The New Zealand government announced on Friday (December 13) that it will pass legislation next year to prevent entities that do not adhere to the national values of New Zealand from using the country as a satellite monitoring base.
The geographical location and clear skies of this South Pacific nation make it an ideal place for launching and monitoring satellites, with the European Space Agency (ESA) being one of the organizations monitoring space activities in New Zealand.
However, in September, New Zealand intelligence agencies expressed concerns about certain foreign entities wanting to build space infrastructure in New Zealand, as it could “assist foreign military activities and harm New Zealand’s interests.”
While the intelligence report did not specify which countries’ military forces may benefit if the plans proceed, it did point out that China (the CCP) remains a complex intelligence issue, and other countries are also engaging in malicious activities in New Zealand.
New Zealand’s Minister for Space, Judith Collins, stated in a press release that “The new regulations aim to prevent entities that are inconsistent with our values or interests (including national security interests) from establishing or using ground space infrastructure in New Zealand.” Collins holds seven ministerial positions, including Attorney General, Minister of Defense, Minister of Government Digital Services, and other key roles.
New Zealand is a member of the Five Eyes alliance along with the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada. Despite its small scale in commercial space industry, it is rapidly developing with government support.
According to a report released by the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service, a few foreign entities have attempted to contact organizations within New Zealand to seek building aerospace infrastructure within the country.
The report titled “New Zealand Security Threat Environment” points out, “These entities typically claim that the infrastructure will be used for civilian research purposes, but it was later found that the proposed uses in each case could potentially aid foreign military activities, thereby harming New Zealand’s interests.”
The report further indicates, “The full capabilities of these foreign entities and their partially affiliated organizations have been deliberately concealed.”
(Reference: This article references a report from Reuters)