Smartpay Holdings Limited (NZSX:SPY, ASX:SMP, “Smartpay” or “the Company”) has entered into a Scheme Implementation Agreement (“SIA”) under which Shift4 Payments, LLC (“Shift4”), or wholly-owned subsidiary, will acquire all of the shares in Smartpay for NZ$1.20 per share in cash, by means of a scheme of arrangement under Part 15 of the Companies Act 1993 (the “Scheme”). Shift4 is an American payment processing business. Highlights • Following a comprehensive process and a thorough consideration of strategic options, the Smartpay Board has assessed the Scheme as providing the most compelling value for shareholders. • Under the Scheme, Smartpay shareholders will receive a cash price of NZ$1.20 per share. • The proposed consideration of NZ$1.20 per share in cash represents: o o o o a 46.5% premium to Smartpay’s 90 trading day volume weighted average price to close of 20 June of NZ$0.82 per share 1 an implied equity value of A$274.1 million / NZ$296.4 million;2 an enterprise value of A$282.8 million / NZ$305.8 million;3 and an acquisition multiple of ~14.2x based on FY25 Normalised EBITDA pre-NZ investment of NZ$21.5 million. • Following the culmination of negotiations between the parties, Shift4 has stated that the offer price under the Scheme of NZ$1.20 per share represents its best and final price, in the absence of a Competing Proposal. • The Scheme is subject to the approval of Smartpay shareholders, consent under the New Zealand Overseas Investment Act 2005, approval of the New Zealand High Court, there being no Material Adverse Change and other customary conditions as detailed in the Scheme Implementation Agreement. The Scheme is not subject to any financing condition. • Smartpay shareholder approval will be sought at a special meeting of shareholders expected to be held in Q3 2025. Smartpay shareholders do not need to take any action at the current time. The Directors unanimously recommend that shareholders vote in favour of the Scheme, subject to the Scheme price being within or above the Independent Adviser’s valuation range for Smartpay shares and in the absence of a Superior Proposal. Subject to the same qualifications, the Directors intend to vote, or procure the voting of, all of the Smartpay shares that they hold or control in favour of the Scheme.3 The Scheme has support from Smartpay’s substantial shareholder Microequities Asset Management As at the date of this announcement, Microequities Asset Management Group Limited (ACN: 110 777 056) (“Microequities Asset Management”), its associated entities and funds of, or managed by, Microequities Asset Management or its associated entities hold or control 32,109,979 Smartpay shares (representing approximately 13.3% of the Smartpay shares on issue). Microequities Asset Management, its associated entities and any funds of, or managed by, Microequities Asset Management or its associated entities intend to vote all Smartpay shares held or controlled by them as at the time of the Scheme Meeting in favour of the Scheme (noting that Microequities Asset Management, its associated entities and any funds of, or managed by, Microequities Asset Management or 1Period of 90 days of trading on the NZX between February 10 2025 to 20 June 2025, excluding New Zealand public holidays 2Using an NZD:AUD FX rate of 0.9248 as at 19 June 2025 , net debt of NZ$9.5 million as at 31 March 2025, and ordinary shares outstanding of 241,943,464 (excluding 169,931 shares held as treasury stock) and Share Performance Rights of 5,024,541. 3In the case of Carlos Gil, the representative director of one of Smartpay’s largest shareholders, Microequities Asset Management, such intention to vote, or procure the voting of, all of the Smartpay shares that he holds or controls in favour of the Scheme does not extend to any shares held or controlled by Microequities Asset Management, its associated entities or any funds of, or managed by, Microequities Asset Management or its associated entities. See the separate statement included in this announcement in relation to Microequities Asset Management. its associated entities reserve the right to sell any Smartpay shares held or controlled by them at any time), in the absence of a Superior Proposal and subject to the Independent Adviser concluding (and continuing to conclude) that the Scheme price is within or above the Independent Adviser’s valuation range for the shares. Background to recommendation Following a comprehensive process to review expressions of interest and test a broad range of other potentially interested parties, the Smartpay Directors have assessed the Scheme as providing compelling, risk-adjusted value and, if the Scheme completes, certainty for shareholders. Chairman of Smartpay, Gregor Barclay, said, “Following the receipt of various unsolicited, non-binding expressions of interest to acquire the Company, the Board formed an Independent Committee comprising the Company’s independent directors, appointed external advisers and undertook a comprehensive process, with a view to exploring opportunities to enhance shareholder value.” “In considering the options, including the possibility of continuing