WELLINGTON, July 4 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand's Outer Space and High-Altitude Activities Bill passed its third and final reading on Tuesday, marking a new phase in the development of a safe, responsible and secure space industry in New Zealand.
Economic Development Minister Simon Bridges made a statement after passage of the law, saying "It's vital we provide a regulatory framework for the space industry which encourages innovation and industry development, while ensuring all activities are run safely and securely".
The bill, which will come into force on Dec. 21, is informed by international best practice and aims to meet the future requirements of this emerging industry, Bridges said.
Considerable thought has gone into ensuring that the bill is flexible enough to accommodate rapid advances in space technologies, space applications and related market demand, he said, adding that the regime covers a range of activities conducted at high-altitudes such as super-pressure balloons.
This is a key part of the regime as developments in technology have meant that high-altitude vehicles can now undertake similar functions to satellites, and getting the provisions in the bill to enable New Zealand to manage these activities appropriately has been a key part of this legislation, Bridges said.
"The bill also seeks to minimize compliance costs for operators. One example of this is the enabling of overseas licenses to satisfy New Zealand's requirements. This will help position New Zealand as an internationally competitive location for space activities," he said.
The new law strikes a balance between encouraging space activity while minimizing risks to public safety, national security and the environment, Bridges said.
