A group of 30-40 protesters gathered outside Te Pae
Convention Centre today to protest the first day of the
National Aerospace Summit, taking issue with the
industry’s overt ties to the U.S. military and the Israeli
Defence Force (IDF).
The
protest, organised by Peace Action Ōtautahi, is the first
of a two day action over the course of the summit. The
second day, 8/10/25, will see 150+ activists blockade the
convention centre, and prevent the main day of the summit
from taking place.
Peace Action Ōtautahi
spokesperson Joseph Bray had this to say:
“Today
we let the aerospace industry know that there is strong
public opposition to the militarisation of space in
Aotearoa, but at tomorrow’s protest, that message will be
unavoidable.” Bray continues, “The reliance on the
U.S. military to prop up New Zealand’s aerospace sector
comes at a cost to the safety, freedom, and independence of
our country.”
Bray alludes to tomorrow’s planned
action, which will see 150+ activists blockade the centre
and shut down the summit, barring figures like Judith
Collins and Peter Beck from attending.
The protests
come as Defence Minister Judith Collins prepares the defence
sector for budget and output increases under the new
‘Defence Capability Plan.’ This plan will see drastic
increases to domestic military production, including up to
$450m for ‘lethal drones’.
Bray
continues:
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“Judith Collin’s Defence Capability
Plan is a brazen attempt to suck-up to the United States,
and position Aotearoa firmly on the wrong side of
history. We’re entering an arms race against an
imaginary enemy, and we’re doing it under the guise of
space exploration and innovation.”
Peace Action
Ōtautahi is highly concerned that Collins prepares to
announce New Zealand’s entry into AUKUS Pillar
II.
