Mahia on East Coast New Zealand is being used as a Launchpad by the US Military

 

Are the Greens returning to their roots?

Greens Say Rocket Lab Launch Breaches National Security

Wednesday, 10 March 2021, 11:54 am

Press Release: Green Party

Scoop,

10 March, 2021

The Green party supports the open letter to the Government about Rocket Lab threats to New Zealand’s security, sovereignty and national interests.

“I want to stand in support of Mahia locals and peace advocates for speaking up about Mahia being used as a Launchpad by the US Military”, says Green Party spokesperson for Security and Intelligence Teanau Tuiono.

“We support the call to suspend the granting of licences for space-launch activities on behalf of US military agencies and to reverse the Gunsmoke-J permit which is scheduled to be part of the next Rocket Lab launch.

“Gunsmoke-J belongs to the US Army’s Space and Missile Defence Command (SMDC) and is designed to improve US missile targeting capabilities during combat.

“The Government has a moral responsibility to make sure technologies sent into orbit by New Zealand companies from New Zealand soil do not assist other countries' armies to wage war.

“The launch of a satellite that enables weapons of war to more precisely target people does not comply with the principle for authorising New Zealand space activity, approved by Cabinet in 2019. It states ‘space activities should be conducted in a way that does not jeopardise human safety (including the safety of people in space).’

“We should only support launches that have peaceful purposes enabling the weaponisation of space will only make us a US military target.” 

The Green Party says an upcoming Rocket Lab launch in New Zealand breaches national security and threatens the country's sovereignty and national interests.

Rocket Lab, which is United States-owned but based in New Zealand, is due to launch its next mission in mid-March at Māhia Peninsula. The mission will carry and deploy satellites for a range of commercial and government customers, including the US Army's Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC).

The 'They Go Up So Fast' mission will carry the SMDC's Gunsmoke-J payload, which is described by Rocket Lab as "an experimental" satellite that "will test technologies that support development of new capabilities for the US Army".

Teanau Tuiono, the Green Party's spokesperson for security and intelligence, says he stands in support of Māhia locals and peace advocates who have spoken up about the town being used as "a launchpad by the US military".

"We support the call to suspend the granting of licences for space-launch activities on behalf of US military agencies and to reverse the Gunsmoke-J permit which is scheduled to be part of the next Rocket Lab launch," he says.

Tuiono says Gunsmoke-J is designed to improve US missile targeting capabilities during combat.

"The Government has a moral responsibility to make sure technologies sent into orbit by New Zealand companies from New Zealand soil do not assist other countries' armies to wage war," he says.

"The launch of a satellite that enables weapons of war to more precisely target people does not comply with the principle for authorising New Zealand space activity, approved by Cabinet in 2019. It states 'space activities should be conducted in a way that does not jeopardise human safety (including the safety of people in space)'."

He believes launches should only be supported if they have "peaceful purposes" and that "enabling the weaponisation of space" will make New Zealand a US military target.

Tuiono questioned Stuart Nash, the Minister for Economic and Regional Development, about the launch of the Gunsmoke-J payload during Parliament's Oral Questions last month. Nash said he received advice from the New Zealand Space Agency, which sits within the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, who confirmed they assessed the application for launching the Gunsmoke-J satellite against a number of criteria 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," Nash said.

"The New Zealand Space Agency processes each application on a case-by-case basis to ensure that the requirements of the Act are met."

He said this includes that:

• the payload will be operated safely and meet New Zealand's requirements on orbital debris mitigation
• the proposed operation of the payload is consistent with New Zealand's international obligations
• its operations do not pose a risk to national security
• its operations are not contrary to New Zealand's national interest.

Nash said he is unaware of the specific military capabilities of the SMDC satellite.

"The applicant in this case provided all the information that was deemed required by our space agency to make a recommendation to me," he said.

"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."

Nash said he does believe that the Government has a moral responsibility to make sure technologies sent into orbit by New Zealand companies from New Zealand soil don't assist other countries' armies to wage war.

"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," he said.

"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."

© Provided by Newshub

In a statement, Nash says he would not approve any payload if, when assessed, it was found it would contribute to a nuclear weapons programme.

"This is consistent with our domestic and international legal obligations, as well as our proud and firm history of being nuclear-free," he says.

"Each payload permit application is also assessed for consistency with New Zealand's international obligations, including those covering nuclear non-proliferation."

