Media release
20 August 2026
Aviation industry warns rushed drone reforms risk safety and environment
The Government has blindsided industry with rushed reform of agricultural drone rules that could put public safety, the environment and other air space users at risk, says the Aviation Industry Association of New Zealand (AIANZ).
Simon Wallace, Chief Executive of AIANZ, says the industry supports careful and considered reform to improve farmer access to agricultural drones.
“This is not a low-risk activity that lends itself to hasty reform and we have been working constructively with authorities for months on a fit-for-purpose regulatory package.
“So, we were deeply concerned by yesterday’s announcements. They do not provide the fit-for-purpose safeguards needed for this activity and could increase the risk of serious injuries, fatalities and environmental damage.”
Tony Michelle, Executive Officer of the New Zealand Agricultural Aviation Association says agricultural drones must not become an unregulated pathway for aerial agrichemical application.
“Poorly managed operations can cause off-target damage, breach environmental and regulatory controls, and jeopardise New Zealand’s reputation for safe, high-quality primary products. That reputation underpins access to valuable export markets,” says Mr Michelle.
“A national standard is urgently needed to set clear minimum requirements for pilot training, competency, chemical handling, maintenance, modifications, reporting and operational practice.
“Blanket certification for every low-risk landholder operation may be unnecessary but allowing untrained or poorly supervised operators is an unacceptable risk. Regulation must be proportionate to risk, supported by licensing, regular competency checks, compliance oversight and accountability.”
Dr Isaac Henderson, Vice President of the Aviation Industry Association of New Zealand says the risk to life does not stop at the farm boundary, extending to neighbouring properties, public infrastructure, and other airspace users.
“Agricultural spray drones are the size of a dining room table, can travel at more than 70 km/h and will almost certainly weigh more than 100 kilograms when operating. What happens if a farmer operating one of these has a flyaway or system failure? That drone could strike a vehicle and result in a fatality. And who would take responsibility?
“Likewise, a farmer can spray a paddock under an inversion layer and have that chemical travel five kilometres down the road, destroying a multi-million-dollar vineyard,” says Dr Henderson.
“You do not improve national productivity by making one operation cheaper while exposing some of New Zealand’s most valuable agricultural sectors to catastrophic losses.”
Dr Henderson says existing certification must not be removed before
licensing, or other equivalent safeguards are developed to replace it.
“We strongly support use of agricultural drones along with innovation that helps farmers operate more efficiently, but reform must be introduced with safeguards that match the risks involved.
“Our concern is that the Government has decided to remove the existing safeguards first and work out the replacement afterwards.
“Aviation rules exist because the consequences of getting safety wrong are well understood. The Government should pause, work with the sector and put proportionate safeguards in place before changes are made.”
ENDS
For more information contact
Alice Taylor 021 02785648