By July, New Zealand plans to enact laws governing ground-based space infrastructure operators, as announced by Space Minister Judith Collins. This legislation intends to prevent foreign interference.
These new rules, initially mentioned in late 2024, follow warnings from New Zealand’s intelligence agency last September about attempts by foreign entities to set up space infrastructure that could support military operations harmful to New Zealand’s interests.
Collins indicated in her statement that the new regulatory framework will commence in July to guard against foreign interference related to operations that involve tracking and controlling spacecraft, monitoring space activities, and managing data exchange with spacecraft.
New Zealand is part of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, which includes the United States, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Although specific mention of China was absent from the minister’s comments and the report, it acknowledged that China poses a complex intelligence challenge for New Zealand, alongside other countries engaged in harmful activities.
The country’s favorable position and unobstructed skies make it an ideal site for satellite launches and monitoring, attracting attention from organizations like the European Space Agency.
According to Collins, the legislation will establish precise requirements for the registration of ground-based space infrastructure, which will include security measures and due diligence procedures that operators must adopt.
“With the implementation of this new framework, we aim to deter potential threats. It sends a strong message about our commitment to national security, and we will respond if we perceive any risks,” she stated.
