Space Minister Judith Collins' efforts to streamline the signing off of what's being launched into space from New Zealand's shores is prompting worry from some.
The New Zealand Space Agency is putting together a work programme for the future of space for the country.
It comes as Judith Collins, the country's first minister dedicated to the area, makes a bid for more investment in the industry and the building of more aeronautical testing facilities.
Collins said it is a balancing act between locals' concerns and making business easier.
"I have just met recently with Peter Beck from Rocket Lab… that was one of the issues that had been raised in the past, that it was taking a little too long [to have launch applications assessed].
"But what I've seen is they were very happy with the effort that the Space Agency is putting into making sure we have a process that can either be approved or not approved," Collins said.
With streamlined paperwork and two launch pads, Rocket Lab should be able to launch more frequently.
Rocket Lab has completed numerous launches from Māhia Peninsula in Hawke's Bay. Several years ago, when Q+A visited the area, a local cray fisher said their livelihoods were being threatened by launch schedules.
Other locals said they couldn't access their land.
Collins said if New Zealand didn't want a space industry, Rocket Lab could just launch their rockets in the US.
"In which case, I would be saying to those cray fishermen, 'How about you look at the jobs and opportunities for your children in the space sector?'
"Much higher wages, much better lifestyle. But also these are jobs for Kiwis."
New Zealand is one of 11 countries with space launch capabilities. The local industry, thought to be worth almost $2 billion, employs more than 12,000 people - to manufacture parts, observe the Earth, test vehicles, and monitor space junk.
Meanwhile, Green MP Teanau Tuiono is vowing to keep up the pressure on the Government to be transparent about what's being launched from New Zealand's shores.
"At the moment the minister can prohibit or stop the launching of a payload into outer space if it is contrary to the national interest," he said.
"But there is no qualification of what the national interest is. We need to go back and think about those original intentions, which is the peaceful use of space."
Tuiono had picketed outside Rocket Lab's Auckland headquarters in 2021 to coincide with the introduction of his member's bill to Parliament's ballot. The bill aimed to amend the Outer Space and High Altitude Activities Act to prohibit New Zealand from launching military hardware into space.
He said at the time military activities shouldn't be privatised, given Rocket Lab's US military contracts.
Rocket Lab said at the time it hadn't launched payloads that contributed to weapons programmes or nuclear capabilities.
But Collins said New Zealand needed to be realistic.
"The only way Ukraine is able to fight for its life is because of satellite technology. We should be very aware that there is an opportunity around defence."
Currently, the New Zealand and Australian defence forces pay for satellite information, such as to keep an eye on illegal fishing.
The Australian Defence Force is planning to launch its own low-orbit assets or satellites.
As for New Zealand, Collins said it's on the cards - but money needed to be found for it.
Q+A with Jack Tame is made with the support of NZ On Air.
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