FAQs about drone use in New Zealand
There’s a lot of information to learn and understand as a drone operator in New Zealand. It’s important that you know and understand the rules before you fly your drone, and it’s also useful to have an understanding of the airspace.
If you have some burning questions about drone use in New Zealand, you may find the answers on this page.
For detailed information around the rules for flying your drone in New Zealand airspace, visit the Civil Aviation Authority website.
Log your flights in AirShare
Info for tourists
Frequently asked questions
General FAQs
First you need to understand the rules around flying your drone by checking out the Know the rules page and the Civil Aviation Authority website. If you’re planning on operating in controlled airspace you need to request access from Airways (air traffic control) via the AirShare mobile or web app.
AirShare provides drone operators with information about airspace, and access to controlled airspace via the AirShare Pilot app. Air traffic control also provides separation services by segregating a drone from other traffic in the same vicinity.
If you are operating within 4km of an aerodrome you need to be:
- A holder of (or under direct supervision of the holder of) a pilot qualification; or
- Under supervision of a remotely piloted aircraft instructor; or
- A holder of a pilot licence or certificate under Part 69 or Part 149
If you are operating more than 4km from an aerodrome you do not need a licence, however you are required to have knowledge of the airspace designations and restrictions in the area you intend to fly. If you are operating under a Part 102 Operator Certificate, the CAA will require that you undertake some training. See more information about the Part 102 certificate here on the CAA website.
If operating under Part 101 you can fly up to a maximum of 400 feet or 120 metres. For a brief overview of how high you can fly and where, please refer to our Know the rules page.
Under a Part 102 Operator Certificate you may have a variation from the CAA to fly higher in some circumstances.
The maximum height you are authorised to operate up to must always be measured from directly below your drone. Caution must be exercised to ensure you do not exceed this height limit, especially when operating in hilly or steep terrain.
If you fly away from the slope, the height AGL (above ground level) of your drone may increase rapidly. It is your responsibility to ensure you remain at or below the height authorised in your approval, at all times. See the diagram below:
Please note: It is your responsibility as the drone operator to read and understand the relevant rules and regulations. Please refer to the Drones section of the CAA website.
The Privacy Act applies to drones whenever they are collecting information for commercial purposes. This includes any situation when the camera is active – whether it’s recording or not.
Notification is the most relevant component of the Privacy Act. Drone operators need to take reasonably practicable steps to notify people that camera equipped drones are active in the area, who is responsible for them and what the footage will be used for. This could be as simple as posting a sign, but will be dictated by the situation’s specific circumstances. In some cases it will not be practical.
Drone operators also need to make sure they aren’t collecting information in an unfair way, or in a way that intrudes unreasonably on someone’s personal affairs. Notification does not excuse operators from this aspect of the Privacy Act. For example, it would probably be unfair to hover outside someone’s bedroom window while they change – regardless of whether the resident was notified.
While notification is the most relevant, the other privacy principles (such as those concerning storage, use and disclosure of information) are also relevant to drone use. An overview of the principles is available here.
Finally, at least one person in every organisation should undertake the Privacy 101 e-learning module, which gives more detail about the rights and obligations organisations and people have under the Privacy Act.
Filming by drone above New Zealand’s roads and particularly highways means you require permission from the Waka Kotahi (NZ Transport Agency) before you can fly.
Waka Kotahi rules state that that unless you have Part 102 certification, you may not fly or film directly above or along NZ highways, even if there is no traffic using the road at the time.
As the road controlling authority for New Zealand’s 11,000 km of state highways, and adjacent land potentially zoned for roading projects, Waka Kotahi is responsible for permitting any flying in the airspace above these roads.
Waka Kotahi considers RPAS or drones to be a distraction to road users that may result in or be the cause of an accident, or be a direct hazard to people and vehicles due to misadventure or a malfunction.
Waka Kotahi’s policy is to not permit non-certificated operations (covered under Part 101 of the CAA Rules) to fly directly above or along the road corridor, or cross over a section of the state highway, or on land potentially zoned for roading project, regardless of whether the highway is open or closed at the time of operation.
To meet Waka Kotahi’s health and safety obligations, this also applies to worksites which are contracted to suppliers by the agency.
Operators who hold, or are planning to apply for, a Part 102 certificate issued by the CAA who intend to fly above or adjacent to a state highway, should contact Waka Kotahi for permission.
Requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into account an agreed safety plan that will describe how you propose to manage the risks to road users, the state highway network and any contractor or supplier staff and equipment.
FAQs about airspace
Controlled airspace is airspace of defined dimensions within which Air Traffic Control (ATC) services are provided. Controlled airspace is in place to provide a safe area for aircraft operations around an aerodrome for landing and take-off and for aircraft enroute between two aerodromes. More airspace information can be found here.
You require authorisation per flight from Air Traffic Control (Airways) to fly in controlled airspace – an authorisation request can be made via the AirShare Pilot app. If your planned flight meets the shielded operation requirements, you do not require Air Traffic Control authorisation, however your flight should be logged on AirShare. A shielded operation must meet the below requirements:
- An operation of an aircraft within 100m of, and below the top of, a natural or man-made object; and
- Outside of the boundary of the aerodrome; and
- In airspace that is physically separated from the aerodrome by a barrier that is capable of arresting the flight of the aircraft.
Specific equipment is not currently mandated. However, access to controlled airspace is only achieved by segregating a drone from other traffic. In the future, the goal is to integrate uncrewed aircraft into airspace, with specific equipment likely required e.g. a transponder so that surveillance knows where the drone is and a radio to be in contact with ATC.
