KiwiSpace Foundation

KiwiSpace is a New Zealand-based initiative connecting people in Aotearoa with space through exploration, education and international collaboration. Grounded in a distinctly Kiwi perspective, it aims to inspire curiosity, make big ideas tangible and bring global connections back to local communities. Its projects have linked classroom learning with hands-on experiences, including a Waikato balloon flight, a simulated Mars expedition in Utah and the New Zealand Rocketry Challenge, where young people designed, built and launched rockets carrying payloads.

KiwiSpace also created Space Seeds, an educational experiment connecting New Zealand learners with plant research aboard the International Space Station through JAXA and the Kibo-ABC programme. Its community activities have included SpaceUp, meetups and conversations involving astronauts, engineers, educators and space enthusiasts. The initiative has also participated in international forums and education programmes, while maintaining connections with New Zealand’s astrobiology community. Presented as the KiwiSpace Foundation in Aotearoa, it shares stories, photographs and films from its projects and history, while remaining open to future explorations and opportunities to represent New Zealand in the wider space conversation.