One of Martin Aircraft's jetpacks made its maiden manned flight in Canterbury this week, Television New Zealand reports.
The Christchurch company, the network reported, limited the jetpack's altitude to eight metres because it didn't have a parachute fitted.
Martin Aircraft, which posted an annual loss of $5.2 million in the year through June, has said it expects to make the first commercial deliveries of its jetpack next year.
The public are expected to get their first glimpse of the machine in action at the Warbirds Over Wanaka airshow next March.
The jetpack can be flown by a pilot or remote control and potential uses include search and rescue, military, recreational, and commercial applications. It can fly for 30 minutes at up to 74km/h at an altitude of 1000m.