National Security Strategy puts emphasis on space-based infrastructure

Rocket Lab

New Zealand’s first National Security Strategy has doubled down on Government support for military payloads being launched into space from Māhia.

In a major policy shift in New Zealand’s defence and national security, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Defence Minister Andrew Little on Friday released documents around the Defence Policy Review and New Zealand’s first National Security Strategy, which lists space security as one of 12 key focus areas.

“Many of the critical services New Zealanders increasingly rely on are supported by space-based infrastructure, from weather observations to banking and financial transactions. Space-based assets also help us observe our land and seas, understand climate change, and respond to natural disasters at home and in the Pacific,” the NSS document stated.

“However, our reliance on space assets also makes us vulnerable to threats that would disrupt these services. Strategic competition and increasing space congestion raise new risks that could adversely affect our space infrastructure and access.”

The new National Security Strategy dovetails with the recently released National Space Policy, and outlines the values and objectives underpinning New Zealand’s space policies, “including protecting and advancing our national security interests”, the document said.

Neither the  space policy nor Friday’s NSS make any change to how foreign military payloads are launched from New Zealand.

Since setting up a commercial launch site at Mahia in 2017,  Rocket Lab launches have 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).

The NSS, like the space policy, reiterated that all payloads launched from New Zealand must 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.

The policy also points out New Zealand is 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”.

Responding to questions from The Gisborne Herald on Friday, Defence Minister Andrew Little reiterated that New Zealand was committed to the peaceful, sustainable and responsible use of space.

“Because transparency is important we publish details about approved payloads on the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment website.

“Space security is one of the core national security issues identified in the National Security Strategy, and is consistent with the national security focus in the recently released National Space Policy.

“The National Security Strategy is an overarching framework for New Zealand’s national security. The National Space Policy is consistent with it.

“It includes priorities such as environmental monitoring and emergency management efforts, transportation and navigation, and our research sector.”

Mr Little also left the door open to possible New Zealand-funded space missions from home soil.

“Decisions about the specific Defence investment options over the next 15 years will come in a form of a Defence Capability Plan. The strategy documents released today provide a framework and principles for the creation of that plan, and work on it starts now.

“Climate change is identified in the National Security Strategy as one of the biggest national security threats we face. The government is a partner in the MethaneSAT space mission. The mission is developing a satellite to quantify and map global methane emissions, with the goal to accelerate a reduction in methane emissions from oil and gas infrastructure by at least 45 percent by 2025.”