Information 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 – see our FAQs page to learn about this.

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. If you’re flying in areas where people are likely to be, using a warning sign is also a good idea. ​

Applying for Part 102 can be a complex process. You will need to provide the Civil Aviation Authority in New Zealand with an operating manual showing them how you have identified the hazards and risks of your operation, and the ways you will mitigate those risks.

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.  See our FAQ page to learn about shielded operations.

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.

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.