A total of 34 submissions opposed “any” military-related activities.
The new policy makes no change to how foreign military payloads are launched from New Zealand.
Under the new policy, the New Zealand government can use “space-based assets and capabilities to protect and advance New Zealand’s national security interests”.
“This use is significantly reliant upon capabilities which are owned by our international partners,” the policy states.
“New Zealand collaborates internationally to promote our values on the responsible and sustainable use of space, including through civil, defence and security partnerships. Space assets, such as remote sensing satellites, that are launched from New Zealand can also support international partners and their national security.
“The Minister for Economic Development (the Minister) is responsible for the licensing and permitting of all space activities in New Zealand and by New Zealand entities overseas . . . Before the Minister approves the launch of a payload from New Zealand, there are a number of threshold tests that need to be met, including but not limited to: establishing that the activity can be carried out safely, compliance with our international obligations, and provision of a suitable orbital debris mitigation plan. However, even if the threshold tests are met, the Minister may decline a payload permit if they are not satisfied that a payload’s operation is in the national interest.”
Asked if there been any change to how the national interest is defined in terms of approving foreign military, defence or security payloads under the new policy, New Zealand Space Agency deputy head Andrew Johnson told The Gisborne Herald all payloads would continue to be assessed on a case-by-case basis as part of a multi-agency government process.
“The distinction between military/non-military is not useful as almost all payloads can have both military and non-military application; for example, commercial companies can get data from satellites that take images of the Earth and provide those images to customers who could use it for both military and non-military applications.”
Since launching its first rocket from Mahia in 2017 subsequent launches had often included payloads for overseas defence and security agencies including National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) - a US military intelligence agency, and US Space and Missile Defence Command (SMDC).
All would have complied with the new policy.
“No payload that has already been permitted for launch from New Zealand would today be declined for being inconsistent with the national interest,” Johnson said.
All payloads launched from New Zealand, regardless of the applicant, must still comply with the Outer Space and High-altitude Activities Act 2017 and all other New Zealand legislation, including the New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament and Arms Control Act 1987.
New Zealand is also a signatory to the Combined Space Operations (CSpO), a military space initiative consisting of New Zealand, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The collective aim of this is to ensure space operations promote a “secure, stable, safe, peaceful, and operationally sustainable space domain”.
Rocket Lab senior communications director Morgan Bailey said the company was encouraged by the release of the policy.
“Aotearoa’s space sector continues to grow from strength to strength. It contributes around $1.7 billion to our economy annually and supports 12,000 jobs.
“Increasingly, New Zealand is reliant on space data to monitor and combat climate change, to communicate, to protect people and borders, to respond to natural disasters, to support agriculture and much more. Space plays a big role in our day-to-day lives and an even bigger role in our future, so having a comprehensive space policy that enables the growth and responsible management of the sector is critical.”