to implement the Company’s growth strategy as a publicly listed company, the Directors have carefully considered the risks and rewards of the various alternatives. After a thorough assessment, the Directors believe that the Scheme currently represents the most compelling value for shareholders. Although the Directors remain confident in the future of Smartpay, the transaction will accelerate the realisation of value for Smartpay shareholders and mitigates the risks that would otherwise be involved in delivering Smartpay’s strategic plan over time. Accordingly, the Directors are pleased to unanimously recommend the transaction to shareholders, in the absence of a Superior Proposal and subject to the Independent Adviser Report concluding (and continuing to conclude) that the Scheme price is within or above the Independent Adviser’s valuation range for the shares.” Marty Pomeroy, CEO of Smartpay, said, “Smartpay remains focused on being the payments partner of choice, investing and adding scale to our existing Australian and New Zealand business. The proposed transaction, if completed, will see Shift4 partner with Smartpay to deliver an enhanced value proposition to our customers, employees and other stakeholders while delivering immediate and derisked value to our current shareholders.” Details of Scheme, including key conditions and exclusivity The Scheme is subject to the approval of Smartpay shareholders, consent under the New Zealand Overseas Investment Act 2005 and approval of the New Zealand High Court. It is also subject to other customary conditions, including the absence of a Material Adverse Change. The Scheme Implementation Agreement contains customary exclusivity provisions, including “no-shop”, “no-talk”, and “no due diligence” obligations. The latter two restrictions are subject to exclusions which permit the Smartpay Board to engage in relation to a competing proposal which is (or is reasonably likely to become) a Superior Proposal and where their fiduciary obligations require them to do so, subject to notifications being made to Shift4. Shift4 also has an opportunity to match any Superior Proposal. The Scheme Implementation Agreement also contains break fee and reverse break fee provisions (with each being approximately $2.96 million). A copy of the SIA is attached to this announcement. The Appendix to this announcement sets out a summary of the Scheme process and a summary of key certain key aspects of the SIA. Indicative timetable and next steps Smartpay will, with the approval of the Takeovers Panel, appoint an independent firm to prepare an Independent Adviser’s Report to assist shareholders to assess the merits of the Scheme. A Scheme Booklet containing information relating to the Scheme, the Independent Adviser’s Report, the reasons for the Directors’ unanimous recommendation, and meeting information is currently expected to be sent to Smartpay shareholders in Q3 2025. Smartpay shareholders will have the opportunity to vote on the Scheme at a meeting likely to be held in Q3 2025. If all the conditions are satisfied, the Scheme is expected to be implemented in Q4 2025. The Directors encourage shareholders to carefully consider the materials that will be sent to them and to exercise their right to vote at the special meeting that will be called to consider the Scheme. If shareholders have questions or if they propose to buy or sell Smartpay shares before receipt of those materials, they are encouraged to seek their own professional advice. Note that these dates are indicative and subject to change. Capitalised terms used but not otherwise defined in this announcement have the meanings given to them in the SIA.
About Shift4 Shift4 Payments, LLC is a subsidiary of Shift Payments, Inc., a global leader in financial technology, providing solutions for every aspect of the commerce ecosystem to deliver a seamless and streamlined payments experience to customers. Shift4 provides integrated payments solutions and commerce technology, processing over US$260bn in transactions each year in over 45 countries and servicing more than 200k customers across more than 100 payment methods. Shift4 partners with the leading brands in every industry across travel & hospitality, food & beverage, retail, sports & entertainment, casinos & online gaming, eCommerce and specialty sectors. Shift Payments, Inc. is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
Source: https://www.smartpayinvestor.com/stock-information/updates/
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Dr Shane Reti and Space Minister Judith Collins have today announced that in partnership with the US, the Government is investing $5.6 million to support five new joint NZ-NASA research projects in the field of Earth observation.
Researchers from New Zealand and NASA will work in partnership to tackle challenges such as disaster resilience and environmental management over the next three years.
“These projects will combine some of New Zealand’s best research talent with NASA’s world-leading scientific expertise and technology, driving innovation in space science and environmental monitoring,” Dr Reti says.
