Drone Laws in New Zealand

Verfasst von Francis Markert | Last update on 13.04.2026 | 5 Kommentare

In this article, you will find the current legislation for the use of drones in New Zealand.

On the other side of the world, breathtaking panoramas await you. The fascinating landscapes have already served as backdrops for many well-known films. You will certainly find impressive subjects for drone flights in New Zealand. Here you can learn everything you need to know.

Overview: Drone rules in New Zealand

Additional drone regulations in New Zealand

You must always be able to see your drone with the naked eye during flight. If you want to conduct FPV flights, an observer can monitor the drone.

Private drones in New Zealand must not weigh more than 25 kilograms.

To avoid endangering manned aviation, a drone must not be operated within a radius of four kilometers around an airport.

For drone flights within 4 km of airfields, you need:

1. Approval from the airfield operator
2. Pilot license (Part 61, glider, microlight OR drone pilot certificate)
3. Observer during the flight
4. Alternatively: Shielded operation with a physical barrier between the drone and the airfield

In New Zealand, drones may only be operated during daylight hours. An exception can be made if you are flying within 100 meters of a structure (e.g., a tower or church) and do not fly higher than the structure itself. In this case, it is assumed that no other aircraft will fly so close to the structure. In New Zealand, this is referred to as a shielded operation, for which no further requirements need to be met.

In New Zealand, drone operations are not distinguished between private and commercial purposes.

AirShare is the official New Zealand drone app. It enables flight planning, approvals for controlled airspace, displays restricted areas, NOTAMs, airfields, and provides notifications about other air traffic. Registration is free of charge.

In public areas, you need permission from the city or district council. Links with further information can be found earlier in the article.

Drone flights in national parks – zones for drone permits

Drone operations within national parks are only permitted with prior authorization. Public conservation areas are divided into three zones – green, orange, and red.

To find out which zone your drone flights will take place in, use the DOC Drone Zone Map.

Please note that zones may change depending on whether you apply for recreational, research, or commercial purposes.

If the public conservation area you want to fly over has no assigned color, it is best to send an email to [email protected].

Permits for the green zone can be applied for online and are valid for 1 year.

The application forms for the orange and red zones can be found here. Send the completed form by email to [email protected]. You will first receive a cost estimate for the processing fee. After processing, you will receive the result or permit as well as the invoice for the processing fee by email.

You should always carry your permit with you during drone flights, either in electronic or paper form.

Drone ban in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park

For national parks located in red zones, it is usually not worth applying for a permit, as it will most likely be rejected. The not recommended national parks are:

• Abel Tasman National Park
• Arthur’s Pass National Park
• Egmont National Park
• Fiordland National Park
• Mount Aspiring National Park
• Nelson Lakes National Park
• Paparoa National Park
• Tongariro National Park

This list may change at any time. For example, in August 2019, the maximum number of permits for Fiordland National Park was reached, which is why no more were issued temporarily.

Also note that other national parks may have regulations that make standard drone flights more difficult. For example, in Aoraki/Mt. Cook National Park, according to a notice, there are designated landing spots for drones, most of which are located on the Tasman Glacier, which is not easy to access.

The drone regulations for New Zealand listed here have been researched to the best of our knowledge. However, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information. If you want to be on the safe side, please contact the New Zealand aviation authority. Alternatively, you can also contact the New Zealand embassy in your home country for further information on the regulations. Please leave us a comment if you learn any news and/or have your own experiences with your drone in New Zealand!