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The war in Gaza was got a little closer to home on Friday, July 4 when around 25 Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA) protesters gathered outside the Rocket Lab entrance in Warkworth.
Flags, banners, signs and placards carrying messages of support for Palestine on both sides of Woodcocks Road prompted toots of approval from many passing motorists.
The demonstration was one of three across the North Island, with PSNA protests taking place simultaneously at Rocket Lab’s head office in Auckland, and at Mahia Peninsula, where Rocket Lab launches its satellites.
PSNA committee member Barry Lee said the group was protesting to raise awareness about Rocket Lab launching geospatial intelligence satellites for BlackSky Technology (an intelligence company that offers real-time satellite imagery, monitoring, and analytics of strategic locations).
“Rockets made here at Rocket Lab are sending up satellites that enable the Israelis to target people in Gaza. We’re objecting to the fact that this makes New Zealand complicit in the war,” he said.
“It’s about putting pressure on Rocket Lab and also the government. We want people to be aware that the government could intervene and say no, Rocket Lab is no longer allowed to launch rockets at Mahia Peninsula.”
In response, Rocket Lab said they strongly refuted “PSNA’s false and irresponsible claims”.
“We are actively considering our defamation legal options in response. Every satellite launched by Rocket Lab to date has received approval from the New Zealand government for launch from Mahia.
“This is part of a payload permitting process independently conducted by the New Zealand Space Agency as the regulator of New Zealand’s space industry and approved for launch by the Minister for Space.
“Multiple government agencies are consulted and involved in this permitting process, and none would be approved that contravene New Zealand law or its international obligations.”
Senior Constable Hamish Buick was present at the protest and said there had been no issues.
“This is what democracy is all about,” he said.