“Advancing Earth observation science helps us better understand our natural environment and enables us to manage our natural resources more effectively. For example, we can use satellite data and AI algorithms to accurately measure water movements, which helps manage freshwater and mitigate floods.
“These projects will create a more resilient economy and drive productivity in some of our most valuable export industries, such as forestry and agriculture. They will also grow our science and innovation sector by positioning us in global growth markets such as remote sensing,” Dr Reti says.
“The US is an indispensable space cooperation partner for New Zealand and our engagement with NASA is a key part of our bilateral relationship. These projects will further entrench our ongoing and positive relationship with NASA,” Ms Collins says.
“NASA will contribute Earth observation satellite data, access to advanced tools and technology, as well as approximately $1.9 million in direct staff time and expertise."
The projects are the second stage of the NZ–NASA research partnership through the Catalyst Fund, following an earlier round of feasibility studies. The selected projects span a range of high-impact areas:
Te Mātai Pū o te Kea – High Altitude Coastal Remote Sensing – advances remote-sensing technology using Kea’s Atmos high-altitude uncrewed aircraft.
Satellite Multi-Scale Hydrologic Framework for Te Hiku ō Te Ika Wairere Ngahere – develops tools to measure terrestrial water flux via satellite data.
Monitoring Vegetation–Geothermal Interactions from Space and Airborne Platforms – Integrates multiple Earth observation data streams to measure chemical and physical changes via vegetation.
Near Real-Time Fuel Moisture System for Wildfire and Drought – builds a predictive fire model using remote sensing.
Integrating Machine Learning and Remote Sensing for Dynamic Forest Mapping – develops predictive forest mapping using satellite imagery.
Further information about the projects can be found on the MBIE website: https://www.mbie.govt.nz/catalyst-strategic-new-zealand-nasa-joint-research-programme-in-earth-observation
Business Desk profiles BioLumic’s leap from R&D to its first commercial contract in the United States. Field-trialed on 6,000 Midwest plots, light-activated hybrid corn averaged a 7.3% yield lift, with some second-generation plots hitting 77%. Partnering with US seed producer Gro Alliance, BioLumic is now selling light-activated seed at scale while moving its Light Recipe platform into ryegrass for New Zealand dairy, backed by fresh funding from Fonterra’s Ki Tua Fund and AgriZeroNZ. Founder Jason Wargent explains the science: precise light signals toggle existing plant genes, accelerating trait gains without genetic modification and sidestepping regulatory delays. Commercial machines housing 3,600 UV LEDs can already treat 2.5 tons of seed per hour, positioning BioLumic to capture a slice of the USA’s vast corn-seed market and to launch enhanced ryegrass by 2028.
Read the full article from Business Desk here: https://businessdesk.co.nz/article/startups/biolumics-first-to-market-seed-treatment-tech-goes-commercial-in-usa
Air New Zealand is turning up the volume on long haul travel from October 2025 to March 2026, with more choice and comfort on key international routes.
Customers travelling to North America will have access to more than 34,000 additional seats, alongside a boost of 20,500 premium seats across the wider long haul network. The airline is also bringing up to seven newly retrofitted 787 Dreamliners into service by the end of the year, offering a completely refreshed inflight experience from nose to tail.
Overall, the airline will operate 8% more seats to the United States and Canada compared to the previous year, including a 15% increase in premium seating.
With premium demand continuing to rise, Air New Zealand is delivering, with an additional 4,300 premium seats on Asia services alone.
Air New Zealand Chief Commercial Officer Jeremy O'Brien says New Zealanders' desire for travel is strong, and international visitor demand continues to grow.
“We’re seeing strong demand, including growing popularity of our premium cabins. Customers want a more comfortable and seamless experience, and we are responding by increasing premium availability and growing flight frequencies across our long haul network.
“As we move through the year, more of our newly retrofitted 787 aircraft will enter service, bringing a refreshed experience to destinations such as San Francisco, Honolulu, Vancouver, and Shanghai. The feedback so far has been fantastic, with customers loving the new seating — particularly the additional space and comfort in premium cabins.
"With strong summer demand on the horizon, we are pleased to be offering even more options to our customers, whether they are travelling for business, leisure, or reconnecting with friends and whānau.”
North America: More flights, more comfort
Customers heading to the United States and Canada later this year will spot additional flights added to key routes and more opportunities to book in premium cabins:
· Auckland to Los Angeles will see 11–12 flights per week between December and March, adding nearly 24,000 more seats than the same period last year (16% increase), including an additional 6,800 premium seats.