Newshub has contacted the New Zealand Space Agency to respond to the Green Party's statement.

Morgan Bailey, Rocket Lab's head of communications, reiterates Nash's earlier statements that all applications for a payload permit are subject to assessments against a number of criteria in the Outer Space and High-altitude Activities Act.

She says no payload will be approved for launch if it does any one of the following:

• contributes to nuclear weapons programmes or capabilities
• has the intended end use of harming, interfering with, or destroying other spacecraft, or systems on Earth
• has the intended end use of supporting or enabling specific defence, security or intelligence operations that are contrary to government policy
• has the intended end use likely to cause serious or irreversible harm to the environment.

"The payload in question was assessed against these criteria and approved for launch. To date, all payloads launched from New Zealand have met these stringent requirements and received payload permits," Bailey says.

https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/national/upcoming-rocket-lab-launch-carrying-us-army-satellite-breaches-nz-s-national-security-greens/ar-BB1eqiu5?pfr=1

This is all there is from Pravda-on-the-South Seas and possibly all there has ever been.

In keeping with the former organ of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union this is the entire text from the state propaganda outlet, RNZ

The mission, called Another One Leaves the Crust, was scheduled for lift-off last night from the Mahia Peninsula but was delayed so the organisation could review sensor data.

It will send a single communication micro satellite in to a lower-earth orbit for a German based company.

The organisation's Head of Communication Morgan Bailey says they have a window until 25 January to launch the mission.

It will be the company's 18th mission, a dedicated mission for European space technology company OHB group.

Rocket Lab chief executive Peter Beck said the launch was taking place at a quick pace, within six months of signing the contract.

"By flying as a dedicated mission on Electron, OHB and their mission partners have control over launch timing, orbit, integration schedule, and other mission parameters."

Rocket Lab also aims to launch a mission to the Moon in support of Nasa's CAPSTONE program this year.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/434668/rocket-lab-reschedules-launch-to-wednesday

More spin from the Spinoff

Update: On 22 February The Spinoff reported that the Minister has now approved the Gunsmoke-J satellite for launch. 

The minister responsible for New Zealand’s space regime has yet to sign off on a controversial US military satellite, which Rocket Lab announced yesterday it would launch from New Zealand next month.

The experimental Gunsmoke-J payload, which belongs to the US Army’s Space and Missile Defence Command (SMDC), is designed to improve US military targeting capabilities, as The Spinoff reported yesterday.

All satellites launched from New Zealand must be signed off by the economic development minister who is currently Stuart Nash. But as yet, Nash has not received an application for the controversial satellite, even though officials have been assessing it for at least three months. 

By November last year, an application for the Gunsmoke-J was already under “active review” by NZ Space Agency staff. And in January this year, the agency again told The Spinoff the payload was “still under active review by officials and ministers”. 

But the most important of those ministers has yet to receive an application, he told The Spinoff. 

“I have not received a permit application for the payload referenced in Rocket Lab’s announcement today. Once I receive the application I will make a judgement on whether to grant or deny the permit, based on advice from officials,” Nash said yesterday. 

Nash declined a request for an interview on the subject, and would not say whether he has been consulted on the application or has concerns about its payload.

Under principles agreed by Cabinet late in 2019, approval will be denied to payloads that contribute to nuclear weapons programmes or support military operations ”contrary to government policy”.

Given the satellite is yet to be approved, The Spinoff asked the Space Agency whether it had coordinated with Rocket Lab around the timing of the announcement. Agency head Dr Peter Crabtree said: “An application is in train.” 

Rocket Lab declined to say whether the announcement was agreed with the Space Agency, but said the agency had been advised of the announcement in advance. 

“It’s common for missions and payloads to be announced prior to payload permitting, as that process is often completed closer to the opening of a launch window,” Rocket Lab head of communications Morgan Bailey said. 

“Rocket Lab aims to provide as much notice and information as possible about upcoming missions in advance, which means often payloads are still undergoing permitting processes.” 

The timing of sensitive launch announcements has previously been a cause of tension between Rocket Lab and the Space Agency. 

In January last year, Rocket Lab privately condemned the agency’s decision to announce a mission for US spy agency the National Reconnaissance Office only 10 days before the launch was scheduled.

https://thespinoff.co.nz/business/11-02-2021/stuart-nash-on-nz-launch-of-us-military-satellite-i-have-not-received-an-application/

FINALLY, this seems to be getting some belated attention - from RNZ.

