Matariki Protest Rocket Lab's Military Satellite Launches

We welcome you during the time of Matariki to pay respect to the stars, the sky, to earth, to people, and peace. On Saturday 1st of July wrap-up warm and gather at 6pm outside Rocket Lab's Mt Wellington (Akl) site to hear from peace activists and Rongomaiwahine iwi members in protest against Rocket Lab's military and spy satellite launches.

We will be joined by iwi members who are coming up from Te Tai Rāwhiti, Wairoa and Māhia, to bring the protest from their Māori land holdings and wāhi tapu, to Rocket Lab's office.

Come along and be part of this historic event on a meaningful issue, which intersects Tino Rangatiratanga, Peaceful use of Space, Environmental Impacts of Rocket Launches, Space Junk, Future Conflict and Targeting with these Satellites, and New Zealand's Independent Foreign Policy, among others.

Kaikaranga and Kaikōrero include:

Wāhine group, of Rongomaiwahine.

Sonya Smith (Ngati Rakaipaaka), Rocket Lab Monitor

Keep Space For Peace campaigner, Auckland Peace Action

Teanau Tuiono (Ngāpuhi, Ngāi Takoto), Green Party MP (Who has a private members bill to ban the launching of military-use hardware from NZ).

And more.

This event is free.

Soup and tea will be available. If you're comfortable doing so, please RSVP to help us estimate catering.

About Rocket Lab:
Rocket Lab was started in NZ but is now a US owned company whose major shareholders are US Military arms manufacturers.

They have been launching spy and weapon-control capable satellites into Space, from Māhia Peninsula on Māori land, despite promising Rongomaiwahine iwi that the satellites would not be for military purposes.

These satellites have already been used in conflict and for surveillance. Rocket Lab is using NZ as a US Military launchpad.

Peace experts have shared concerns that the launches breach our Nuclear Free status. Rongomaiwahine iwi members have had enough of being walked over by Rocket Lab and say Rocket Lab should stop launching military satellites from their whenua, and leave: "Kāti! Haere Atu Rocket Lab!"

To learn more check out our campaign links above.