Ground-based space infrastructure

Overview

New Zealand is committed to the safe, secure and responsible use of space. The Government is managing the risks posed by GBSI by establishing a new regulatory regime covering new and existing infrastructure.

To support this, amendments to the Outer Space and High-altitude Activities Act (the Act) came into force on 29 July 2025, followed by amendments to the accompanying Regulations on 7 May 2026:

• Outer Space and High-altitude Activities Act 2017(external link) — New Zealand Legislation
• Outer Space and High-altitude Activities (Licences, Permits, and Authorisations) Amendment Regulations 2026(external link) — New Zealand Legislation

A transitional period applies from the date of the primary legislation’s enactment. All in-scope GBSI operators are considered automatically authorised until 29 July 2026.

To continue operating, in-scope operators will be required to have applied for and received authorisation by the time the transition period ends. Applications for GBSI authorisations are now open.

If you operate GBSI in New Zealand, this page will help you understand whether you need authorisation and what to do next.

Check if you need GBSI authorisation

You will need an authorisation if you operate infrastructure in New Zealand to carry out a regulated GBSI activity. Under the Act, a regulated GBSI activity means either of the following:

1. Communicating with a space object including, without limitation, for the purpose of:
   • tracking the space object
   • telemetry
   • controlling the space object
2. Identifying or surveilling a space object.

For the purposes of this regime, a space object is defined as a launch vehicle that is launched into outer space, or a payload that is carried by a launch vehicle into outer space.

You are considered an operator if you directly communicate with the GBSI, or otherwise exercise direct control over the GBSI, unless the communication or control is carried on a temporary or intermittent basis under the supervision of the operator.

Examples of regulated activities

Examples of regulated activities include:

• Using a ground station to download data from a space object.
• Using a ground station to conduct tracking, telemetry and control (TT&C) with a space object.
• Using a ground station to conduct satellite trunking (i.e. providing satellite to mobile telecommunications for private users and businesses).
• Using a ground station to communicate with a space object to provide internet of things (IoT) connectivity.
• Using a space radar or optical telescope to track, identify, or surveil a space object.

Activities that are not regulated

There are a number of exceptions to regulated activities, including:

• An activity of a personal, domestic, or household nature.
• An activity carried out as a recreational pursuit or hobby.
• An activity carried out for the purpose of astronomy.
• An activity carried out by or on behalf of an emergency service.
• Using a publicly available system to calibrate a measuring instrument, or to access a safety, positioning, navigation, or timing service.
• An activity incidental to an undertaking if the undertaking does not otherwise relate to GBSI or a regulated activity (for example, use by a farm, school, or hotel of a satellite dish or satellite internet terminal).

Examples of exceptions include:

• Use of satellite to mobile telecommunications for personal or business purposes.
• Use of a broadcast TV satellite dish for personal or business purposes.
• Use of a telescope to watch the stars, or for tracking space objects for personal reasons (e.g. the International Space Station).

If you are in scope: how to apply

If your activities are in scope, you will need to apply for GBSI authorisation at least four weeks in advance of the end of the transitional period if you want to continue operating after 29 July 2026.

Before applying, you should:

1. check whether the activities you carry out are regulated GBSI activities, referring to the above information
2. gather the information required for your application (see details by clicking on the “Apply for GBSI authorisation” button below)
3. make sure you have appropriate protective security arrangements in place (details below)
4. if you operate on behalf of, or for the benefit of, others, make sure you have due diligence arrangements in place (details below).

Apply for GBSI authorisation

Protective security arrangements

Your GBSI authorisation application must include a declaration confirming that you have in place protective security arrangements that meet the requirements in the Act to counter security threats in relation to activities under the authorisation. In broad terms these arrangements should show that:

• you have identified the security risks that arise from the operation of GBSI (including personnel security, information security and physical security).
• you have established reasonable measures to manage those risks.

Guidance on how to develop protective security arrangements can be found at the following links:

Protective Security Requirements(external link)

MBIE does not need to see the protective security arrangements themselves. You only need to declare in your application that they are in place. However, MBIE has the power to assess these arrangements, as required.

Due diligence arrangements

If you are working with a partner, the GBSI authorisation application must include a declaration that you have partner due diligence arrangements in place.

A partner is anyone on whose behalf, or for whose benefit, you operate GBSI to carry out a regulated activity, such as a customer to whom you are providing ground station services (for example someone who is paying you to communicate with or track a satellite) or a research collaborator.

The due diligence arrangements will need to identify the steps you will take to verify the identity of your partners and understand the nature of their activities. The steps must be reasonable in the circumstances. Generally due diligence will not require anything more than desktop research to confirm that the information the operator has provided is consistent with publicly available information.

Guidance on how to develop partner due diligence arrangements can be found at the following link:

MBIE does not need to see the partner due diligence arrangements themselves. You only need to declare in your application that they are in place. However, MBIE has the power to assess these arrangements, as required.

Ongoing obligations after authorisation

GBSI operators are required to provide annual reporting

Under the Act, GBSI operators are required to provide an annual report confirming that:

• any information provided in the application for the authorisation is up to date.
• protective security arrangements continue to meet requirements.
• partner due diligence processes (if required) continue to meet requirements.

Compliance and enforcement

The Minister may vary, suspend, or revoke GBSI activity authorisation

The Minister responsible for Space may vary, suspend or revoke a GBSI activity authorisation on any conditions that the Minister thinks fit, if the Minister believes on reasonable grounds that:

• The authorisation holder has breached the Act, associated regulations, or any conditions of the authorisation.
• If it is deemed necessary in the interests of national security, compliance with any of New Zealand’s international obligations, or other national interests.

There are offences and penalties for non-compliance

Where necessary, MBIE will generally work with operators to help them achieve compliance with the new regime. However, it is an offence to operate GBSI without an authorisation, and depending on the circumstances this could lead to:

• An order requiring disposal of interests in, or rights to operate the infrastructure.
• A fine up to $50,000 and/or up to one year in jail for an individual.
• A fine up to $250,000 for an entity.

Additionally, it is an offence to provide false or misleading information in any material respect, which could lead to:

• A fine up to $10,000 for an individual.
• A fine up to $50,000 for an entity.

Webinar

MBIE and the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service hosted a webinar on 4 March 2026. This webinar provided details on how to protect businesses and New Zealand’s security in compliance with the legislation, including a question-and-answer session.

Slides from the webinar and a list of the questions and answers are available at the links below: