A recent meteorite landing in New Zealand sparks a discussion about ownership, the rise of commercial meteorite hunting, and the need for balance between scientific exploration and private gain.
Every day, approximately 48.5 tons of space rock hurtle towards Earth. While most meteorites fall into the ocean, never to be recovered, those that land on land can ignite debates about legal ownership. Globally, meteorite hunting has become a lucrative business, with chunks of alien rock traded online and shipped between countries.
These celestial remnants hold the key to unlocking the universe's mysteries, but increasingly, significant scientific discoveries are being lost to private collectors.A case in point is the Takapō meteorite, which landed on Department of Conservation land in the central South Island of New Zealand. Recovered by Jack Weterings, a member of the 'Fireballs' group, the meteorite, after a journey through the atmosphere, eventually settled in the middle of the living room floor, causing an international stir. Several individuals worldwide offered to purchase it. The Takapō meteorite spent much of 2024 being meticulously examined by geologists at the University of Otago. However, the question of rightful ownership remains open due to its discovery on public land.Despite their interstellar origins, the ownership of meteorites is determined by the law of the country where they are found. Approaches vary from nation to nation. Some countries allow private meteorite ownership, while others mandate state ownership, offering no compensation. New Zealand, along with Canada, France, the US, and the UK, adopts an approach that depends on the meteorite's landing site. If it lands on private property, the landowner becomes the rightful legal owner. For meteorites found on public property, as was the case with the Takapō meteorite, the “finders keepers” approach prevails, making Fireballs Aotearoa, thanks to Jack Weterings, the legal owner. While Fireballs Aotearoa states its lack of commercial interest in meteorites and pledges to donate all finds to museums, not all meteorite hunters share this altruistic stance. Commercial meteorite hunting appears to be on the rise internationally, particularly in China, where it is a lucrative source of income. Several states have implemented measures to regulate meteorite hunting within their borders. In New Zealand, the export of movable protected objects, including taonga tūturu (objects with Māori links), is heavily restricted. If a meteorite is suspected to be culturally significant or connected to stolen cultural objects, permission must be obtained from the chief executive of the Ministry for Culture and Heritage before any export license application can proceed. Meteorites are classified as protected objects under this legislation, and consequently, the chief executive must consult with two expert examiners when evaluating any export license request. Penalties for illegally exporting or attempting to export meteorites without a license are severe. They include automatic confiscation of the meteorite to the Crown, a prison term of up to five years, and a fine of up to NZ$100,000 for an individual and NZ$200,000 for a corporate entity. If an export license application is denied, for any reason, there is a right to appeal the decision directly to the minister for arts, culture and heritage.
Technology Law METEORITES OWNERSHIP LEGAL ISSUES COMMERCIAL HUNTING SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY NEW ZEALAND
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