A Rocket lab Electron rocket has failed soon after take-off in Māhia.
Rocket Lab has apologised after an "issue" occurred two-and-a-half minutes into flight at 7 o'clock Tuesday night, after it had completed a first stage burn and stage separation as planned.
It's 41st mission, the launch was for one of its partners, Capella Space, an American provider of commercial radar imagery.
University of Auckland professor of physics Richard Easther spoke to Corin Dann.