10. Question No. 10—Economic and Regional DevelopmentTEANAU TUIONO (Green) to the Minister for Economic and Regional DevelopmentQuestion No. 10—Economic and Regional Development10. TEANAU TUIONO (Green) to the Minister for Economic and Regional Development: What advice if any has he received about the upcoming launch in New Zealand of a satellite that includes the Gunsmoke-J" payload from the United States Army's Space and Missile Defense Command?Hon STUART NASH (Minister for Economic and Regional Development): I received advice from the New Zealand Space Agency that resides within MBIE. The New Zealand Space Agency assessed the application against a number of criteria set out in the Outer Space and High-altitude Activities Act. The assessment process is supported by multiple Government agencies that contribute to the regulation of space-related activities. The New Zealand Space Agency processes each application on a case-by-case basis to ensure that the requirements of the Act are met. This includes an assessment that (1) the payload will be operated safely and meet New Zealand's requirements on orbital debris mitigation; (2) the proposed operation of the payload is consistent with New Zealand's international obligations; (3) its operations do not pose a risk to national security; and (4) its operations are not contrary to New Zealand's national interest.Teanau Tuiono: How is his recent ministerial approval of the launch of the satellite which may assist the US military to improve its targeting capabilities in line with Government policy?SPEAKER: Order! I just want to check. I didn't get in the earlier answer that there was a ministerial approval. Was it a Minister's approval or a—Hon Member: Yep.SPEAKER: The Minister did approve it did he? All right. Sorry. I apologise.Hon STUART NASH: Sorry could the member please repeat—SPEAKER: Sorry could you ask the question again.Teanau Tuiono: How is the recent ministerial approval of the launch of this satellite which may assist the US military to improve its targeting capabilities in line with Government policy?Hon STUART NASH: I reject the premise of that question. As I outlined the process we go through is quite clear and one of the criteria that must be met before a Minister will sign off is that the operations are not contrary to New Zealand's national interest.Teanau Tuiono: What specific military capabilities does the satellite he approved to be launched have?Hon STUART NASH: I'm unaware of the specific military capabilities.Teanau Tuiono: How does the launch of a satellite that enables weapons of war to more precisely target people comply with the principle for authorising New Zealand space activity approved by Cabinet in 2019—and I quote—"Space activities should be conducted in a way that does not jeopardise human safety (including the safety of people in space)."?Hon STUART NASH: What I will say is the applicant in this case provided all the information that was deemed required by our space agency to make a recommendation to me. The New Zealand Space Agency assessed the application and provided me with advice that in fact this satellite did not pose a risk to national security and the operations were not contrary to New Zealand's national interest.Teanau Tuiono: Does the Minister think that the Government has a moral responsibility to make sure technologies delivered into orbit by New Zealand companies from New Zealand soil do not assist other countries' armies to wage war?Hon STUART NASH: Yes. What I will say is that when Cabinet analysed the process for signing off on satellite launches we analysed this process very very carefully before we signed off the relevant legislation. And one thing I will say is we take our international obligations very seriously which is why I say that the space agency assessed that this satellite did not pose a risk to national security nor were the operations contrary to New Zealand's national interests."