Flying your drone in Dunedin
This page contains information about flying drones and other Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) in Dunedin City
All drone users must follow Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) guidelines while flying over public or private property.
Key CAA Guidelines
- Don’t fly drones over people or organised events without permission.
- Only fly during daylight hours and make sure you can see the drone at all times
- Don’t fly your drone above the height of surrounding trees and buildings if within 4 km of an aerodrome as this could put it in restricted airspace used by other aircraft. (Drone Restrictions)
- Any drone over 25kg requires certification from the CAA
- Flying in prohibited areas or breaching CAA guidelines could incur a penalty of up to $1000
- More information about CAA requirements can be found at www.airshare.co.nz
The Dunedin City Council permits drone use over some of its property depending on the nature of the flights.
Commercial film users
If you would like to operate a drone over DCC-controlled property (including reserves, roads and beaches) for a commercial film activity, a film permit is required.
Other Commercial users
If you would like to operate a drone over DCC-controlled property (including reserves, roads and beaches) for other commercial activities, such as photography or surveying, a permit is required.
Recreational/non-commercial users
We consider the following types of activity as non-commercial:
- Filming as part of news reporting
- Filming of private activities not for public distribution (e.g. filming a wedding celebration)
- Filming for educational purposes and not commercial gain
- Filming by voluntary/non-profit/community organisations for charitable/non-commercial purposes (excluding organisations formed and operating solely for political purposes).
If you want to fly a drone for recreational purposes, and it weighs 1.5kg or less, you may fly without a permit over:
- any DCC-controlled park, sports field or reserve
- any beach area under DCC’s authority.
Except:
- Ecologically Sensitive Areas
- Parks, sports fields or reserves that have been booked by someone else
- Dunedin Botanic Garden
- Playgrounds
- Cemeteries.
If you would like to fly a drone weighing more than 1.5kg, or you would like to operate over other DCC property, such as a road or water treatment facility, or one of the prohibited areas listed above:
Some green space is owned by other authorities, like the Department of Conservation. Permission from these authorities is required if you plan to fly your drone over their land. If you are flying over private property, you will need consent from the property owner.
Restricted and Prohibited Fly Zones Map.
Pre-flight checklist
- I have consent to fly in the area I intend to fly in, if required
- I won’t fly my drone over people, private property, or an organised event (unless given permission)
- I’ll be flying my drone during daylight hours
- I’ll make sure I can see the drone at all times
- If I want to fly my drone within restricted areas I have permission from the relevant air authority unless I fly as a shielded operation
- If my drone is over 1.5kg I have a DCC permit to operate
- If my drone is over 25kg I have CAA certification.