Can you fly your drone in New Zealand?

In New Zealand, the credential to know about is Part 101/102 Certificate. Whether you need it depends on your drone's weight and how you fly — Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand runs the scheme, and the official sources below spell out exactly when it applies.

Yes — no drone registration or pilot licence is required for recreational Part 101 flying, tourists included. The catch is consent: you need permission from the landowner or occupier and from anyone you fly over, and DOC conservation land — about a third of the country — requires a paid permit. Stay 4 km from aerodromes. Rules for foreign pilots can change, so always double-check with Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand before you travel, and see the official sources below.

The short version: Maximum height is 120 m (400 ft) above ground level, unless flying under the specific conditions set out in CATI: 101-1 section 2.5 (Part 101). On top of that: No registration or pilot license required for Part 101 recreational flying. Also: You must be able to see the drone with your own eyes at all times, unless flying FPV with a visual observer, or operating under a BVLOS authorisation (CAA Part 101). These are central aviation rules — location-specific airspace, land, nature, privacy and photography requirements can also apply in New Zealand, so always check the official sources.

What you need to avoid are the restricted zones — typically around airports, prisons, military areas and protected nature. You'll find the official map for New Zealand under Sources below, and the DroneKoll app keeps the country's rules, weather and checklists in one place before you fly.

Drone flying in New Zealand is regulated by Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand. The airspace itself is managed by Airways New Zealand. You will find both organisations' official pages under Sources below — those are the links worth bookmarking.