New Zealand to Join Forces with Australia in Bid for Square Kilometre Array. (August 21, 2009)

In a formal arrangement signed at the Australia-New Zealand Leadership Forum this morning by New Zealand’s Economic Development Minister Gerry Brownlee and Australia's Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr, the two nations have agreed to join forces to bid for the $2.5 billion international Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project.

Mr Brownlee said: "Extending the configuration of the SKA to include New Zealand will significantly add to the scientific outcomes of the project and could possibly see two stations constructed in New Zealand with an array of radio telescopes."

Senator Carr said: "New Zealand’s participation will strengthen the bid to host the SKA. New Zealand is crucial to building the global collaboration required for the SKA to reach its full potential. If our bid is successful, the SKA will not only significantly increase Australia’s and New Zealand’s scientific capabilities; it will result in economic benefits and spinoffs in a number of areas, including supercomputing, data transmission, renewable energy, construction and manufacturing," while Mr Brownlee added: From New Zealand’s point of view this agreement will also be a stepping stone to foster strong links and cooperation between Australian and New Zealand industry, particularly in the high-technology sectors."

It will not be until 2012 that a decision will be taken as to positioning the SKA in Western Australia or the Union of South Africa, and construction of the 4,000 antenna radio telescope is then expected to take another six to eight years.

The project currently involves a total of 19 countries.