You must:
You must only fly on any public conservation land identified in your concession (permit).
You must ensure you have identified the type of airspace you are operating in, and any additional New Zealand Civil Aviation Rules for operating in that airspace.
You must log your drone flight in AirShare. This will help other aircraft operators in the area identify you, and you identify them.
Only you are authorised to operate a drone under your drone concession (permit). Your permit does not authorise others to fly the drone on your behalf.
You must:
When flying the drone, you must:
You must stop operation if requested by a uniformed or warranted member of staff of the Department of Conservation.
You must keep the drone a safe and reasonable distance from people and buildings, structures and utilities.
You must operate the drone away from ‘high use’ recreational areas where people congregate, such as
You must not fly, hover or keep the drone in a continuous position over any person without their consent.
You must not use the drone to deliberately pursue, harass, or disturb any person.
If you encounter piloted aircraft, such as helicopters, fixed wing planes, hang gliders, you must give way and land the drone immediately. You must not resume operating the drone until the piloted aircraft has left the area.
If you encounter remotely piloted aircraft (another drone), you must keep the drone a safe distance from it.
You must not use the drone to pursue, harass, or disturb any other aircraft.
For the purposes of these conditions, ‘wildlife’ includes any wild animal (any animal living in a wild state, regardless of whether the animal is native or non-native). ‘Wildlife’ does not include ‘marine mammals’, for example, dolphins, whales, seals, as defined under the Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978.
You may fly the drone near or over wildlife.
However, when doing so you must:
You must not fly the drone over roosting/nesting birds. You must not hover or keep the drone in a continuous position over any wildlife.
If any wildlife repeatedly circles or engages directly with the drone, for example dive bombs, you must land the drone immediately and cease the drone operation. You must not use the drone to deliberately pursue, harass or disturb any wildlife.
For the purposes of these conditions, ‘marine mammals’ is as defined under the Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978. This includes dolphins, whales, seals and sea lions.
To avoid disturbing or harassing marine mammals you must:
You must not hover or keep the drone in a continuous position over any marine mammal. If the marine mammal appears distressed or disturbed by the drone, you must land the drone immediately and cease the drone operation.
You must not use the drone to deliberately pursue, harass, or disturb any marine mammal.
See also drone safety
Email: permissions@doc.govt.nz