Rocket Lab Considering an Additonal Launch Site in Wairoa

Rocket Lab have signalled their continued interest in Wairoa as an additional satellite launch base.

Mayor Craig Little says he is certainly pleased that a business like Rocket Lab is interested in setting up an additional site in the Wairoa district and appreciates that they want to have discussions with our community. “I’m keen to have a conversation about what opportunities there might be for our community with the potential for an additional satellite launch site in Wairoa.”

“That Rocket Lab is open to having that conversation with us is great and is only the first step in a process. We as a community now have to be active participants in what this might mean for Wairoa.”

“And that’s the important thing about being open for business. We’re keen for our community to have all of the relevant information so that we can sit down, talk and understand all the facts. It’s important that we can all work together in a really positive way to bring lasting, real benefit to our community,”

“Attracting and supporting new businesses to the district is so important for Wairoa. With new businesses come a workforce, their families, new skills and new opportunities for our community. Looking at ways of growing our population is vital for Wairoa and these conversations with businesses like Rocket Lab are the first step in doing that.”

“Being a smaller Council has its advantages, it makes us much more approachable and agile and we’re able to be really responsive to opportunities from new businesses whilst ensuring we meet the needs of our community”, Mr Little said.

Wairoa District Council CEO, Fergus Power, says “We have had a focus over the past year on developing a strategy aimed at encouraging new and innovative businesses into the district.”

“Wairoa has the potential to be at the forefront of innovation within New Zealand. Council’s goal will be to partner with businesses, rather than lead everything ourselves with rate funding.”

“As noted in our Long Term Plan, Council wants to foster an environment which assists the business community to bring about sustainable positive change for Wairoa, leading to opportunities for whānau to be reunited with those who have left this district to pursue employment opportunities elsewhere and who will be attracted back home for work, but more importantly, to friends and family.”

“Obviously there is a process that Rocket Lab has to go through before any physical work can be approved.”

The site being considered for the additional base is on land owned by the Tawapata South Māori Incorporation – Onenui Station, on the southern tip of Mahia peninsula. Incorporation spokesperson, George Mackey says that he is excited that Rocket Lab are considering Onenui Station as an additional site.

“Wouldn’t it be great to have a sign up that says ‘Wairoa – Gateway to the Galaxy’? When I think about all this, I am left with this sense that our community will be linked to the development of these new innovative celestial waka. It’s quite exciting really.”

“But yes, we are speaking with major shareholders seeking their support for this new opportunity for our community and we’re keen to support Rocket Lab in communicating their vision, not only for their business, but also for our community”, Mr Mackey says.

Chairman of Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, Fenton Wilson says “Rocket Lab has had discussions with the HBRC and we appreciate that Rocket Lab have to go through a process. The HBRC will continue to work with Rocket Lab to ensure that any additional launch site based in the Hawke’s Bay will meet the requisite requirements.”

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