The Government is announcing five scholarships for Kiwi Students to undertake internships at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California.

Economic Development Minister Stuart Nash congratulated Michaela Dobson from University of Auckland, Leah Albrow from University of Canterbury and Jack Naish, Celine Jane and Daniel Wrench from Victoria University of Wellington on their selection during a ceremony at Parliament today.

'Our space industry will be shaped by the next generation. That's why it gives me such great pleasure to announce this group of young Kiwi students selected under NASA JPL's Visiting Student Research Programme,” says Stuart Nash.

'After two years of online internships, this cohort is the first to intern at the JPL campus in Pasadena, California – a place of great significance to New Zealand.

'Kiwi-born aerospace engineer and scientist Sir William Pickering served 22 years as Director of NASA JPL. He led the successful effort to place the first US satellite, Explorer 1, into Earth's orbit and I am proud to see his vision and passion live on in young Kiwis today.”

The ceremony coincided with the visit of NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy who are touring New Zealand and meeting with the New Zealand Space Agency, part of the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment.

'It is an honour to welcome NASA's leadership to our shores to see first-hand this country's innovative and thriving space sector.

'Through the Artemis Accords and recent Framework Agreement signed between the New Zealand and US governments, our relationship with NASA continues to offer new opportunities for space science, technology and cooperation on a global scale.”