Southland's Awarua Satellite Ground Station is set to boom, after the government announced today (12 Feb) it was raising New Zealand's limit on permitted rocket launches from 100 to 1000.

The Awarua station currently provides telemetry, tracking and command services for a wide range of satellites, as well as hosting antennas for global commercial operators and space agencies.

The announcement follows a review of space vehicle launch debris regulations.

Invercargill MP & Environment Minister Penny Simmonds, who made the announcement along with Space Minister Judith Collins, said it was great news for Southland and would now enable the province's space sector to grow.

“Southland is an ideal location for a satellite ground station given its proximity to the South Pole, low horizon and limited radio interference, with this latest increase in the number of space launches allowed a huge boost to this project."

Simmonds said Southland’s space sector, anchored by the Awarua Satellite Ground Station and driven by Space Operations NZ (SpaceOps), was experiencing rapid growth.

“The sector is expanding its satellite, launch support, and data analytics services with a $4.55 million project supported by $2.25 million from the Government’s Regional Infrastructure Fund."

“The space sector in NZ is experiencing significant growth, with revenues reaching $2.68 billion in 2024, and Southland is a key contributor to this, supporting high value jobs and innovation in our province.”

Simmonds said that without lifting the limit, every additional launch after the current cap was reached would have been required to apply for a fully notified marine consent. 

“That would slow innovation in our province, add unnecessary cost, and undermine the Government’s commitment to investment certainty for a sector that is rapidly growing and supporting regional economies."