A new partnership between New Zealand and NASA has launched five innovative projects aimed at enhancing Earth observation capabilities and responding to environmental challenges across the Indo-Pacific region.
Announced by Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Dr Shane Reti and Space Minister Judith Collins, the collaboration is backed by a $5.6 million investment from the New Zealand Government, alongside US$1.9m of in-kind support from NASA. The projects bring together leading researchers from both countries to co-develop tools using satellite data and remote sensing technologies.
The joint research initiatives will focus on:
- Monitoring wildfire and drought conditions in real-time.
- Tracking changes in vegetation and geothermal ecosystems.
- Measuring freshwater flows and terrestrial water cycles.
- Improving forest mapping using machine learning.
- Advancing high-altitude coastal sensing with uncrewed aircraft.
These projects not only represent a shared commitment to scientific excellence and innovation, but also demonstrate the strategic importance of space collaboration in addressing regional and global priorities such as climate resilience, sustainable land use, and natural disaster response.
The NZUS Council welcomes this new phase of cooperation and looks forward to the opportunities it creates for deepening research, trade, and technological exchange between the two countries.