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About this work

Drones — also known as Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) — are aircraft of any size that operate without a pilot on board. They can be remotely piloted or fly autonomously.

Drones are rapidly gaining in popularity, for both commercial and recreational uses, and are used in a range of ways including scientific research, military training, search and rescue, inspecting powerlines, and filming for movies and television. They are also used in industries such as agriculture, dairy, forestry and tourism. In future, we are likely to see drones being used for goods delivery and even passenger transport.

The Government is committed to having a thriving, innovative and safe drone sector as it will bring the commercialisation of new products and services, and create more jobs.

The work to date

07
May 2021

Proactive release of Cabinet paper and briefings relating to the Enabling Drone Integration discussion document

We are proactively releasing five documents relating to the Enabling Drone Integration discussion document, including the Cabinet Paper seeking approval to release the discussion document.

More information and related documents
06
Apr 2021–May 2021

Enabling Drone Integration Consultation

05
Jun 2019–Present

Drone forums regularly held

The drone forums are a way for us to share what we are doing, where we are going and encourage the sector to get involved. Anyone interested in the use of drones in New Zealand can attend.

More information
04
Sep 2019–Present

Drone regulatory work programme

We are working with the public and stakeholders to develop regulations for the effective integration of drones into our aviation system.

More information
03
Aug 2018–Present

Unmanned Aircraft Integration Leadership Group is established and meets regularly

The group first met in 2018, and meets every 6 months or more often if necessary. It provides strategic guidance and oversight of the work programme to achieve the safe integration of UAS into New Zealand’s airspace.

More information
02
Nov 2018–Aug 2019

Drone Benefit study commissioned and released

In collaboration with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, we commissioned a study to quantify the potential benefits of drones to the New Zealand economy, and to support cross-government work towards the efficient integration of drones into our transport system.

More information
01
Sep 2018–Jul 2019

Published a paper about the integration of drones into our aviation system

To inform the cross-government work programme on drones, in collaboration with other government departments, we published a paper called ‘Taking flight: an aviation system for the automated age’.

More information

Get in touch

Email us If you are interested in finding out about future forums and how you can participate.

drones@transport.govt.nz

We also send out a newsletter when we have news, an update on our work, an upcoming event or have released new documents about drones.

Subscribe to the drones newsletter