What are the Drone Laws in New Zealand?
There are a few categories we need to take into account here depending on their weight and such.
400ft max height
Don't fly over people
Don't interfere with aircraft
Only line of sight
New Zealand is an excellent destination for drone pilots. The beautiful country is a popular destination for grabbing panoramic images. The kiwis have some of the most liberal drone laws of any country.
Yes, you can fly a drone in New Zealand, and the landscape is superb! However whether you are going to fly for commercial applications or just for the sake of fun, you need to abide by some specific laws.
The regulatory body charged with overseeing drone rules and regulations is the New Zealand Civil Aviation. They are responsible for maintaining safety in New Zealand’s skies.
Failing to follow any rules and regulations can get you in trouble whenever you are flying your drone in New Zealand therefore, I highly recommend reading this article to the end.
If you feel a need to contact the authorities you can do so by using the following contact details
Email: drones@caa.govt.nz
Phone: +64(4)5609400
There are a few categories we need to take into account here depending on their weight and such.
To simplify everything I will put them into categories:
Laws around 102 are flexible as they are mainly for extremely flexible users. Certification here is granted on a case basis after all assurances are met.
This is another common question that most new drone pilots may have on their minds. You might be wondering whether you need a drone license to operate it commercially or not when it comes to flight in New Zealand.
The answer to this question is no. It is not necessary to have a drone license to operate your drone commercially in New Zealand. You will need to operate under CAR101 rules. However, there are some companies that only hire RPAS operators under the CAR102 licenses only.
These are some frequently asked questions by foreigners bringing drones to New Zealand
Yes, you can bring your drone to New Zealand as long as it is for personal use only. If you are planning to use it for commercial purposes, then you will need to obtain a permit from the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand.
There are no Federal laws in New Zealand that regulate the use of drones over private property. However, some cities and states have their own laws and regulations. Therefore, it is best to avoid flying your drone over private property in order to stay out of unwanted troubles.
No, you can't fly directly over public places because it is against the law. You must keep your drone at least 30 meters away from any people, buildings, and vehicles. This is to ensure the safety of the public.
No, you can't fly your drone at night in New Zealand, just like most countries. This is because it is more difficult to see your drone at night, which can pose a safety hazard to both people and property.
Yes, FPV is allowed in New Zealand provided that an observer is watching the flight of the drone. If not then you can get into serious trouble.
There are no specific privacy laws in New Zealand regarding the use of drones. However, it is generally considered to be rude and intrusive to fly a drone over someone's property without their permission.
Those were some of the main drone laws about privacy in New Zealand.
The answer is no, you can't convert your foreign drone license to a New Zealand one. You will need to obtain a new license from the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand in order to operate your drone commercially in the country. Apart from that, you must follow the rules for CAR101 and CAR102.
No, you don't need a license to fly your drone in New Zealand. However, you will need to operate under CAR101 rules. There are some companies that only hire RPAS operators under the CAR102 licenses only as mentioned earlier.
As such, there is no age limit to flying drones in New Zealand. However, some companies only hire people 18 years old and above when it comes to commercially flying drones.
No, you don't need to register your drone before flying it in New Zealand. However, you will need to label your drone with your name and contact information. This is so that the authorities can contact you if there are any problems with your drone.
No way, you can't fly your drone directly over a crowd of people. This is because it is against the law and it can pose a safety hazard to the people below. Keep your drone at least 30 meters away from any people, buildings, and vehicles.
My following two recommendations are 2 great compact drones that are quite silent and also small enough to travel with and not stand out as annoying.
4k
31 min
10 km
No follow-me
DJI has surprised us with this incredible camera drone under 250g, which is legal to fly in most countries without registration.
It comes at a very cheap price for its incredible specs.I have covered it much more in-depth in my article review and even compared it with the Mavic Air 2.
4k 60p
34 min
10 km
Follow me
If you want more control over things like shutter speed, iso, and such, the best professional drone that still falls under the 500g category is the DJI Mavic Air.
It's made mostly for people who want to play around with settings and enter into the pro category.
DJI lowered its price since it was first released.
The best way to figure out what areas you can fly in, while you're here is by consulting DJI's official map.
They do a great job mapping the places that one should avoid while flying in every country:
These would be the current updated drone laws for New Zealand I suggest checking my full map with all the countries' drone laws to see where it's best to travel.
I hope you found this article helpful. New Zealand is a beautiful country with lots to offer. It is also a great place to fly drones. Just remember to follow the rules and regulations set by the authorities in order to avoid any trouble.
Happy flying!
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