Country dossier · NZL
New Zealand
Advanced space-faring nation
A sourced snapshot of New Zealand's posture in space — capability, institutions, orbital assets, law and people. Every figure carries its primary source; gaps are shown honestly, never filled with invented data.
Open New Zealand in the interactive workspace →Capability tier
Advanced space-faring nation
Launches to orbit from its own territory: yesLaunch sites on record: 1Nationals who have flown: 0
Space agency
New Zealand Space Agency
National space agency · established 2016 · two-source verified
Satellites (owner state)
1
Counted from the GCAT May 2026 snapshot. The interactive workspace shows a live CelesTrak figure, which uses different owner-attribution rules and will differ.
Source: GCAT · General Catalog of Artificial Space Objects (J. McDowell) · May 2026 snapshot
Ground stations
Space budget
No published space budget indexed for this country.
National strategy
Aotearoa New Zealand Aerospace Strategy 2023-2030 (2023)
Strategy led by MBIE and Ministry of Transport to double the value of space and advanced aviation by 2030
International space law
| Instrument | Status |
|---|---|
| Outer Space Treaty 1967 | Ratified |
| Rescue Agreement 1968 | Ratified |
| Liability Convention 1972 | Ratified |
| Registration Convention 1975 | Ratified |
| Moon Agreement 1979 | Not a party |
| Artemis Accords 2020 | Signatory (2021-05-31) |
Source: Status of international agreements relating to activities in outer space (1 January 2026)
Launch sites
- Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 (Mahia)
Source: National launch site roster · ALL IN SPACE compilation
Astronauts
No nationals have flown in space on record.
Source: Founders and principal scientists of national space programmes
Milestones
- 2016New Zealand Space Agency established
- 2017First orbital launch from national soil
Notable missions and contributions
- Rocket Lab Electron commercial launches from Mahia Peninsula
- Artemis Accords signatory (2021)
- Mount John Observatory / Aoraki Dark Sky Reserve