As soon as two years from now zero emission flights may become a reality.

So far only a few fully electric planes have crossed the Cook Straight, the next step being electric 19-seater planes, then domestic, before reaching zero emission international flights.

Paihau-Robinson Research Professor Rod Badcock says that zero emission flights will have both an environmental impact, but also a major economic one.

A large amount of New Zealand's GDP is spent purchasing oil from overseas, so switching to zero emission flights will give the economy a boost.

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