunity to ramp up the city's sluggish post-quake economy.
"It's not going to happen overnight but it could be a significant impact on the direction of a lot of businesses and industries already here, including talent, skills and who we attract here too. So it's an opportunity for the city to play a bigger role on the domestic stage and a bigger role on the international stage," he said.
MBIE's general manager of science innovation and international, Peter Crabtree, who also heads the Space Agency, agreed it could be a good point in the city's rebuild for an economic boost.
But the report comes about four years after Rocketlab decided to ditch a proposed rocket launch site in Canterbury, for the better positioned Mahia peninsula in the North Island.
Dr Crabtree said Christchurch was not the only place where people had their eyes on the stars.
"You've got a large concentration of activity in Auckland as well, you've got Rocketlab's manufacturing facilities there and a lot of other related businesses. In Wellington, you also see businesses that are operating as part of global value chains there, and definitely research interests in all of those centres, and beyond," he said.
But Mr Rocket said with all the stakeholders aligned, it was just a matter of carrying on the momentum that had built over the past two years.