From a shaky start-up to the rise of Elon Musk's SpaceX

RNZ

Now for the inside story of the origins of leading-edge rocket company. SpaceX is headed by business magnate Elon Musk, who designs, manufactures and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft.

Elon Musk is the CEO of Tesla Motors, and he has a background in industrial designing and engineering.

Space editor at Ars Technica, Eric Berger is a journalist, specialising in covering astronomy, ventures into space and NASA policy, He is also a certified meteorologist, and the author of the new book Liftoff, which is about the rise of SpaceX.

The Great Reset meets tourism in New Zealand - ""thoughtless, heedless tourism" is no longer welcome

 I now have to get my news about my own country from a You Tuber from Romania.

As you can see all the coverage has come from overseas media sites.

Nothing from RNZ, TVNZ, Newshub, Radio NZ that I could see - no headlines - just this one article from a second-tier website.

https://www.newsroom.co.nz/pro/curb-some-flyers-to-nz-says-air-nz-adviser

A year ago we welcomed tourists to the country - the more the merrier - and the locals could go to hell - but suddenly, with the Great Reset, they are not welcome any more and the whole industry is described as "thoughtless, heedless tourism" and are not welcome.

What used to be a petty-minded, isolated, narrow-minded little country at the end of the world is becoming more so by the minute, with bells on.

All this in the name of "saving the planet" while the rich fly around in their private jets and local businesses are sent to the wall.

New Zealand to tax flights to get less tourists

Charge more for flights to deter tourists and help the planet, says Air NZ adviser

MSN News,

8 March, 2021

Air New Zealand’s chief environmental adviser has said he is in favour of increasing the price of flights to New Zealand and “putting off some people coming” as the country considers a new approach to tourism post-Covid.

In an interview with Newsroom published on Tuesday, the airline’s chief environmental adviser, Sir Jonathon Porritt, said he supported hiking the price of international flights to pay for the greenhouse gas emissions they generated.

His comments followed a recommendation by the parliamentary commissioner for the environment, Simon Upton, that people departing New Zealand (including citizens) should be required to pay a departure tax to offset the environmental cost of flying .

As proposed by Upton, the tax could add as much as $155 (£80) to an economy fare to the United Kingdom and would be used to fund climate initiatives in the Pacific.

Porritt would not be drawn on whether he supported the passenger tax, as it was tabled for discussion at Air NZ’s three-day sustainability advisory panel at the end of the month.

Related: Could Covid give New Zealand's struggling tourism sector a chance to go green?

But he said that the aviation industry urgently needed to be forced to reduce its emissions and that there was “no going back” to tourism as it was pre-Covid. Porritt said air travel was a privilege, not a right.

“Controversial though it may be, I’m in favour of putting off some people coming to New Zealand. I just don’t believe in the idea that the number of international visitors to New Zealand can grow and grow and grow without limits. I just don’t believe that is credible [or] right. So, if a higher price for the privilege of flying to New Zealand puts some people off, good.”

Regina Scheyvens, a professor in development studies at Massey University, welcomed Porritt’s comments and said it was “promising” that Upton’s proposed departure tax was to be discussed by the airline.

“We can talk all we like about carrots or incentives for the aviation industry to change, but we keep also hearing that aviation wants to get back to business as usual in many parts of the world – we just can’t afford to do that because the environmental and human costs are too high.”

In 2019, there had been about 3.9m international visitor arrivals in New Zealand –leading Upton to warn of a looming environmental and social crisis of the kind created by “over-tourism” in European cities.

Related: Could Covid give New Zealand's struggling tourism sector a chance to go green?

But there has been little political will to act given tourism’s contribution to the economy. The industry is considered New Zealand’s highest export earner; pre-Covid, international visitors were contributing $17.5bn annually.

After nearly a year of closed borders, many businesses and communities dependant on tourists from overseas are now in crisis. Air New Zealand itself posted a $72m half-year loss earlier this month.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern indicated on Radio New Zealand today that borders could reopen at the end of this year, coinciding with the completion of the immunisation rollout.

But the government was being urged to take action beforehand to ensure tourism returns at a sustainable level.

In his report tabled to parliament last month, Upton urged the government to take advantage of the pause created by Covid-19 and transition “to a form of tourism that is less environmentally harmful – and more resilient”.

