
MAIEA
Publishes Landmark Report on Māori and Aerospace
Date: July 2025
The Māori Aerospace Collective (MAIEA) is proud to announce the release of our first major report:
“Te Puawananga: Māori Aims, Aspirations, Opportunities, Issues and Concerns in Aerospace.”
This report brings together the voices of Māori researchers, iwi, hapū, and communities who have contributed through a series of wānanga, interviews and survey. It highlights the aspirations of Māori to be active leaders in the aerospace sector, while also addressing issues of sovereignty, equity, and sustainability.
Key themes in the report include:
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Envisioning a distinctly Māori aerospace future.
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Building pathways for Māori in aerospace engineering, space medicine, astrobiology, and beyond.
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Ensuring Māori values guide how Aotearoa and the world engage in space exploration.
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Strengthening Indigenous collaboration at national and international levels.
The publication marks a significant milestone in creating space for Māori voices within the rapidly growing aerospace sector.
2024 Aerospace Summit Talks
2024 Panel – Aerospace Summit, Christchurch
At the 2024 Aerospace Summit in Christchurch, Associate Professor Pauline Harris represented the Māori Aerospace Collective (MAIEA) on a panel exploring the future of aerospace in Aotearoa.
Chaired by Dr Sarah Kessans and panelists Sarah Ramsay, CEO of United Machinists
Murielle Baker, Senior Communications Manager at Rocket Lab
Together, the panel shared insights into the opportunities and challenges facing the sector, and highlighted the importance of collaboration, innovation, and Indigenous perspectives in shaping the aerospace future of Aotearoa.
We thank the organisers of the Aerospace Summit for bringing together such a diverse and inspiring group of voices.

2023 Māori Working Group on Aerospace now MAIEA attends Aerospace Summit
MAIEA proudly attended the Aerospace Summit in Christchurch, representing our collective on the national stage. Our presence reflects the growing recognition of Māori leadership and perspectives in aerospace, and signals an exciting new chapter as we strengthen pathways for Māori across aerospace research, innovation, and industry.
We look forward to continuing this journey, building on the strong foundations set by the Māori Working Group, and working alongside partners across Aotearoa and the globe.