· Auckland to Houston returns stronger this summer, with Air New Zealand adding 4,500 seats between January and March.
· Auckland to Vancouver maintains up to seven services per week with the larger 777 added to the schedule over the December to early February peak, just in time for the Canadian snow season. Premium seating will increase by 25%, including a 30% increase in Premium Economy and an 18% increase in Business Premier.
· Auckland to San Francisco will see 1,800 additional seats (3% increase) and 2,700 more premium seats (21% increase), as daily services continue into mid-February and March frequencies rise from five to six flights per week.
Asia: Premium growth and increased capacity
Customers flying to and from Asia will benefit from increased availability and schedule refinements this summer, resulting in more premium seats to key destinations:
· Auckland to Taipei expands from three to four flights per week between December and February, adding 11,800 seats (27% increase), timed to serve both the Christmas peak and Chinese New Year travel.
· Auckland to Bali sees a 49% increase in premium seats (an additional 2,400 premium seats on the route).
· Auckland to Hong Kong will see a 28% rise in premium seats, adding 3,700 Business Premier and Premium Economy seats on the route.
· Auckland to Shanghai will see 35% more premium seats compared to the same period last year.
Increased capacity on Air New Zealand flights to North America and Asia are available to book now at www.airnewzealand.co.nz
New Zealand professional services automation startup Projectworks announced today that it has raised $12 million in new funding to expand its product development, go-to-market and customer success teams.
With the funding, the company is particularly focusing on developing generative artificial intelligence tools for the platform, such as time tracking and proposal generation.
Founded in 2019, Projectworks offers a cloud-based professional services automation platform designed to streamline project management for consulting firms, architects, engineers and software teams. The platform integrates core functions like time tracking, invoicing, resource planning, forecasting and reporting into a single system to help firms reduce administrative overhead and focus on delivering high-value work.
Notable features of the company’s platform include real-time project intelligence that provides teams with live visibility into project health, financials and resource capacity. The insight helps firms identify potential issues such as scope creep or budget overruns before they escalate to allow for timely interventions to keep projects on track.
The platform also offers forecasting tools that allow users to anticipate future project and staffing needs. The offering allows firms to make informed decisions about hiring, resource allocation and business development by analyzing current workloads and financial data.
Projectworks integrates with various popular business tools, including QuickBooks, Salesforce Inc., HubSpot Inc., Jira and Zapier Inc. to ensure that data flows smoothly between systems, reducing duplication and enhancing overall efficiency.
The company has seen strong growth, including achieving 140% compound annual revenue growth since launch and has a customer base of more than 600 companies with tens of thousands of users operating across more than 50 countries.
Notably in 2024, the company opened a new headquarters in Silicon Valley to accelerate its expansion into North America, the U.K. and other global markets.
The Series A funding round was led by Ten Coves Capital, with existing investors including Bridgewest Group and Punakaiki Fund Ltd. also participating.
“With the latest advances in project intelligence, specialists with lean teams and deep experience can go toe-to-toe with larger firms — and win,” said Steve Piaker, managing partner at Ten Coves Capital. “Projectworks is the first end-to-end solution built for consultants from the ground up. It breaks down silos that get in the way of growth and gives firms the tools to bid for and manage projects from a position of strength.”
As part of the funding deal, Piaker is joining Projectworks’ board.
Source: https://siliconangle.com/
San Francisco-based VMG Partners led an oversubscribed round for Tracksuit's Series B alongside existing investors Altos Ventures, Footwork, The Icehouse and Blackbird. This milestone also marks us surpassing 1000 incredible customers globally and 240% YoY growth in the U.S. Our overall dataset includes 10,000 brands, and we plan to double this figure to 20,000 by the end of 2025.
We're thrilled to today announce a $25 million Series B funding round led by commerce enablement and consumer brand investor VMG Partners, opens in new tab, with participation from existing backers Altos Ventures, Footwork, Blackbird, and Icehouse Ventures.
Since first launching in 2021, we've scaled our brand tracking platform to serve 1000 brands, including Athletic Brewing Company, Opendoor, Turo, Steve Madden, and The RealReal, enabling them to track critical brand health metrics like awareness, consideration, usage, preference, and perceptions across major global markets.
