Skip to main content

International space law: update on NZ rights and obligations in Outer Space (new Westlaw (New Zealand))

/
Content updates

A new chapter on Space and High-altitude Activities has been added to the Aviation Law commentary on new Westlaw (New Zealand). As a result of this the publication has been renamed Aviation and Space Law.

The chapter covers the Outer Space and High-altitude Activities Act 2017 and regulations made under it. Introductory commentary has been written by Kim Murray, Barrister at Lambton Chambers.

Kim is a former author of Aviation Law, and Thomson Reuters is pleased to welcome him back to cover this increasingly important area of law. He writes:

“A significant purpose of national space legislation is to ensure a state’s international space law obligations are able to be fulfilled. New Zealand has been a long-standing party to three of the five major multilateral space treaties and has recently acceded to a fourth space treaty.”

Those treaties are:

  •      Outer Space Treaty (came into force in 1967; NZ became a party in 1968)
  •      Astronauts Rescue Agreement (came into force in 1968; NZ became a party in 1969)
  •      Space Liability Convention (came into force in 1968; NZ became a party in 1974)
  •      Registration Convention (came into force in 1976; NZ became a party in 2018)
  •      Moon Agreement (came into force in 1984; NZ is not a party)

Further commentary on the Outer Space and High-altitude Activities Act 2017 is being prepared. Updates will be notified in Aviation and Space Law – What’s New.

Related Support Articles

Speak to a consultant

Can't find an answer to your question?
Contact our support team.

Request training

Contact our team to arrange training.

Tell us what you think

We'd love to hear what you think
of our products and support.