Rotorua man's quest to be first Maori in space

Mana Vautier wants to be the first Maori in space.

Mr Vautier, who is of Tuhourangi descent, is an aerospace engineer with Odyssey Space Research.

He works for a company that is a contractor to Nasa in Houston, Texas and said from an early age he had always been into things about space and space flight.

"It's my ultimate dream to be an astronaut," said Mr Vautier, who is back in Rotorua on holiday with his family of five.

Next year Nasa will have an astronaut intake and Mr Vautier will be putting in an application.

But being beaten to space by another Maori astronaut wouldn't be a deal breaker.

"As long as I get there - it's all okay with me."

There is a good chance though, that he will be the first. He doesn't know of any other Maori rocket scientists. His career so far has the end goal of becoming an astronaut. He went to St Kentigern College in Auckland, university in Auckland and then to Brigham Young where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Physics and Astronomy. In 2008 he completed a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering at Auburn University, Alabama.

His work at Odyssey involves developing flight simulations, guidance systems and navigation controls to help train flight controllers.

Despite the space shuttle programme coming to an end this year and the Constellation Program being canned, Mr Vautier is positive about the future. A new replacement programme - the Space Launch System - has been announced.

This will look at flights to the nearest asteroid and then on to Mars. There are also numerous commercial space flight programmes such as Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic.

Back in Rotorua, Mr Vautier caught up with his parents Ian and Tangi Vautier and his whanau. He said it was good to be back and to help out with his parents who run Clearwater Cruises on Lake Tarawera.

He said his family made the usual tourist rounds, stopping at the museum, Te Puia and Whakarewarewa but it was no coincidence they were back at the same time as the Rugby World Cup.

"One of the major reasons I was here was for the Rugby World Cup. It was the cherry on top."

Mr Vautier is a keen rugby follower and played in his high school years.

In the future he hopes to return and get involved with youth work.

"I'd like to help Maori kids, motivate them and help them to realise their dreams."

Cousin Marisa Balle said he is a perfect example.

"We need a role model like him who can show what you can be if you really want it."

His aunty, Kiri Skipwith, who is also the Tuhourangi Tribal Authority deputy chair, agreed.

"It's fantastic and we're very proud of him."

There is a drive for the tribal members to reconnect and Ms Skipwith sees huge benefits in having Mr Vautier involved with Tuhourangi.