Agricultural sector productivity is set to soar through common-sense reforms to drone regulations.
Regulation Minister David Seymour said the Ministry for Regulation heard red tape was getting in the way of farmers using agricultural drones for spraying and other tasks, which suck up time and energy.
The Ministry investigated, made recommendations to Government on how to increase accessibility, and has worked alongside Associate Transport Minister James Meager to progress reforms as part of his Civil Aviation Rules Update Programme.
Meager said the changes will slash burdensome red tape and make agricultural drone use for spraying cheaper, faster, and more efficient.
“Drones have become an everyday tool in modern agricultural spraying, offering precise application of pesticides and fertiliser that helps minimise product wastage, while also reaching tricky terrain safely and efficiently,” said Meager.
“However, farmers, growers and foresters have been clear that the current certification process is impractical and no longer fit-for-purpose. Existing rules have not kept pace with the evolving technological landscape.”
He added that farmers said routine spraying operations were being held up by costly, complex regulatory roadblocks, so the government will scrap requirements for lower-risk routine drone operations to apply and wait for certification before starting work, which can take up to nine months and cost thousands of dollars.
Only a notification to the Civil Aviation Authority ahead of time will be needed. This will cover routine activities such as spraying pesticides and herbicides and distributing fertiliser, lime, seeds and manures across cropland, pasture, orchards, vineyards, market gardens and forests.
Meager has directed officials to overhaul the rules and create a simpler pathway, while maintaining critical public safety and environmental protections. This will come into effect mid-2027, following detailed design and engagement.
Seymour highlighted that overseas farmers, who compete with New Zealand farmers, can spray crops with precise, targeted applications of chemicals using drones at a fraction of the cost compared to Kiwi farmers.
In Australia, he said drones up to 150 kilograms can operate on farmland under simple licensing, and that this announcement will bring Kiwi farmers closer to the frontier of innovation and make them more competitive on the global stage.
“These reforms build on earlier changes allowing drones under 25kg to be used for mapping, monitoring and stock shifting without certification or notification. We are now looking at ways to extend that flexibility to larger drones,” added Meager.
High-risk or complex drone operations, and spraying from planes and helicopters, will remain subject to existing requirements.
Meager was confident this will strike the correct balance, so regulation is right-sized and proportionate to risk. Public consultation will also provide another layer of certainty.
“This reform will reduce costs, improve efficiency and unlock regional growth. It is yet another common-sense change from the Government’s ambitious programme to fix the basics and modernise New Zealand’s civil aviation rules.”
More about drones in this issue here
