The New Zealand Rocketry Association is a model rocketry organisation based in Auckland, New Zealand. The NZRA holds launches and meetings bi-monthly at its Taupiri launch site, an hour south of Auckland, and has an annual launch day. Launch clearance from the Civil Aviation Authority is required for all launches, to ensure there are no aircraft flying through the area. On 19 April 2025, a team of NZRA members led by Ethan Kosoof launched Meraki II from Mt. White Station, near Arthur's Pass. The two-stage (O7800 to N3100) rocket travelled up to Mach 5.6 and reached 121.6 km (75.6 mi), thereby crossing the Kármán line — making it the first non-American amateur rocket to reach space.
Altitude records The NZRA holds altitude records within New Zealand for each class of rocket motor, from A-N (except for M), for both single stage and multistage/cluster rockets. Every record, as of October 2023, is listed below:
Currently highest altitude record within New Zealand was set by Martin Aspell and Joel Schiff, of 10,275 m (33,711 ft), on 20 February 2011, with a N1000W motor. The previous highest record was set by Phil Vukovich, of 8,378 m (27,487 ft), on 6 September 2008.
References
External links NZRA website