We delivers this data through a live, AI-powered dashboard that makes brand tracking intuitive and actionable.
“Historically, brand tracking has been expensive, outdated, and inaccessible,” said Connor Archbold, Co-Founder and CEO of Tracksuit. “We built Tracksuit to change that, giving teams a simple, affordable, and always-on way to measure brand performance.
"When brand data is visible and actionable it drives smarter decisions and stronger performance. Our goal is to bring brand data into every boardroom, and with VMG, we gain a partner who truly understands scaling consumer brands, and their support will be key as we accelerate growth.”
Our advantage in a changing market
There are two converging shifts in the marketing landscape that we believe we're at the forefront of.
As brands increasingly recognize that long-term growth depends on what consumers think and feel, there is a renewed focus on brand-building and the need for sophisticated understanding of brand impact.
At the same time, advances in technology and AI are democratizing consumer insights, making high-quality data and actionable intelligence accessible to brands of all sizes, not just those with enterprise budgets.
We're gaining traction as the powerful B2B SaaS startup solution for marketers, product teams, and executives to make smarter, faster decisions. Whether shaping a five-year strategy, testing new products, or optimizing brand campaigns, organizations now have access to insights that were once only available through time-intensive, expensive research reports.
With plans to expand tracking across Europe and Asia in 2025, we're rapidly scaling to support global teams and international brand campaigns at a fraction of the $1M+ per year typically spent by enterprise brands today.
“In working with Tracksuit, we’ve observed first-hand the impact that accurate and reliable always-on brand tracking can have on our marketing efforts,” Matthew Kerbel, Global Brand Strategy Director at Turo, said.
“We’re celebrating this milestone investment for Tracksuit and are looking forward to the platform’s continued journey of making brand tracking even more accessible and powerful for businesses like ours.”
The future of brand measurement
The new funding will fuel our mission to become the common language for brand tracking. We're currently tracking 10,000 brands, and plan to double this figure to 20,000 by the end of 2025. This growing dataset will underpin several new product launches expected later this year, many of which are already underway.
“Tracksuit solves one of the hardest problems in marketing: quantifying brand performance in a clear, continuous, and cost-effective way,” said Sam Shapiro, Partner at VMG Partners. “Brand is a company’s most important asset, and Tracksuit enables businesses to make faster, more data-oriented decisions toward building durable brand leadership.”
The Track team has more than doubled since our Series A, and we now have 150 employees across New York, London, Sydney and Auckland. We plan to hire at least 50 more in the coming year as we scale globally. Fancy joining us?
Source: https://www.gotracksuit.com/
Caption: Dr. George Nield (Chairman, Global Spaceport Alliance), Jim Bridenstine (Managing Partner of the Artemis Group and Former NASA Administrator), Stefan Powell (CEO, Dawn Aerospace), and Khaki Rodway (Spaceplane Sales & Operations Director, USA, Dawn Aerospace) unveil the future—literally in hand—with a sub-scale Aurora spaceplane at the Oklahoma Breakfast during Space Symposium 2025 in Colorado Springs. Photo credit : Dawn Aerospace.
Dawn Aerospace’s Breakthrough – The fastest, highest-flying rocket-powered aircraft to launch from a runway, the Aurora is set to be the first aircraft to reach the Karman line - 100 km altitude - twice in one day
Space-Accessible State – Dawn Aerospace to establish operations at the Oklahoma Air and Space Port in Burns Flat, transforming the State into a launch point for microgravity research in the United States
Proven Performance – Aurora has flown 58 times and went supersonic in Nov 2024 (Mach 1.12 at 82,500 ft) and set a ‘time to climb’ world record (118.6 seconds to 20 km altitude)
Oklahoma, USA - June 12, 2025 – Dawn Aerospace and the Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority (OSIDA) have signed a binding partnership to bring a Mk-II Aurora spaceplane to Oklahoma. As part of the agreement, Dawn will deliver and operate Aurora at the Oklahoma Air and Space Port. The Aurora is scheduled for delivery in 2027, with flights to space commencing that same year.
“Our mission is to push the boundaries of aviation all the way to space, and Oklahoma is a perfect place in the United States to make that happen,” said Stefan Powell, CEO, and founder of Dawn Aerospace. “By developing a rapidly reusable aircraft, we’re bringing the efficiency of aviation to spaceflight—dramatically increasing flight frequency, cutting costs, and accelerating breakthroughs in science and space research that deliver critical insights and services for a better future.”
