By leveraging New Zealand’s research strengths in medicine, surgery, physiology, biotechnology and bioengineering, pioneering space companies, and advanced space infrastructure, this network aims to foster innovative research, unlock new opportunities, and elevate New Zealand’s position as a major contributor in this emerging field.

Focus and collaborative approach
The network will focus on addressing the unique health challenges of long-term space occupancy while also exploring the benefits these innovations can offer for terrestrial health. The same network aims to coordinate strategic research and foster deep-tech development in space health, seeding new companies that will contribute to the growth and impact of New Zealand’s space sector.

A key commitment of the SHRN is to engage with Māori partners, ensuring their voices help shape the network’s development. Collaboration and engagement are central to the network’s mission, positioning the SHRN to make meaningful contributions to space health and the broader NZ space sector.

Network activities
The Network aims to support the growth and impact of New Zealand’s contribution to the space health field by:
• Coordinating space health initiatives nationwide, to foster synergy and collaboration.
• Integrating Māori perspectives into space health research through a newly established framework.
• Creating pathways for New Zealand students to be involved in the global space industry.
• Engaging with both local and international researchers and commercial stakeholders.
• Facilitating coordinated interactions with major international space research entities (e.g. NASA and ESA).
• Fostering international collaborations and attracting funding for space health project.

Space at the University of Auckland

The Space Health Research Network is part of the University of Auckland Space Groups as seen below: