The NZ Defence Force (NZDF) is shopping for a new $20 million polar drone to fly as far south as the Ross Sea.
It would send back data from its sensors to the NZDF, maritime security agencies and international partners.
Big surveillance drones typically cost more than small attack drones that can be bought for hundreds of thousands of dollars, or even tens of thousands.
The tender for one polar surveillance drone - which closes next month - foreshadows more drone buying by the NZDF.
Tender documents say it will launch mostly from the Navy ship Aotearoa in the Southern Ocean, and be able to fly up to 100 nautical miles away searching and tracking other vessels.
The operating costs and maintenance costs would be extra.
Local businesses get a small edge over other tenderers - a local aspect is one factor in the "economic benefit to New Zealand" category, which carries a 10 percent weighting in assessing tenders, versus 50 percent for system capability.
The NZDF is setting up a technology accelerator, but the funding for it so far is far less than the $100-300m mentioned in the 2025-29 Defence Capability Plan.
The defence force bought Australian sea-going 'Bluebottle' drones last year. Manufacturer Ocius Technology opened in Auckland its first maintenance facility outside its homeland on Tuesday, saying it planned to expand it as demand for autonomous maritime surveillance increased in response to the likes of transnational crime running drugs.
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The navy said having the local maintenance would maximise the drone's time at sea and strengthen national security.
The polar drone tender showed no one the Crown considered "represents a threat to national security" will be considered.
The NZDF is doubling down on inter-operability with Australia and its other Five Eyes partners. This year it joined the build-out of a shared digital backbone called Arcadia, and bought counter-drone systems from Denmark in a joint deal with the Australian Defence Force.
The polar drone tender said: "The Crown may disclose confidential information (excepting price information) contained in a tender to the governments of Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and/or the United States of America if such information is requested by those governments."