A rocket-powered, remote-piloted aircraft, the Aurora is designed to carry payloads of up to 11 lbs (5 kg) to altitudes of 330,000 feet (100 km). With a rapid turnaround time of just four hours, it would be the first aircraft to reach above the Karman line twice in one day. This cutting-edge capability at the Oklahoma Spaceport builds on OSIDA’s decades-long commitment to aerospace innovation and economic growth since its founding in 1999. With this new era of spaceflight, the spaceport is set to become one of America’s busiest suborbital launch sites, solidifying its role as a hub for microgravity research, atmospheric studies, and satellite technology testing.
“The next industrial revolution is happening in space, and the scientific research and commercialization opportunities that exist in microgravity are transformational. Operating Dawn’s Aurora spaceplane at the Oklahoma Air and Space Port will both reduce costs and increase access to microgravity throughout the space industry. This important partnership positions the state of Oklahoma at the center of American space innovation”, said Jim Bridenstine, managing partner of the Artemis Group and former NASA administrator (2018-2021).
“Oklahoma is positioned to be at the forefront of the next space frontier and a hub for national defense,” said Oklahoma Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell. “With targeted investment, the state is moving to secure frequent and reliable space access and is set to become America's busiest suborbital launch site. Launching from Burns Flat will unlock a new class of microgravity research, national security applications, and commercial innovation.”
Microgravity research is critical because it allows scientists to study physical and biological processes in ways that are impossible on Earth. In a weightless environment, fundamental forces like convection and gravity-driven fluid motion disappear, providing new insights into material science and biomedical research. Frequent and low-cost access to microgravity will significantly accelerate discoveries, with potential breakthroughs in areas such as cancer and liver disease drug development, and advanced materials research.
Under the terms of the agreement, Dawn will supply the aircraft, ground control station and an operations team. Flights on Aurora are expected to cost, on average, low hundreds of thousands of dollars per flight. Campaigns of multiple flights will redefine the landscape of space launch and enable researchers to conduct experiments in rapid succession, accelerating scientific progress while keeping costs low. Oklahoma colleges and universities will have free access to the aircraft for research purposes for the first year of operations.
Reaching an altitude of 82,500 ft and achieving Mach 1.12, Aurora set a new benchmark for the fastest ‘time to altitude’ for an aircraft, surpassing a record held by the modified F-15 Streak Eagle set in 1975.
The Aurora's development will continue through 2027, with manufacturing and flight testing conducted at Dawn’s R&D facilities in Christchurch, New Zealand.
About Dawn AerospaceDawn Aerospace is developing the fastest and highest-flying aircraft ever to take off from a runway, combining the extreme performance of rocket propulsion with the reusability of conventional airplanes to enable high-frequency, low-cost access to high altitudes and space. In 2024 its flagship aircraft, the Mk-II Aurora spaceplane, broke the sound barrier, reaching Mach 1.12 at 82,500 feet, and set a record for the fastest climb to 20 kilometers (65,600 feet).
Dawn’s remotely piloted aircraft are certified under New Zealand’s CAA Part 102 and the New Zealand Space Agency's High Altitude License, allowing flight from the ground to beyond 60,000 feet—well above conventional airspace limits.
Dawn’s founders recognized the potential of applying aviation-style operations to spaceflight —delivering routine, runway-based access to space with rocket-powered aircraft. In addition to its spaceplane program, Dawn Aerospace is a leading provider of propulsion systems for satellite developers, with its technology currently on 25 operational satellites.
Seven university students have been awarded New Zealand Space Scholarships to intern at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for these incredibly capable students. They will gain invaluable experience working on projects alongside scientists and engineers who are part of world-leading NASA missions,” Ms Collins says.
“These three-month internships will equip them with real-world skills to kick-startexciting careers in New Zealand’s fast-growing space industry."
The students, Asif Rasha (Auckland University of Technology), Shivam Desai (University of Auckland), Felix Goddard, Jack Patterson (University of Canterbury), Mark Bishop, Sofie Claridge and Taran John (Victoria University of Wellington), received their scholarships at a ceremony today.
The students will work on projects across the space spectrum, from deep space communication, the Big Bang and the early universe, to mission analysis.
