Mahia residents descend on Auckland to protest Rocket Lab links with US militaryProtesters gathered at Rocket Lab’s Auckland HQ today in opposition to the company’s work with the US military, while the Green Party announced a member’s bill to ban military launches from New Zealand. Protest songs echoed down a quiet cul-de-sac in… Jun 21 21June 21, 2021Article at The Spinoff
How NZ’s new deal with Nasa could pave the way for moon miningThe American-led Artemis Accords, signed this week by New Zealand, make a lot of the right noises. But they could lead to a more privatised, US-dominated future of space exploitation – and lunar mining. That’s a problem, writes Ollie Neas. After… Jun 03 21June 03, 2021Article at The Spinoff
Mahia, We Have A Problem Pauline Tangiora lives in a house in the quiet hills behind Mahia, beyond a sign warning off oil and gas companies. The sliding door is plastered with stickers testifying to half a century spent fighting for peace around the world. One reads:… Mar 15 21March 15, 2021Article at North & South Magazine
NZ rocket launches may breach nuclear-free laws, say peace groupsRocket Lab launches of satellites honing US military targeting capabilities have been criticised by the Peace Foundation, which is calling on the PM to step in. Peace groups are calling on the prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, to stop the launch of a… Mar 08 21March 08, 2021Article at The Spinoff
Stuart Nash on US military satellite launch in NZ: ‘I have not received an application’A controversial Rocket Lab mission designed to improve US military targeting capabilities is slated to launch from the Mahia Peninsula next month, but Stuart Nash says he’s yet to approve it. Update: On 22 February The Spinoff reported that the… Feb 11 21February 11, 2021Article at The Spinoff
Rocket Lab launch from New Zealand to help US military with ‘targeting’The next Rocket Lab mission will include a military satellite designed to improve targeting capabilities for US warfighters, reports Ollie Neas. This morning, Rocket Lab, the US-owned but NZ-based space company, announced details of its next mission… Feb 10 21February 10, 2021Article at The Spinoff
The spy chief and the payload: The story behind NZ’s first US spy satellite launchIn January a US spy satellite was launched from New Zealand for the first time. Ahead of the launch of another three satellites for the National Reconnaissance Office, Ollie Neas investigates the ever deepening ties between Rocket Lab, NZ authorities… Jun 11 20June 11, 2020Article at The Spinoff
A US spy satellite just launched from NZ. Here’s what you need to knowThe controversial mission, ‘Birds of a Feather’, is the first launch for a US spy agency from NZ. Ollie Neas explains what we know – and even more importantly, what we don’t. Last May, The Spinoff reported that New Zealand Space Agency staff had met… Jan 31 20January 31, 2020Article at The Spinoff
Revealed: New Zealand’s role in the new American war-fighting frontier – spaceThe NZ Defence Force has become an active participant in US military-space war games, together with other Five Eyes partners. As the extent of involvement continues to grow, questions arise around the trade-offs, and the absence of any public debate.… Jan 13 20January 13, 2020Article at The Spinoff
Spying on Earth: Rocket Lab’s payloads get more and more interestingThe launch of satellites for private companies that sell data to spy agencies raises fresh concerns about New Zealand’s fledgling space industry, Ollie Neas writes. A satellite on board Rocket Lab’s most recent mission will collect data for US spy… Jul 31 19July 31, 2019Article at The Spinoff
‘She’ll be right’ attitude to Rocket Lab putting Nuclear Free NZ at risk, experts sayThe government has deliberately limited public understanding of Rocket Lab’s US military connections in order to support American security interests, documents show. Before the first rocket took off from Mahia Peninsula on the East Coast two years… May 16 19May 16, 2019Article at The Spinoff
Rocket Lab just launched another payload for the US military. It’s time we talked about itThe Kiwi success story is working for an agency that developed stealth aircraft and the scheme to bombard Vietnam with Agent Orange. After weather delays and problems with a dodgy video transmitter, Rocket Lab finally launched its first mission of… Mar 29 19March 29, 2019Article at The Spinoff
Revealed: Rocket Lab has just made NZ a launch pad for US defence satellitesIts latest mission may be inadvertently exposing New Zealand to the militarisation of space, writes Ollie Neas. Rocket Lab made history on Sunday as its first ever mission for NASA made orbit from the Mahia Peninsula. The mission was the first… Dec 16 18December 16, 2018Article at The Spinoff
What lies inside Rocket Lab’s secret US military contracts?Rocket Lab is a celebrated New Zealand success story, with a stated mission to open access to space and improve life on Earth. Yet many of its key contracts are with the US military and their suppliers. Ollie Neas reports on the dark side of a local… Nov 19 18November 19, 2018Article at The Spinoff