Among his recommendations were to make government funding for tourism infrastructure conditional on meeting environmental criteria and iwi consultation; crack down on freedom camping; and give the Department of Conservation more teeth to protect New Zealand’s wilderness.

The tourism minister, Stuart Nash, has so far demonstrated reluctance for the idea of a departure tax to dampen visitor numbers to New Zealand.

But Scheyvens said Air New Zealand could be proactive in changing its business model to reflect the true cost of flying, “and show some leadership in the global aviation industry”.

It was an opportunity for the airline to establish itself as “seriously committed to operating in more sustainable ways” that could have repercussions for tourism, within New Zealand and beyond, said Scheyvens.

“We do now need a completely new way of moving forward. That doesn’t mean that people can’t or won’t be able to travel internationally, but it means that many of us will have to reconsider whether we can afford it.”

EVIL NEWS: NZ has enough PFIZER mRNA vaccine for every man, woman and child

 

NZ government decides on 

Pfizer, the most deadly mRNA 

vaccine, as its SOLE “vaccine”

Last night I was drifting off to sleep when my partner rushed into the room to tell me the news - that the Jacinda Adern government has 'secured' enough vaccine for every man, woman and child in the country.

Most importantly that the Pfizer is to be the sole "vaccine" to be used.

I woke up this morning and had to actually search for anything on this huge story that is going to affect, sooner-or- later, everyone in the country.

There were quite a few items from overseas reporting on this.  This item, from the Times of India, was one of only two items on You Tube.

 This headline from the Independent was the most honest.

New Zealand will use ONLY the Pfizer "vaccine", out of "fairness"  (sic).

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/jacinda-ardern-announces-new-zealand-will-only-use-pfizer-vaccine-for-e2-80-98fairness-e2-80-99/ar-BB1emNj7

The truth is that New Zealand has this supply of the most deadly vaccine on the market because India refused and now there is an excess supply.

From RT.

There have been approximately 1200 deaths from the vaccines since the roll-out in the United States.

Of these, Pfizer represents approximately 55% of deaths (Moderna, 45%)

This is the vaccine the NZ government has chosen as its SOLE vaccine.

The media spin in New Zealand is quite different.  It is a celebratory one - the government has purchased enough poison to go around for every New Zealander.

https://www.rt.com/news/517488-new-zealand-pfizer-vaccine-astrazeneca-concerns/

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins made the announcement at a post-Cabinet briefing about 4pm.

Ardern said the decision to make Pfizer New Zealand's primary vaccine provider was based on it being shown to be about 95 percent effective at preventing symptomatic infection.

"Whilst the Pfizer vaccine does need to be kept at ultra-cold temperatures, this challenge is offset by only having to deal with one vaccine, rather than multiple vaccines with multiple protocols. It will simplify our vaccine roll out."

Ardern said the government had signed an advance purchase agreement for an additional 8.5 million doses on top of what it has already bought, bringing the total order to 10 million - enough for five million people to get the two shots needed to be fully vaccinated.

She said early evidence of the Pfizer vaccine's efficacy was 'extremely promising'.

"This purchase marks a significant milestone in New Zealand's fight against Covid-19. We can all take heart that we have now secured one of the strongest and more effective tools in the Covid-19 toolkit," Ardern said.

The additional vaccines are expected to arrive during the second half of the year.

Ardern said the purchase meant all New Zealanders would now have access to the same vaccine, which would simplify the vaccine rollout, so it would not slow the rollout of the vaccines at all.

How the Pfizer vaccine works. Photo: Source: Pfizer/BioNTech/BBC

Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said the Ministry of Health was now working with Pfizer on the delivery schedule to ensure a "smooth rollout".

He said consideration was also being given to how best to use vaccine doses that would not end up being needed in New Zealand.

"We are working on options for donating surplus doses across our wider portfolio to the Pacific and developing countries worldwide.

"Options could include delaying delivery to New Zealand, in order to free up supply for other countries in the short-term, or donating spare vaccines to other countries", Hipkins said.

Hipkins said the Pfizer vaccine was the only one that had been approved by Medsafe and it was incredibly effective. He said having one vaccine to administer would make the process of getting people vaccinated more streamlined.

He said work was ongoing to ensure vaccinators had the right gear to administer Pfizer vaccine - syringes, freezers, etc. He said the government had enough for the first half of the campaign and was now in the market for the second half.

