VALUES TEST: A report said some entities claim to be doing civilian research, but what was proposed could have aided unwanted foreign military activity
Reuters, WELLINGTON
The New Zealand government yesterday said it would pass legislation next year to prevent entities that “do not share the country’s values” from using it as a base to monitor satellites.
The nation’s location and clear skies make it a good place to launch and monitor satellites from, with the European Space Agency among those keeping an eye on space from New Zealand.
However, New Zealand’s intelligence service in September raised concerns about some foreign entities wanting to develop space infrastructure, which would have “assisted foreign military activity that could have harmed New Zealand interests.”
New Zealand Minister for Space Judith Collins speaks at a news conference on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on May 31.
Photo: Reuters
The report did not say which country or countries’ military would have benefited if the plans went ahead.
However, the report said China remains a complex intelligence concern, but added that are other states that undertake malicious activity in New Zealand as well.
“The new regulations are intended to prevent the establishment or use of ground-based space infrastructure in New Zealand by entities that do not share our values or interests,” including the country’s national security interests, New Zealand Minister for Space Judith Collins said in a statement.
New Zealand has a small commercial space industry that is growing fast with government support.
A report released by the New Zealand National Intelligence Service said that New Zealand organizations have been approached by a small number of entities seeking to develop space infrastructure in the nation’s territory.
“These entities often claim the infrastructure will be used for civilian research purposes, but it was subsequently found in each case that what was proposed could have assisted foreign military activity that could have harmed New Zealand’s interests,” said the report, titled New Zealand Security Threat Environment.
