Rocket Lab founder and chief executive Peter Beck has been recognised for his services to the export sector. 

Mr Beck travelled back to his hometown of Invercargill on Friday (November 13) for the HSBC Export Southland Gala Dinner, where he was announced the inaugural recipient of The Graham Dick Memorial Trophy.

He founded Rocket Lab in 2006 and it has become a billion-dollar company, globally recognized as an industry leader in space.

Advertisement

Advertise on the Southland App

Mr Beck has become one of the leaders in space expedition in New Zealand.

He helped establish international treaties and legislation to enable orbital launch capability from New Zealand.

In January 2018, Rocket Lab had its first orbital launch of the Electron rocket. 

According to Rocket Lab’s mission statement, by “unlocking the potential of space,” the company is making a “tangible difference to life on earth.”

Advertisement

Advertise on the Southland App

Also recognised at the gala dinner was local innovator John Dillion, who was awarded $15,000 towards further overseas marketing and distribution of his invention, the Quick Release Saver.

This is a hydraulic pressure relief tool used on farming equipment.

Mr Dillion invented the contraption after having difficulty connecting hydraulic hoses due to excessive oil pressure. 

He would often resort to hitting the ends of the couplings on nearby surfaces, which would often cause damage.

He came up with the Quick Release Saver, which drains out the excess fluid to relieve the pressure. It can be used on any type of hydraulic hoses with quick release.