Over the next ten days - 3news.co.nz will publish its top ten New Zealanders of the year. They are in no particular order and we have tried to select people from varying backgrounds - the common theme is that they have, in one way or another, gone above and beyond the call of duty.
By Jerram Watts
Peter Beck is a New Zealand pioneer.
A decade of work flew into the sky on Monday, November 30, as the ATEA-1 Rocket blasted into space.
From New Zealand’s version of Cape Canaveral on Great Mercury Island, a select few watched the 6m rocket blast off.
And wasn’t Beck ecstatic.
“Your f***in’ beauty! Yes! Yes! She’s still burning!”
Barely containing his ecstasy, Beck told 3 News it was the “best feeling I’ve had in the world”.
“It’s a decade and a half’s work to push that button, and she flew, she flew beauty!”
The rocket launch was particularly Kiwi in its down-to-earth nature - the rocket was transported to the site in a rental van and the team's white ute was often in the background of our shots.
Mr Beck is one of our New Zealanders of the year for several reasons – persistence, Kiwi ingenuity, wearing an unnecessary scientist's white coat at all times – but it is his enthusiasm and passion that really got him onto the list.
Beck realises ATEA space dream
Rocket packed up and ready to go
Early morning preparations
Booster recovered
3 News