Welcome to the New Zealand Rocketry Association
NZRA members have one thing in common. They love rocket launches !
With the advent of Rocket Lab launching satellites into space from New Zealand we have seen a surge of interest from Kiwis keen to learn more about rocketry and educators wanting to inspire a new generation of students into maths, science and engineering.
What ever your interest in rocketry we are keen to help you in your journey.
UC Engineering Students Win 30,000 ft COTS Category of the Spaceport America Cup.
The team are members of the university club UC Aerospace, who successfully test flew their rocket at the NZRA launch site 25th May 2023. The team went on to compete at the Spaceport America Cup in New Mexico USA, where they placed first in their category and third overall.
Team members included NZRA members Jack Davies (Mentor), Alicia Smith (Team Lead), Grayson Spittle, James Graham, Jacob Saunders, Caleb Melchers, Pieter Leigh, Peter Lee, Ryan Nowacki, and Anisha Satya. Other members of the team include Henry Eden-Mann, Reuben Van-Dorp, Avalon Beker, James Mun, and Nghĩa (Max) Văng.
Team Lead Alicia Smith articulated the teams journey brilliantly in this interview with Jesse Mulligan at Radio New Zealand 8th August in this article "UC engineering students 'rocketing' to success.
The Nike Team double the power of their 7.4m 277kg Nike Smoke rocket boosting it to 20,000ft at the NZRA National Launch Day 2023.
Thanks to Dean Taylor for his excellent article and photos published here.
Full Size Nike Smoke Flown National Launch day February 2020
A team of dedicated NZRA members spent months constructed New Zealand's largest amateur rocket and flew it successfully on National Launch Day 2020. For 2021 the goal is to fly higher and faster !
Explore Rocketry
Build and fly large rockets
Three level certification
Consolidate your skills
Mentor beginners
Keen To Get Started?
Educational Opportunities
Intermediate School
Wonder Project
I wonder how we ignite creativity in young Kiwis?
The Wonder Project is Engineering New Zealand’s free programme for schools, designed to get young Kiwis excited about science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).
Evan's Carbon
Bucky Ball
Craig's Dark Matter Frenzy
Joy's Pink Thing
Peter's Remote Control Rocket Glider