10516 (2025). Teanau Tuiono to the Minister for Space

10516 (2025). Teanau Tuiono to the Minister for Space: Further to WPQ 7062 Has Auckland University informed the Minister of any uses of its Space Centre while awaiting the handover of the Mission Control facility and if so what are those uses and if not why not?

Hon Judith Collins: As Minister of Space, I do not receive reporting from the University of Auckland on the activities of Te Pūnaha Ātea-Space Institute (TPA-SI). I am advised that the University’s reporting to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has covered TPA-SI’s outputs in a number of areas. These include education, hosting visits, and teaching courses, and engagement with local and international participants in the space industry. Specifically in relation to the MethaneSAT mission operations control centre (MOCC), I am advised that the University reports twice annually to MBIE and that this reporting has covered: • construction of the physical MOCC at the TPA-SI • recruitment of MOCC personnel (to ensure they have the required capability to support mission operations) • engagement with mission development activities and initiation of institutional planning for training and facility management • developing course offerings in a range of complementary capabilities (eg space/aerospace engineering) • undertaking outreach and networking to identify potential future space collaboration opportunities.