The Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) has begun taking down and removing the retired iconic domes and antennae at Waihopai station after almost 35 years of service.
The project, first announced in November 2021, is expected to take six weeks to complete.
"The deconstruction project will involve the deflation and lifting off of the domes by crane, then the dismantling of the two steel antennae in sections," GCSB director-general Andrew Hampton said.
Fencing around the domes was removed last week and the first dome covering was lifted off this morning.
"Once removed the dish and dome materials will be safely disposed and the steel scrapped. While the dishes and the radomes are no longer in use, the Waihopai station will continue to operate and support the Bureau’s ongoing national security activities."
Hampton said that with modern and more effective intelligence collection forms available, satellite communications at Waihopai are no longer needed and the domes are "virtually obsolete".
"The GCSB needs to continuously assess and update its capabilities to ensure they contribute to the fullest extent possible to the Government’s Priorities, as well as respond to rapidly evolving technology, and to the security threats New Zealand faces."
The first of the two 18-metre diameter dishes and domes were constructed and began operating in 1989 with the second dish and dome added in 1998.
