Ground-based space infrastructure

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.

The regime will be rolled out in two stages, with some measures in place to stop malicious activity as soon as the legislation comes into effect in July.

Stage one

The primary legislation will come into place on 1 July 2025. The regulator will have the power to shut down operations contrary to New Zealand’s national security, if required.

Stage two

Following the 1 July date, regulations will be developed, setting out detailed requirements for GBSI registration, including for protective security and due diligence systems which in-scope GBSI operators will need to implement. Once the new regulations are in place later in 2025, there will be a transition period until 1 March 2026 for operators to implement the necessary systems for successful registration.

All in-scope operators must apply for authorisation by 1 March 2026.

The regulatory regime targets the following GBSI activities and will apply to existing operators in New Zealand:

• Telemetry, tracking and control (including capability that could degrade or disrupt satellite operations) of spacecraft (including, for example, geodetic infrastructure);
• space surveillance and identification of spacecraft; and
• satellite data reception.

Widespread consumer products such as satellite telephones, satellite television or internet receiving dishes will be excluded.

It will be an offence to ignore the requirements of the regulatory regime, and could lead to the seizure of equipment, a $50,000 fine and/or up to one year in jail for an individual, and a fine up to $250,000 for an entity.

This webpage will be updated with further information in due course.