South Canterbury’s aerospace capability will be showcased to national and international industry leaders this October, with the launch of a new Capability Prospectus at the New Zealand Aerospace Summit in Christchurch.
Developed by Venture Timaru in partnership with the South Canterbury Aerospace Strategy Group, the prospectus maps the capability already available across the region and brings together businesses participating in aerospace and related activity, alongside those with capabilities that could support future growth.
Venture Timaru Chief Executive Nigel Davenport says this collaborative approach is an important part of South Canterbury’s proposition.
“What we have seen through the development of this group is a genuine commitment from businesses to work together and understand how their capabilities can complement each other. That is a strength we see across our wider business community, and it is particularly relevant to an industry like aerospace, where collaboration across different areas of expertise is so important.
“Having the Capability Prospectus ready for the Summit is a significant step. It gives us something tangible to put in front of the industry and, importantly, it gives businesses a platform to showcase the work they are already doing and the capability they can bring to future opportunities.”
The prospectus includes examples of businesses already contributing to aerospace and related fields. Glentanner Airport and Air Safaris provide aviation and testing environments, while MachineCraft has recently contributed precision-engineered components to space research and development through its work with Asteria Engineering. ProVision is applying drone and software technologies across conservation and agriculture, while SPS Automation is developing innovative UAV and autonomous systems.
The prospectus also supports South Canterbury’s place within the wider Waitaha Canterbury Aerospace Strategy, ensuring the district’s capability is represented as part of a coordinated regional approach to the sector.
South Canterbury’s connection to the regional strategy was strengthened last year when Nigel Davenport was invited to join the Waitaha Canterbury Aerospace Strategy Leadership Group, giving the district a voice in conversations shaping the region’s aerospace future.
Venture Timaru Business Development Lead Tania Stoddart will attend the Summit on 1–2 October as the key representative for the South Canterbury Aerospace Strategy Group. Based at the ChristchurchNZ exhibition site, she will showcase the district’s capability and promote the prospectus, while also attending focus sessions and keynote presentations from industry leaders.
Tania says, “the Summit is about understanding where the industry is heading, building relationships and identifying where South Canterbury can add value.”
“A big part of my role at the Summit is listening and understanding what will drive the future success of aerospace, and where South Canterbury can add value,” says Stoddart.
“Building relationships is equally important. We want to connect with industry leaders, understand their needs and identify opportunities that align with the capabilities of businesses in our region. My role is to bring those insights back and help create connections that can lead to new opportunities.”
The strength of the group is in bringing together these different areas of specialist capability, creating opportunities for businesses to contribute to different parts of an aerospace innovation where there is a good fit.
“Our businesses are strong individually, but connecting their capabilities creates even greater opportunities. By understanding each business’s strengths, we can collaborate across different areas of aerospace innovation,” says Tania.
The New Zealand Aerospace Summit brings together aerospace companies, researchers, investors, government agencies, manufacturers and innovators from across the sector. For South Canterbury, it is an opportunity to put existing capability in front of the industry, build relationships and gain a clearer understanding of the opportunities and connections that will be needed to support the sector’s future.
Download the South Canterbury Capability Prospectus
