Pilot-less airfreight planned from Nelson

About $3 million goes to Hawk Eye and Apollo Autonomy (Apollo Aviation) to develop software enabling unmanned airfreight operations out of Nelson in newly announced $53.3m government funding for the Top of the South.

The projects are being funded by a combination of loans and investments from the Provincial Growth Fund and the Infrastructure Reference Group’s (IRG) shovel ready projects, regional economic development under-secretary Fletcher Tabuteau says.

He says they will provide a huge boost to the Nelson, Marlborough and Blenheim region.

“These projects will transform the region, create jobs and make the Top of the South an even more attractive place to live, work and visit.”

The $3m IRG investment for Apollo Aviation will initially see piloted flights between Nelson, Westport and Christchurch.