Yes, Airways is responsible for controlled airspace. To ensure safety for all air users and passengers, you must gain permission to fly in any controlled airspace. If your local park is in a control zone, then you must get permission from Airways by logging your flight in AirShare. For example, that park could be in an aircraft approach path.
FAQs about rules
Visit the Drones section of the CAA website to learn about the rules. It is important you know and understand your obligations when flying a drone. The relevant rules are CAR Part 101 and CAR Part 102.
Yes – you need to understand the Civil Aviation rules in order to fly safely. Drones can be powerful vehicles and are capable of flying much higher than allowed for under CAA rules. You also need to understand if there are any Council or local authority bylaws that apply.
If you want to operate outside of any of the requirements under the Part 101 rules, you can apply to the CAA for a one-off variation, or for a Part 102 operator certificate if you need permanent variations. In your application, you can indicate which requirement(s) of Part 101 you want to be granted a variation from. Application information can be found on the CAA website here.
A shielded operation is an operation conducted:
- Within 100 metres of, and below the top of, a natural or man-made object
- Outside of the boundary of all aerodromes; and
- In airspace that is physically separated from the aerodrome by a barrier that is capable of arresting the flight of the aircraft (Hint: if there is no barrier e.g. a fence between you and the aerodrome, then your operation is not shielded).
For a shielded operation you can fly up to a maximum of 120 metres (400 feet), but only if you are more than 4km from an airport/aerodrome.
If you would like to fly in controlled airspace (airspace which is managed by Airways New Zealand’s air traffic control service), then you need to gain authorisation for each flight from Airways, through a request via AirShare.
If your planned flight meets the shielded operation requirements you do not require Air Traffic Control authorisation, however your flight should still be logged via AirShare.
Check out the below video for more information about shielded operations.
It means you must be able to see and maintain sight of your drone the entire time you are flying it, to ensure safety for people, property and other airspace users such as crewed aircraft.
This is contained under CAA Rule Part 101, specifically rule 101.209 – Visual line of sight operation, which is the requirement to ensure that a model aircraft can satisfy rule 101.213 – Right of way.
A person who operates an aircraft to which this rule applies must at all times:
- maintain visual line of sight with the aircraft; and
- be able to see the surrounding airspace in which the aircraft is operating; and
- operate the aircraft below the cloud base.
FAQs for tourists
Planning on taking a holiday to New Zealand to take in (and film) some of our stunning scenery and adventure sports? Make sure that you understand the rules first. Drone rules in New Zealand are set by the Civil Aviation Authority – learn the rules here.
Different local authorities around New Zealand also have their own rules and procedures regarding drones being flown over land, buildings and other assets owned by them. Check the Advisories section in the AirShare mobile app, for contact information for authorities. We recommend that you check directly with landowners to ensure you have the most up-to-date policy.
We encourage you to log all of your drone flights on AirShare, where you can request authorisation from air traffic control for flying in controlled airspace.
On AirShare you can also review maps of the areas you would like to fly over to see where the control zones and flight exclusion zones are.
If you are likely to fly near uncontrolled aerodromes in more remote parts of New Zealand, read our information about flying near aerodromes.
Have fun and fly safe - we hope you enjoy your visit, but also keep within the rules and support our local drone pilot community by doing so!
We encourage drone operators to log flights in all types of airspace with AirShare. If you’re wanting to fly in controlled airspace, you can log your flight and request authorisation from air traffic control to fly.
You don’t need to be a New Zealand resident to log your flights on AirShare – anyone is able to do this. AirShare is available as a web and mobile app.
Watch this handy video to learn how to log a flight via AirShare.
Uncontrolled aerodromes (which include helipads) are aerodromes where no air traffic control service is provided. This means that there is no “controlled airspace” around the airfield.
AirShare depicts uncontrolled aerodromes on our maps as blue 4km circles. if you are planning to fly in one of these blue circles, read our flying near an aerodrome page to find out what you need to do.
Note: You can fly shielded within the 4km circle if you follow the shielded operation process.
You must have permission before you fly over any people, whether you are filming or not.
If you’re filming a large event, you will need a Part 102 certificate with a special privilege for flying over people.
To fly over private property, you must first gain permission from the property owner/s.
The Civil Aviation Authority outlines the key rules for sharing the skies on their website.
If you want to fly your drone over publicly owned land, you need to first identify who owns/manages the land and request permission from them. Different local authorities have their own rules and procedures regarding drones being flown over land, buildings and other assets owned by them.
Check the Advisories section in the AirShare mobile app for contact information for authorities. Public land may be council owned, or it may be owned and managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC) or Waka Kotahi – the New Zealand Transport Agency (for roads and highways).
New Zealand’s National Parks are managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC). There are specific guidelines for flying drones for any purpose above New Zealand’s conservation estate which includes National Parks.
Please visit this page on the DOC website for the process to apply for a permit to fly over national parks. Please also see this DOC page about arranging a permit to fly a drone over conservation land.
You cannot fly your drone at night in New Zealand, unless you have special privileges under a Part 102 certificate. If you are not 102 certified, you can only fly your drone at night if you are shielded.
New Zealand laws covering the use of drones determine that operators must follow the rules laid out by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), as well as following the policies of the local government authority that’s responsible for the area you wish to fly in. Local government regulations for drone use vary between councils.
If you are flying within controlled airspace, you must gain permission from Airways by using AirShare.
For example, if you wish to fly in Queenstown, you need to follow the drone policy of the Queenstown Lakes District Council.
If you want to fly over any publicly owned conservation land, please visit the Department of Conservation website and read their guidelines for drone operators. You will need to apply for a permit.
Check the Advisories section in the AirShare app to gain contact details for local authorities.
