Aerospace Sector Grows Amid Defence Ties Controversy

The New Zealand aerospace industry is gearing up for its annual conference, but it's not without controversy. Organisers of the New Zealand Aerospace Summit are bracing themselves for protests ahead of the event. Despite this, the sector has seen significant growth in recent years, with a multibillion-dollar market emerging.

Rocket Lab founder Sir Peter Beck highlighted the dual-use nature of technology developed by his company. He noted that GPS, originally designed for military use, is now used for a variety of civilian applications, including food delivery and social media tracking.

The sector has created a new export sector in New Zealand, with Tech Insider praising its growth potential. However, the increasing ties between the aerospace industry and defence forces have raised concerns among some protesters.