New Zealand Rocketry Association


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 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, for both single stage and multistage/cluster rockets. Every record, as of October 2023, is listed below:
Motor ClassMotor:Name of Holder:Date:Altitude:
AA8-3Tom, Antoni & Emilia Mackenzie14 June 2020
BB6-6Tom, Antoni & Emilia Mackenzie6 February 2021
CC12-6Oliver Bergquist19 December 2021
DD24-TJack Davies1 December 2013
EE12Jack Davies31 May 2014
FF24WJack Davies9 March 2014
GG80TIan Parker & Dave Stephens7 May 2022
HH268RJim Hefkey6 May 2012
II391SNKelvin McVinnie9 January 2022
JJ510Joel Schiff3 May 2014
KK480Joel Schiff & Martin Aspell7 April 2013
LL546Kim McVinnie9 February 2020
MM977SMKim McVinnie4 May 20246,618 m
NN1000WJoel Schiff & Martin Aspell20 February 2011

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.