The Government wants to bolster its outer space programme

It's cosying up to the multi-billion dollar Japanese space sector in a bid to strengthen the two country's bilateral space engagement.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed to expand their outer space cooperation and strategy in September.

An August ministerial briefing obtained under the Official Information Act reveals officials were working behind the scenes before Ardern's trip to strengthen New Zealand and Japan's space partnership.

The briefing said New Zealand researchers had proposed to use the exploration agency's technology on the International Space Station for "advanced research".