Airffic InspectionThe future guide to drone inspection

REGULATIONS / NZ

New Zealand: drone rules for inspection

New Zealand uses Part 101 (standard rules up to 25 kg) and Part 102 (operator certification), and drones flown under Part 101 need no registration. Since 22 December 2025 the operating details sit in transport instrument CATI 101-1, and unshielded night flights are allowed under Part 101 after approved training. A 'shielded operation', within 100 m of and below the top of a structure or trees, may be flown at night and in controlled airspace, with extra barrier conditions within 4 km of an aerodrome. This makes building and tower inspection comparatively easy. BVLOS needs Part 102 certification except inside an enclosed area the drone cannot leave, and flights over people or property need consent.

Checked against official sources

Fields are recorded in the language of the research notes.

Authorityニュージーランド民間航空局 (CAA NZ) / Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand
Main frameworkCivil Aviation Rules Part 101 (gyrogliders, parasails, unmanned aircraft and kites) and Part 102 (unmanned aircraft operator certification), under the Civil Aviation Act 2023. Part 101 Amendment 1 came into force on 22 December 2025. It moved the detailed Subpart E operating conditions into a transport instrument, CATI 101-1, made under new rule 101.17, and AC101-1 Revision 2 was issued the same day. Also from 22 December 2025, a new Part 107 lets certificated research and development organisations test technology within predefined areas.
RegistrationRPA operated under Part 101 do not need to meet the Part 47 aircraft registration requirements (AC101-1 Rev 2), so New Zealand has no general drone registration. Registration for Part 102 operations was not checked (not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22).
Remote IDNeither CATI 101-1 nor AC101-1 Rev 2 mentions a Remote ID requirement, so none appears to be in force (not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22).
Pilot licensingPart 101 has no pilot licence. Operators in controlled airspace or near aerodromes need ATC authorisation or aerodrome-operator agreement, and unshielded night flying requires an approved night course. RPA between 15 kg and 25 kg need approval of construction or inspection and of operation from an approved person or organisation. Operators who cannot comply with Part 101 need a Part 102 operator certificate.
Risk categoriesPart 101 covers standard operations up to 25 kg gross mass, with conditions set in CATI 101-1. Part 102 covers certificated operations of any weight and anything outside Part 101, including aerial spraying and topdressing, which Part 101 now prohibits. The 2025 amendment was meant to move some lower-risk operations from Part 102 into Part 101.
BVLOSUnder Part 101 the pilot must keep VLOS at all times; FPV is allowed only with a trained observer who keeps visual contact. BVLOS under Part 101 is allowed only inside an enclosed area the aircraft cannot physically leave, with controlled entry. Any other BVLOS needs Part 102 certification.
Night & over peopleSince 22 December 2025, night flight under Part 101 is allowed indoors, as a shielded operation, or unshielded if the operator has completed an approved night course, has flown at night (or done a 30-minute shielded refresher) within the previous 90 days, uses suitable lighting and flies only one aircraft at a time. Flying over people needs their explicit consent, and flying over property needs the owner's or occupier's consent. Otherwise Part 102 applies.
Near structuresA 'shielded operation' is one that stays within 100 m of, and below the top of, a natural or man-made object such as a building, tower or trees (CAA explanation). Shielded operations may be flown at night and in controlled airspace without ATC clearance. Under CATI 101-1 the aircraft may go up to 33 ft above the shielding object in controlled airspace. Within 4 km of an aerodrome, a shielded operation must be outside the aerodrome boundary, no more than 33 ft above the shield, and separated from the aerodrome by a barrier able to stop the aircraft. The height limit is 400 ft AGL, with exceptions such as notified Class G operations more than 4 km from an aerodrome. This makes structure inspection close to buildings, towers or tree lines comparatively easy under Part 101. The legal definition of 'shielded operation' in Part 1 was not re-read in full (not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22).
Indoor & confinedCATI 101-1 allows night operations indoors, and BVLOS inside an enclosed area that the aircraft cannot physically escape, with controlled entry. Whether Part 101 applies at all to flights inside buildings was not checked (not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22).
Imaging & privacyPrivacy Act 2020; the Privacy Commissioner has published guidance on drones (not verified against an official source, 2026-10-22).
Recent changesPart 101 Amendment 1 (made November 2025, in force 22 December 2025) moved the Subpart E operating rules into Civil Aviation Transport Instrument CATI 101-1, which allows faster updates. It added unshielded night operations under Part 101 after approved training, banned aerial spraying, topdressing and toxin application under Part 101, and made weight limits a matter for the instrument. AC101-1 Revision 2 was issued as a trial advisory circular, with feedback due in early 2026. Part 107 (research and development organisation certification) also took effect on 22 December 2025.

Sources

Sources checked: 2026-10-22