Rocket Lab has scrubbed its launch attempt for today.

It was hoping to launch its second satellite-bearing rocket this afternoon.

Growing numbers of curious locals and tourists had filed into a special rocket observation site about 27 kilometres from the launch pad in Mahia Peninsula, north of Napier.

Many had binoculars trained across the water to the launch pad.

The Electron rocket can be seen nestled on the headland at the very topmost point of the peninsular.

But the company's just posted that weather factors and orbital traffic mean opportunities for today's launch are too tight, so they'll try again tomorrow.