by Every day, about 48.5 tons of space rocks toward Earth. Meteorites that fall into the ocean are never recovered. But those that crash on land can spark debates over legal ownership.
Worldwide, meteorite hunting has become a lucrative business, with chunks of Alien Rock traded online and shipped between countries.
Meteorites hold the key to the mysteries of the universe, but important scientific discoveries are increasingly being lost to private collectors.
Last year, New Zealand formally recorded an Apple-sized meteorite 810g. It fell on the Ministry of Conservation on the central South Island, near Takapō. Restored by Jack Weterings, a member of Fireballs aotearoa (A Citizen Science Group Tracking Meteorites), the meteorite has reignited the debate over the regulation of such finds.
Over the years, several meteorites have been recorded in New Zealand. In particular the 1.3 kg Ellerslie Meteorite Crash-land landed through the roof of Archer’s family home in Auckland on June 12, 2004.
Bounce off the bank And eventually settling in the middle of the living room floor, the meteorite caused an international frenzy, with several individuals worldwide offering to buy it.
The archers, a retired couple, refused offersinstead choose to sell it to the Auckland War Memorial Museum for public display.
The Takapō meteorite spent much of 2024 with geologists at the University of Otago. But the question of legal ownership remains open because it was found on public land.
How New Zealand law deals with meteorites
Despite their interstellar origins, ownership of meteorites is determined by the law of the country where they are found. Approaches vary from country to country. Some allow private meteorite ownership, while others require mandatory state ownership without compensation of any kind.
New Zealand – along with Canada, France, the US and the UK – has taken an approach that depends on where the meteorite crashes. If it lands on private property, the landowner is the rightful legal owner of the Space Rock.
With meteorites found on public property, as was the case with the Takapō meteorite, the “Finders Keepers” approach prevails and Aotearoa, thanks to Jack Weterings, is the legal owner.
While the organization stir up To “have no commercial interest in meteorites” and promises to donate everything to museums, not all meteorite hunters are so willing to donate the spoils of their discoveries.
Commercial meteorite hunting appears to be on the rise internationally, especially in China, where it is a lucrative source of income. Some meteorites can Raise millions online. With collectors reportedly included Elon Musk, Steven Spielberg, Nicholas Cage and Uri Gellerthe hobby is now seen as glamorous. The world’s fascination with the ultimate antiques is expected to grow.
Trade meteorites
Several states have stepped in to regulate meteorite hunting within their borders. In New Zealand, the export of movable protected objects, including Taonga Tūturu (objects with Māori links), is severely restricted.
Under the Protected Objects Act 1975which includes both the 1970s UNESCO convention on the prevention of illegal transfer of ownership of cultural property, and the 1995 Treaty in the Unidroit Stolen cultural objects must obtain permission from the chief executive of the Department for Culture and Heritage before protected objects can be exported.
Meteorites are listed as protected objects under the legislation and as a result the Chief Executive must consult two expert examiners when determining any export license application.
Penalties for illegally exporting or attempting to export meteorites without a permit are severe. They include automatic seizure of the item to the Crown, a restriction period of up to five years and a fine of up to NZ$100,000 for an individual and $200,000 for a body shop.
If the export license application is refused, there is a right to appeal the decision directly to the Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage for any reason. As the minister chooses to uphold the decisionor if the applicant decides not to appeal, the property will automatically be listed in the Register nationally important objects.
Although New Zealand has taken legislative action to regulate meteorite exports, the relationship between finders and scientists can become increasingly tense. Perhaps meteorite collection should be strongly discouraged unless it is strictly for scientific purposes? Time will tell if an easy compromise can be found.
