24 September 2026

A Parliamentary petition has been launched in response to the Government’s proposed notification pathway for routine agricultural drone operations.

The proposed changes would allow some agricultural RPAS operations currently requiring Part 102 certification to instead operate through a notification-based pathway.

UAVNZ supports regulatory reform that enables the responsible growth of New Zealand’s unmanned aviation sector and removes unnecessary barriers to the adoption of new technology. However, reform should not come at the expense of appropriate safety assurance.

Agricultural drones are becoming increasingly large and capable, and routinely operate at low level in an environment shared with agricultural aircraft, helicopters, emergency services and other aviation activity. Any alternative to Part 102 therefore needs to appropriately address matters such as operator training and competency, aircraft suitability and maintenance, operational procedures, airspace awareness and the management of abnormal and emergency situations.

UAVNZ has advocated for a regulatory framework that makes routine and well-understood agricultural RPAS operations easier to approve while retaining meaningful and proportionate safety safeguards.

The Parliamentary petition asks Parliament to reconsider replacing Part 102 certification with a notification-only pathway unless equivalent safety safeguards are established.

Those involved in the RPAS sector, wider aviation industry, agriculture, or anyone with an interest in the proposed reforms are encouraged to read the petition and make their own views known.

The petition closes on 11 December 2026.

Read and sign the Parliamentary petition:
https://petitions.parliament.nz/3ae388bb-b3e9-4f40-261a-08df030c67ff