Alumnus Mark Rocket delivered a fascinating talk to a very appreciative audience on 21 June at Te Aratai Te Puna auditorium.
Mark began his talk by taking us through his journey as a Linwood High School student, then to starting his first commercial venture, a website company, named somewhat indicatively ‘Avatar’. (This was before the movie Avatar had been created.) Following this, Mark formed a partnership with Rocket Lab in that company’s early days. He parted ways with Rocket Lab after four years and went on to build Kea Aerospace which is based here in Canterbury. You can find out more about Kea Aerospace here.
Fortuitously the timing of Mark’s talk meant he had only just returned from his much longed-for flight to space on Blue Origin’s New Shepard NS-32 mission on 1 June, and Mark showed us footage of his flight. You can watch Mark make history on this NZ Herald video.
Dick Edmundson, Past Principal of Linwood College / Te Aratai College attended Mark’s talk and made the following comments:
“We are fortunate to have Mark Rocket as one of the central people in the recently announced Waitaha Canterbury Aerospace Strategy. I attended a recent presentation by Mark, one of our city’s treasures, hosted by the Linwood Te Aratai Foundation. Mark spoke widely and passionately on his own pathway to his present roles as CEO of Kea Aerospace and president of Aerospace New Zealand.
A former Linwood High School (now Te Aratai College) student in the 1980s, Mark spoke about his early teenage years, essentially lacking confidence to be the best he could be. It was his decision in Form 6/Year 12 to take Dance and Drama that changed this. Unbeknownst to him, he was the first boy to take the class and, guided by the legendary teacher, Marlene Le Cren, whom Mark warmly named, he developed a quiet confidence that embraced his other classes and led to academic success. As Mark said, ‘Never underestimate boys in tights!’
I am very grateful to the organisers of the Linwood Te Aratai Foundation for the opportunity to have heard Mark and for the Foundation’s continuing work in fundraising for present Te Aratai College students to create opportunities for all.”