Rocketing economic prospects

Wairoa Mayor Craig Little has high stratospheric economic hopes but is keeping his feet on the ground.

United States-controlled Rocket Lab is proposing to launch medium sized rockets to deliver satellites into space, potentially having multi-million-dollar spinoffs for the surrounding districts but Wairoa mayor Craig Little says he's taking the prospect one step at a time.

He said the initial benefit to the community was the construction of the launch pad at the tip of Mahia Peninsula, improved access roads and staff living in Mahia or Wairoa.

Rocket spotting would attract tourists "but the first thing we have to determine is what do you see when the rocket actually goes up in the air".

"If it is pretty spectacular then that will be great. If it's not then it probably won't be so good for tourism, but I am hearing it is pretty spectacular."

As well as as the rockets providing a possible tourism attraction and the benefit of new residents he hoped the manufacturing facility would move to Wairoa from Auckland.

"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."