Using just one vaccine would simplify those equipment requirements, he said.

Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Ardern said the government was making good progress with the vaccine rollout, with the vast majority of border staff and MIQ workers having received their first shots of vaccine.

She said household contacts of these workers had also been receiving the vaccine, roughly 50,000 people. She said the government expected to start the second tranche of vaccines - non-border frontline workers - later this month.

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is more expensive than some of the other options.

"We've seen as a nation just how far we're willing to go to look after one another. And so I think it's fair to say no matter what vaccination you're talking about it all comes at a much lower price than the loss of life, or ... the ongoing hit that many businesses take if we have outbreaks.

"In our minds this is money very well spent, and spending it here on what is a highly effective vaccine where we won't have a situation of some New Zealanders getting one and some New Zealanders getting the other."

Ardern said the government was not putting all its eggs in one basket by securing 10m doses of the Pfizer vaccine, pointing to the other agreements it has with other vaccine manufacturers.

Hipkins says Medsafe had informed him the Janssen vaccine was farthest along in getting approved.

Ardern finished her speech on International Women's Day by acknowledging all the women who have played a part in the fight against Covid-19.

Vaccine priority for sportspeople?

Ardern said she had not had any direct conversations with New Zealand Cricket about players getting vaccines earlier than the general public.

New Zealand Cricket was reported as saying it was negotiating with the government to protect the Black Caps before they went overseas next month and attempt to become the inaugural world test champions.

Ardern said she was aware there was a range of people wanting to represent New Zealand on the world stage over the coming 12 months who would need to be vaccinated before entering countries overseas. She said Olympians were another group.

Global discussion on recovery

Ardern said that on Wednesday she would take part of a round table discussion hosted by the Prime Minister of Sweden and Spain and the UN Secretary General on how we can "build back better from Covid."

She said the agreement with Pfizer would also cover New Zealand's Pacific partners.

Climate change, human rights and global health would all be included in discussion, she said.

Ardern said she would still go on Mike Hosking's Newstalk ZB show when it was of national importance.

She said the decision to no longer appear weekly on the show was made about four weeks ago.

"No one can do everything," she said. "The reason it hasn't been noticed, perhaps, until now is I have appeared on two occassions since then and that's because we said 'look, when there are issues of national significance I will still be on Mike's show."

"No one can do every single slot that's available ... people get their news from multiple sources."

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

She said she was trying to expand into other platforms and radio stations to try to get the government's message across.

She thought she could do a better job in trying to reach people where they were, and that had factored into her decision, she said.

"I don't think anyone would argue that I'm not available, [that] I'm not able to be questioned on the issues of the day, but I do want to do a better job of reaching into some other corners where people might not get their information from ZB or the Herald."

That did not mean more time with Facebook Live, but rather she was trying to reach people through different media outlets and different forms of TV, radio and media than she had previously.

Five new cases in MIQ today

Earlier today the Ministry of Health revealed there were five new cases of Covid-19 in managed isolation facilities and no new community cases.

Yesterday the Ministry revealed a new case had been identified in an Air New Zealand crew member during routine surveillance testing.

The crew member went into quarantine, while their household contacts tested negative but remained in isolation at home as a precaution.

The ministry said the case remained symptom-free so public health staff were conservatively considering they may have been infectious since their last negative test on 28 February.

The Ministry said the risk to the public was considered low because the case had limited contact with people and locations as Auckland was in alert level 3 at the time.

The person was believed to have been infected overseas shortly before they received a dose of the vaccine. Vaccines require two doses and take weeks to provide maximum protection.

New Zealand's alert levels dropped at 6am on Sunday morning, with Auckland at alert level 2 and the rest of the country at alert level 1.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/437907/covid-19-vaccine-government-has-purchased-enough-for-every-new-zealander

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-coronavirus-prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-reveals-enough-pfizer-vaccines-for-every-new-zealander/BDEO4HPUGMPKKYO6A2FN4TIJHU/

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/300247794/pfizer-vaccine-confirmed-but-questions-around-rollout-remain?cid=app-iPad

I think it might be appropriate to repost this piece of satire from Australia:

Also, to remind you of what the enigmatic website, Deagel.com 's projection for populations in 2025 - for New Zealand a reduction of 3.3 million out of a population just short of 5 million.

It now makes sense:

https://deagel.com/forecast