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Flying drones or UAVs

The recreational use of drones or UAVs is allowed in most parks and reserves managed by council provided you follow the rules below. 

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Civil Aviation rules

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) regulates civil aviation in New Zealand, when flying drones or unmanned aerial vehicles you must comply with CAA rules at all times. Here are some general rules you need to follow to keep yourself and others around you safe:

  • You must take steps to minimize hazards to people, property and other aircraft
  • Don’t fly higher than 120m (400ft) above the ground
  • Don’t fly over or nearby other people unless you have their permission
  • Don’t fly over private property without prior consent from the owner and/or occupant
  • Keep your drone in sight at all times
  • Don’t fly within controlled airspace without prior authorisation or doing a shielded operation
  • Only fly during daylight hours, unless you are doing a shielded operation
  • Aircraft must NOT exceed 25kg and must always be safe to operate and well maintained

Council isn’t responsible for setting or monitoring these rules. For more detailed information on CAA rules visit Civil Aviation Authority

Tauranga City Council rules

In addition to civil aviation rules, you are required to adhere to the following when flying over council property:

  • Be courteous of other users, who often are there for the quiet enjoyment of the park
  • Don't operate within 20m of sensitive wildlife habitats such as the NZ dotterel
  • Don't operate during a fire ban period
  • Any commercial use of UAVs must have prior approval from council (see commercial UAV use below)
  • Cease operation if requested by Council staff

Any breach of the above conditions could result in termination of your permission to use public land for the above purposes.

Controlled airspace

CAA rules have strict requirements for operating drones near airports and helipads. Tauranga's boundaries are in the controlled airspace for the airport and hospital helipad. To fly in a controlled airspace, you must either gain prior authorisation from air traffic control or fly your drone using a shielded operation. Never fly over a runway strip or aircraft manoeuvring area.

Air Traffic Control

If you’re flying an “unshielded operation” within 4km of any airport or helipad, you will also need to hold an approved qualification (or to be accompanied by someone who does).

You can request authorisation through the AirShare app

Shielded operation

To fly a shielded operation, your drone or UAV must remain below 100m of, and below the top of, a natural or man made object.

This means you can fly your unmanned aircraft in the Tauranga area as long as you keep your aircraft lower than the highest tree / building / ridge within 100m of where you’re standing. When flying as a shielded operation, you are allowed to fly at night, or within controlled airspace without Air Traffic Control clearance.

Where you can fly

Many of our parks and reserves sit within the 4km zones around aerodromes – see controlled airspace above.

Provided you follow the rules outlined above, you have Tauranga City Council’s permission to fly in Council parks and reserves, except where listed below.

Where you cannot fly

Drone or UAV operation is not permitted in the following locations:

  • Arataki Park
  • Blake Park
  • Council cemeteries
  • The Historic Village
  • Mount Maunganui Main Beach (September to March – bird breeding season)
  • Moturiki (Leisure Island)
  • Mauao*
  • Memorial Park and
  • any sports fields when organised sports events or training are taking place.

*Mauao (Mount Maunganui) is not owned by Council. The Mauao Trust as the owners of Mauao do not permit any drones to fly over Mauao. Special permission can be requested directly from the Mauao Trust.

Council may consider specific requests to fly over these areas – please contact the Event and Film Facilitator at filming@tauranga.govt.nz to discuss.

Council-owned roads (excludes state highways and motorways)

Council may consider specific requests to fly over council-owned roads, for commercial or private purposes. Please email corridor.access@tauranga.govt.nz for details on how to apply. CAA and other rules and conditions as noted below will apply.

New Zealand highways

Filming by drone above New Zealand highways will require permission from the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi before you can fly. NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi rules state that unless you have Part 102 certification, you may not fly or film directly above or along NZ highways.

Commercial UAV use

You will need to obtain film approval from Council to fly UAVs over public space or maunga for commercial UAV filming purposes. This includes:

  • Commercials
  • Student films
  • Videos for the web and
  • Film and television productions, including documentaries, TV shows and music videos

For further information and to apply for film approval (including UAVs) please visit Tauranga City Council's FilmApp.

The CAA and other rules outlined above will apply.

Privacy Act

You need to comply with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner guidance on preserving peoples’ personal privacy by not flying over other people using the park or over adjoining private property without their consent. Note that the Privacy Commissioner’s CCTV guidelines apply to how someone might use drones fitted with cameras and comply with the Privacy Act.

Related information

Get authorisation - Airshare UAV hub
Check before you fly - Controlled airspace and 4km zones
Know your responsibilities - Duties of pilot-in-command
Use the right frequencies - Frequencies legal for unmanned aircraft

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