30 August 2023
Ref: DOIA 2324-0227
Dear Valerie Morse,
Thank you for your email of 2 August 2023 to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and
Employment (MBIE) requesting the following information under the Official Information Act
1982 (the Act):
“Please provide all information about MBIE's involvement in this year's Aerospace
summit in Ōtautahi/Christchurch including -All MBIE funding -Number and positions of
staff who will be attending -Involvement of MBIE in development of the programme”
As outlined in the recently released Aotearoa New Zealand Aerospace Strategy, a range of
government agencies have roles and responsibilities in the aerospace sector. Relevant teams
in MBIE include the New Zealand Space Agency, Innovative Partnerships and Tourism.
While the Aerospace Summit operates independently of government, MBIE has provided
support to the organisers. MBIE has identified and made introductions to domestic and
international subject matter experts and has also made stakeholders aware of the Aerospace
Summit as part of normal business engagements. The programme and activities for the
Aerospace Summit are intended to cater to a wide audience, including domestic and
international government representatives. MBIE officials will be attending the Aerospace
Summit, and the following officials have accepted invitations to speak at the event:
• Nic Blakeley, Deputy Secretary Labour, Science and Enterprise
• Andrew Johnson, Manager Space Policy and Sector Development
• Dr Jess Dallas, Principal Policy Advisor, Space Policy and Sector Development
• Tim Searle, Principal Policy Advisor, Space Policy and Sector Development.
Further decisions about officials’ attendance at the Summit have not yet been finalised. MBIE
has provided a financial sponsorship contribution toward the costs of the Aerospace Summit in
2023. MBIE’s contribution is $20,000.
I trust you find this information helpful. You have the right to seek an investigation and review
by the Ombudsman of my decision on this request, in accordance with section 28(3) of the
OIA. The relevant details can be found at
: www.ombudsman.parliament.nz. Yours sincerely,
Joe McKay
Director Innovative Partnerships
Labour, Science and Enterprise, MBIE
