Visa scheme brings space experts to NZ
Regional economies will be boosted by foreign entrepreneurs who aim to launch new technology businesses.
The Edmund Hillary Fellowship aims to accelerate New Zealand startups onto the global stage by granting foreign investors and entrepreneurs an exclusive short cut to residency.
Among them are consultants from the United States’ National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa), education technology specialists, and blockchain developers, who are packing their bags and moving to New Zealand to grow their industry here.
Of the first group, 24 foreign investors and entrepreneurs qualified for a Global Impact Visa, which grants them residency after 30 months in the country.
Edmund Hillary Fellowship chief executive Yoseph Ayele said several fellows were space industry veterans.
‘‘[They’re] individuals who have been deeply embedded in the space innovation community for a long time globally and who can be a good connection for the country as well,’’ he said.
It is understood two of the fellows are Nasa employees and international space consultants who have worked on several Nasa missions and commercial space development projects.
New Zealand has growing interests in space technology, giving the country access to an estimated US$323 billion (NZ$430 billion) global industry.
Last year the Government announced a $14.7 million funding package for the Centre for Space Science Technology in Otago to use space-based measurements to aid New Zealand industries and eventually build and launch the country’s first satellites.
Catherine MoreauHammond, of Auckland-based aerospace company Rocket Lab, said launch frequency was a key to providing access to space.
New Zealand’s innovative culture as well as its southern geographic position gave Rocket Lab an advantage in the space industry, she said.
Rockets launched from New Zealand could reach a wide range of orbital angles around the earth, and the country’s remoteness lent itself to frequent launch opportunities.
One of Rocket Lab’s biggest challenges was recruiting, especially for advanced manufacturing and trades roles.
Moreau-Hammond said that while many employees came from traditional aerospace organisations such as Nasa, many were recruited overseas from Formula One car racing, competitive sailing and software gaming industries.
Immigration New Zealand created the Global Impact Visa for up to 400 fellows over the next four years, averaging 50 visas per six-month intake of fellows.
Ayele said the intake number would increase over time.
‘‘We intentionally wanted to start low since it’s the first time we’re doing this.’’
Ayele said most fellows were undecided on where they would live, but a few were considering Northland. Events would be hosted in different regions.
The fellows would bring new perspectives, ‘‘people who can really accelerate innovation and global connection as well as investment in areas where there is much needed’’, he said.
The fellowship received 311 applications from 47 countries.
The six New Zealanders selected have been working in health, indigenous rights, new investment funding, sustainable fashion, human rights, and investment in business journalism.