Sustainability within Aotearoa New Zealand's aerospace sector: current state and implications for the future

Aotearoa New Zealand's rapidly growing aerospace sector is still in its infancy, which presents us with the unique opportunity to incorporate sustainability as a key performance parameter from the outset. Through surveys and interviews with key stakeholder groups, we show that currently, the sector largely deprioritises environmental sustainability and compliance with Te Tiriti o Waitangi in favour of economic growth. Actors are not incentivised to consider any aspects of sustainability. While environmental concerns are acknowledged, they are often viewed as technical challenges to overcome by individual companies, rather than global systemic issues that require a collaborative approach. Moreover, the Government's role as a customer, investor and regulator creates a sustainability leadership vacuum, with no clear commitment to quantify or prioritise sustainability within the sector. The results highlight the need for a new approach to balance growth with genuine sustainable development principles using innovative governance models.Abbreviations: DPMC: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet; LCA: life cycle assessments; LCANZ: Life Cycle Association of New Zealand; LEO: low Earth orbit; MBIE: Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment; NASA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration; NZ: New Zealand; NZSA: New Zealand Space Agency: U.S.: United States (of America)