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 , 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: +Single Stage NZRA Altitude RecordsMotor ClassMotor:Name(s) of Holder(s):Date:Altitude:AA8-3Tom, Antoni & Emilia Mackenzie14 June 2020BB6-6Tom, Antoni & Emilia Mackenzie6 February 2021CC12-6Oliver Bergquist19 December 2021DD24-TJack Davies1 December 2013EE12Jack Davies31 May 2014FF24WJack Davies9 March 2014GG80TIan Parker & Dave Stephens7 May 2022HH268RJim Hefkey6 May 2012II391SNKelvin McVinnie9 January 2022JJ510Joel Schiff3 May 2014KK480Joel Schiff & Martin Aspell7 April 2013LL546Kim McVinnie9 February 2020MM977SMKim McVinnie4 May 20246,618 m (21,715 ft)NN1000WJoel Schiff & Martin Aspell20 February 2011 +Multistage/Cluster NZRA Altitude RecordsMotor Class:Motors:Name(s) of Holder(s):Date:Altitude:E3x D18-6Dean & Grayson Spittle10 January 2021II200W, G64WJack Davies3 May 2014NM1939W, 2x J800T, 2x K700WCraig Packard 20 February 2011ON2000W, 4x K700WCraig Packard 5 February 2012 Currently highest altitude record within New Zealand was set by Martin Aspell and Joel Schiff, of , on 20 February 2011, with a N1000W motor. The previous highest record was set by Phil Vukovich, of , on 6 September 2008.
References
External links NZRA website