More research should be done into the tourism spin-off from the establishment of a Rocket Lab at Mahia Peninsula, Hawke's Bay Regional Council's Corporate and Strategic Committee says.
Auckland-based company Rocket Lab is proposing to launch medium-sized rockets to deliver low orbit satellites for both commercial and government customers.
Hawke's Bay Regional Council agreed to co-ordinate and part-fund a scoping study to research tourism opportunities around rocket launches.
Funding also came from the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment, Hawke's Bay Tourism, Wairoa District Council, and Gisborne District Council/Activate Tairawhiti.
The study found while observing rocket launches is likely to attract some additional tourists, it is difficult to quantify how popular it will be.