Earlier this year, several of our students and their whānau were deeply affected by the sudden collapse of Actura Space School, just two weeks before they were due to travel to Houston. The liquidation of Actura crushed the dreams of many families across New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, and Taiwan.

In the face of this disappointment, our students were uplifted by a truly tangible display of kindness. Jetstar reached out to Marsden and generously offered to fly the affected students to Auckland for a day, after Rocket Lab extended an invitation to tour their rocket assembly facility in Mt Wellington. Eight students from Years 8 to 12 took up this incredible opportunity, flying to Auckland early on 14 August. The day was made even more special with Jetstar treating the students to a special PA announcement, refreshments, and even a cockpit visit upon landing.

Once in Auckland, the students were shuttled to Rocket Lab, where they enjoyed a fascinating tour of the company's groundbreaking technology. Founded by Sir Peter Beck from Invercargill in the early 2000's, Rocket Lab has achieved remarkable success, launching 52 rockets through their lightweight and cost-effective ‘Electron’ rockets. A key highlight of the tour was seeing Rocket Lab's nine 3D printed engines, which power their rockets. The students also learned about the company's next project, the ‘Neutron’ rocket, which aims to reduce space waste by reusing rocket parts. The visit left a lasting impression, with the students inspired by the idea that passion can drive great achievements.

With time to spare before their return flight, the group visited the Auckland War Memorial Museum. They were particularly impressed by the World War I and II exhibits, enhanced by Weta Workshop’s craftsmanship, and the beautifully curated taonga from Aotearoa’s rich history.

The day was an unforgettable experience, made possible by the generosity and thoughtfulness of those who worked to create a positive and meaningful opportunity for our students.