Liftoff for a career with space agency

For some Southland kids, the dream of a career in the New Zealand space industry could be a reality.

Workshop providers OMGTech! have teamed up with Rocket Lab and the New Zealand Space Agency to let children know it is possible for them be a part of an exciting future.

From today, OMGTech! will livestream to primary and intermediate schools across the country to inspire and engage children.

OMGTech! co-founder and general manager Zoe Timbrell said it was especially important that the company took everyone on the space industry journey.

‘‘Especially for our Ma¯ori tamariki and their Pasifika friends . . . with nothing more than the stars to guide them, they would set sail across the blue ocean.

‘‘Journeying into the great unknown is in their DNA and all we want to do is remind them of that,’’ she said.

OMGTech! is a charitable organisation that works to give all Kiwi children access to the technologies that will shape the future.

‘‘Technology isn’t always accessible for children to experiment, but OMGTech! is on a mission to change this to ensure that demographics doesn’t have to play a part in their future opportunities with technology.’’

The event will be divided into two parts, the first being a series of inspirational talks from the country’s leading space entrepreneurs and technologists, and the second is made up of hands-on activities demonstrated by a select group of kids and live streamed so classrooms can follow along and build their own space-focused technology.

Rocket Lab founder Peter Beck grew up in Invercargill, and during his company’s launch of test rockets and satellites earlier this year, they were monitored by Venture Southland.