In 2010, a licence to operate the Telecom New Zealand 30m dish was granted, which led to the commissioning of the WARK30M 30m Radio Telescope.

[1] The complex was first developed for long-range telecommunications, operated by the New Zealand Post Office and opening on 17 July 1971.

[2] The shallow valley site was chosen as it was sheltered from winds and radio noise, and the horizon elevation of only five degrees allowed the station to be useful for transmissions to low orbit satellites.

This was removed from service in November 2010, after which the Auckland University of Technology began using the facility for radio astronomy.

[2] A hydrogen maser is installed on-site to provide the very accurate timing required by VLBI observations.