Flying a Drone in the Wairoa District

You must also comply with the Privacy and CCTV guide on preserving people’s personal privacy by not flying over people using Council-owned land or adjoining private property without their consent.

You are required to maintain ‘visual line of sight’ with the device and you must obey all other CAA Part 101 rules, such as:

• not do anything hazardous to persons, property and other aircraft,
• fly only in daylight,
• not fly your aircraft higher than 120 metres (400 feet) above ground level,
• not fly closer than 4km from any aerodrome unless you have clearance from the aerodrome operator, have an observer with you and have a pilot qualification or you are flying shielded with a barrier.
  (See the Airshare map showing the 4km radius around both Wairoa aerodrome and the Wairoa Hospital and the area around Rocket Lab’s operations at the Mahia peninsula.)
• when flying in controlled airspace, obtain an air traffic control clearance by logging an Airshare or fly shielded. (See the controlled airspace on the Airshare map.)
• have consent from anyone you want to fly above.
• Under the Public Safety Bylaw if you are caught flying in non-permitted areas without a permit you will be infringed.

Council local roads (excludes state highways)

CAA and other rules and conditions will apply, as above. If there are cars or pedestrians around you need their permission too. If you wish to fly over the road corridor then you will need to complete a Corridor Access Request.

For state highways, refer to Waka Kotahi NZTA.

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 public parks 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.

Complaints about drones

If a drone flies above your property without your permission and you feel it’s in breach of your privacy – contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner.

Report a drone safety concern to the CAA.

If there's an urgent risk to public safety, contact the police.

Useful links

CAA Part 101 rules

Airshare and/or Airshare Map

Shielded operations

WDC Drone policy and Public safety bylaw (below)