PM award for Canterbury Young Enterprise business

_{Left to right Rocket Lab CEO Sir Peter Beck, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Cairo Akehurst and Cashmere High School Business teacher Matt Benassi.} 

Cairo Akehurst has topped his celebrated involvement in the 2024 Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) partnered by Ara Institute of Canterbury with a special Prime Minister’s award. 

The Year 12 Cashmere High School student was awarded the National Excellence Award for Innovation at the recent YES Nationals in Wellington with his startup Cattle Credit. 

The business is breaking new ground by improving the accuracy of satellite data to track methane emissions from cows - crucial for supporting farmers and processors to validate and ultimately reduce their outputs. 

Akehurst’s work has now seen him jointly awarded the inaugural Prime Minister’s Space Prize for Student Endeavour and with it another $25,000. 

The citation noted that the award was testament to his vision and innovation in the space industry, “where New Zealand is rapidly positioning itself as a global leader”.  

Speaking on National Radio after the awards, Akehurst said his project made it possible to pin methane outputs to specific farms.  

"We can supply farmers with colour maps so you can actually see where your menthane is compared to other farms,” he said.  “Effectively we’re measuring cow burps from space. Tracking them means we have the ability to prove whether farms are low emission, satisfying overseas demand for low emission meat and dairy products.”  

Akehurst said he was excited to see where his research can take him – with plans to take part in the YES scheme through Ara again next year. 

“Space used to be a distant frontier; now it is our next-door neighbor,” he said. “My ultimate goal for Cattle Credit is to ensure New Zealand maintains its reputation for sustainable meat and dairy production.” 

YES South Island Kaiārahi ako (Teaching mentor) Regan Powell said Akehurst’s business was “one to watch”. 

“Cairo has developed a commercially viable product, and a start-up business to scale up his idea for use on farms. His next steps include developing industry partnerships, engaging potential customers, and securing pre-seed funding,” Powell said. 

Powell ventured that Cattle Credit could be a “true contender for the 2025 YES Company of the Year”. 

With a trip to Rocket Lab USA to fit in as part of his Prime Minister’s award, 2025 is shaping up to be a blast for this young business star.