New Zealand Spaceport Larger Payloads

The spaceport at Kaitorete Spit, next to Lake Ellesmere in the South Island of New Zealand, is about go up to larger payloads from vertical launches. 

NZ is a world leader in space flight technology. The spaceport at Kaitorete Spit will undergo expansion of its existing facilities.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/science-and-technology/1786736/big-rockets-could-launch-a-dozen-times-a-year-in-initial-canterbury-plan

A southern hemisphere launch gives private or government or scientific missions greater options into the various orbits, of which low-earth orbit (LEO) is particularly sought-after for the likes of Starlink and other communications satellites, and US military constellations planned to support the Golden Dome.

Many more thousands of satellites are expected to go into LEO in coming years - Musk already has about 10,000.

The below video shows a flight by Dawn Aerospace at the Spit, but the new plans from another company will be vertical launches.

Cal Poly Uses Dawn Aerospace

New Zealand and Dutch aerospace company, Dawn Aerospace, has launched a payload for California Polytechnic State University from Dawn Aerospace's National Aerospace Centre in New Zealand.

New Zealand is fast developing into an aerospace centre, with its highly qualified engineers and clear skies. 

Kea Aerospace

New Zealand are world leaders in private high altitude aerospace development. Kea Aerospace is another company with aircraft up and running from its base in Christchurch. Clever idea this one; they're making aircraft that fly perpetually, with solar panels charging batteries during the day. Being in the air so long, they can do accurate testing, provide cost-effective communications, you name it. One of the founders is Mark Rocket, who was also a founder of Rocket Lab. Mark Rocket is a clever guy and I've spoken to him previously, he complimented me once by saying I had good ideas (heh). 

https://www.keaaerospace.com

In the below video at about the 1:03 mark, you can get a good aerial view over Banks Peninsula with Akaroa Harbour on full display. This harbour is massive, you could lose several cruise ships in it, wondering where did they go?