"Of course we will be trying our hardest for that - once you start launching rockets on a regular basis you wouldn't want your manufacturing facility too far away."
While the economic potential of a successful Rocket Lab was large said he was taking the development "one step at a time". Some people were cynical of it having a large economic spinoff "but we are better with it than without it".
"It will certainly put us on the map. Once those rockets start launching everyone will now where Wairoa is."
It may necessitate an upgrade of Wairoa's airfield to allow quicker access to the launch pad for people "who obviously have got a bit of money if they can afford to put satellites into the air".
It took about 80 minutes to reach the launch pad from Wairoa, slightly less than from Gisborne.
Larger Gisborne had "huge expectations" of spinoffs from Rocket Lab.
"You would think Mahia was part of Gisborne."
In order to attract central government funding economic development had to benefit the whole East Coast.
"They want it all to prosper - wouldn't that be great - but we are a bit biased towards Wairoa."