WELLINGTON : Effective July 29, the Outer Space and High-altitude Activities Amendment Bill will bring satellite tracking stations, telemetry systems, and other ground-based space infrastructure under strict oversight. The move, announced by Space Minister Judith Collins, aims to ensure space assets are used safely, securely, and in alignment with New Zealand’s national interests.

The new law mandates that any operator of such infrastructure must demonstrate robust security arrangements and conduct due diligence on all partners. The legislation follows warnings from New Zealand’s intelligence agency last year, which flagged attempts by foreign entities—allegedly with military ties—to set up covert operations within the country.

“These actors deliberately disguised their affiliations to foreign militaries and misrepresented their intentions,” Collins told parliament, adding that the bill is a crucial step in deterring such risks.

While China was not explicitly named in connection with the incidents, the intelligence report noted Beijing as a “complex concern” alongside other unnamed states engaged in malicious activity.

New Zealand’s pristine skies and geographic location have made it a hub for space observation, attracting players like the European Space Agency. But with global interest in space accelerating, the new regulations seek to close critical gaps in oversight—especially in a region increasingly viewed through a geopolitical lens.

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