Government scraps certification requirement for some drone operations
The New Zealand government is removing certification requirements for lower-risk agricultural drone operations to reduce regulatory burdens on farmers. Industry groups have expressed concern that the move could compromise public safety and environmental standards.
Why it matters
The debate reflects the tension between promoting technological efficiency in agriculture and maintaining necessary safety regulations for emerging drone technology.
The government says it is freeing up farmers to use drones more but critics say it increases the chance that a machine could veer off and kill someone.
The move announced on Thursday aims to scrap requirements for lower-risk routine drone operations, such as for pest and fertiliser spraying, to wait for certification.
"Farmers have told us about routine spraying operations being held up due to costly and complex regulatory roadblocks," Associate Transport Minister James Meager said in a statement.
Rules on drones under 25kg had already been loosened and this would extend that to heavier ones, like in Australia where 150kg machines operated under "simple" licensing.
Only a notification to the Civil Aviation Authority ahead of time will be needed from mid-2027.
Critical public safety and environmental protections would remain, Meager said.
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