WELLINGTON, June 29 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand has begun building a new headquarters at the Awarua Satellite Ground Station near Bluff in the country's Southland region to strengthen its position in the global space industry.
"Awarua is already a critical part of global satellite operations, and this expansion will enable further growth over time," Regional Development Minister Shane Jones said in a statement on Monday.
The expansion will strengthen New Zealand's ground-based space infrastructure, boost Southland's economy and increase the workforce from 21 to about 30 highly skilled roles, Jones said, adding it is due for completion in early 2027.
The 4.55-million-NZ-dollar (2.57 million U.S. dollars) project, led by Space Operations New Zealand (SpaceOps NZ), includes a headquarters, workshops and supporting infrastructure, backed by a government loan of up to 2.25 million NZ dollars and co-investment from SpaceOps NZ, the statement said.
Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson said the project would contribute to regional economic diversification, adding high-tech opportunities to an area traditionally reliant on primary industries. ■