“These scholarships, along with the Prime Minister’s Space Prizes, help us encourage the next generation of talent to ensure we have an aerospace-capable workforce. This is a key part of our plan to double the size of our space and advanced aviation sectors by 2030,” Ms Collins says.
“Last month I released an economic report that shows New Zealand’s space and advanced aviation sectors are thriving – growing by 53 percent in the five years to 2024. The space sector contributed $2.47b to the economy in the 2023-24 financial year, while the advanced aviation sector, which overlaps with the space sector, contributed $480 million.”
More information about the 2025 NZ Space Scholarship recipients and the projects they’ll work on is available on the MBIE website.
Applications are open now for the 2025 Prime Minister’s Space Prizes, which recognise and encourage innovative expertise through the Professional Excellence category and the Student Endeavour category. Source: https://www.beehive.govt.nz/
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As chair of the NZ Robotics Charitable Trust/Kiwibots it gives me great pleasure to report back to you on our students incredible success at the Robotics Education Competition Foundation (RECF) VEX World Championships, during the first two weeks of May in Texas, USA.
Please take a couple of minutes to read the attached full results. KIWIBOTS at World Champs; USA. 2025.pdf
We brought home another FOUR WORLD TITLES! We also had more teams than ever before making it into the final play-offs of their divisions. One team even interviewed for USA television!
KIWIBOTS are super proud of this mahi and once again proved that we are “punching well above our weight” on the world stage of robotics. Staying in the top 1% of the world and proving our KIWIBOTS robotics STEM programme is innovating and life changing.
Thank you to our sponsors: Smales Farm; F&P Healthcare Foundation; University of Auckland ; Tait Communications; TechStep; Faceton; PowerCo; Paly2Win; Eaton Industries; Caliber Design & SMC.
www,kiwbots.co.nz
AFT Pharmaceuticals (NZX:AFT, ASX:AFP) today announces it has extended its US Maxigesic® licensing agreement with Hikma Pharmaceuticals. The new agreement is aimed to maximise the commercial and patient care benefits that come with following the intravenous form of the pain relief medicine (marketed as Combogesic® IV in the US) in postoperative care with the tablet form of the medicine (Combogesic Rapid). The agreement will see Hikma take over all channels for Combogesic Rapid in the US — apart from the license granted to Alexso for certain specific market categories — allowing both forms of AFT’s patented medicines to be marketed across the entire US market. The US is the world’s largest market for pain relief1. AFT and Hikma have also agreed to a restructure of the profit share arrangements for Combogesic IV and tablets. The agreement amends the previous profit share which featured a fixed specified profit amount before sharing commenced, to now being a regular quarterly profit share payment. AFT will be more involved in the sales and marketing planning for Combogesic IV and Rapid, also making a contribution towards marketing. AFT sees potential for the new agreement to deliver greater commercial benefits than envisaged by the original agreements with Hikma2, one of the largest suppliers of injectable medications by volume in the US.
AFT Pharmaceuticals Managing Director Dr Hartley Atkinson said: “We are pleased to have reached this agreement with Hikma. Since the launch of Maxigesic IV last year, feedback from the market is that clinicians wish to follow non-opioid intravenous relief of mild to moderate pain with the tablet therapy – an approach that offers non opioid relief through all stages of recovery. “The extension of the agreement with Hikma will allow delivery of this therapeutic option more effectively across the US. In so doing, we can not only help clinicians to offer comprehensive non-opioid pain relief, but we can also maximise the opportunity we see for both medicines in this market.” Dr Atkinson said he looked forward to progress with the two medicines in the US.
“US healthcare costs associated with opioid abuse are estimated at US$11 billion a year3. With 6% of patients administered an opioid postoperatively going on to consume the medicine chronically4, the two forms of Combogesic offer clinicians an opportunity reduce the risks associated with the effective management of post operative pain.”
1 https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/pain-management-market 2 The intravenous licensing agreement provided for upfront, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments of up to US$18.8 million (of which US$6 million was received in 2024) for the commercialisation of Combogesic IV as well as a profit share from in market product sales. Milestones remain unchanged. These payments were to be shared with AFT and it development partner Hyloris Pharmaceuticals. AFT did not disclose commercial terms other than a profit share arrangement for the Combogesic Rapid agreement with Hikma.
Source: https://investors.aftpharm.com/
