Where you can fly a drone or an unmanned aerial vehicle

If you fly a drone or UAV, you must comply with New Zealand Civil Aviation regulations. You must also follow other legislation and bylaws relevant to using drones for recreation and business purposes.

Visit Rules and regulations for drones and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for more information.

Private property

You can fly a drone on your own property. If you want to fly a drone over someone else’s private property, you must get permission from the property owner.

Make a complaint about a drone or unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to report a drone or UAV flying over your property without permission.

Local parks

You can fly a drone or UAV without a permit in most local parks around Auckland.

You cannot fly a drone or UAV at any time in:

• public cemeteries
• Tūpuna Maunga sites
• Auckland Botanic Gardens
• Auckland Zoo 
• Go Media Stadium (Mt Smart)
• North Harbour Stadium
• Western Springs Stadium
• Aotea Square
• Wynyard Quarter
• Cornwall Park 
• Rosedale landfill reserve.

Contact us for more information about using drones and UAVs in Auckland’s local parks.

Regional parks

You can fly a drone or UAV at some regional parks but you must have a permit.

Visit Make an enquiry online to apply for a permit.

Regional parks where you cannot fly a drone or UAV

You cannot fly a drone or UAV at these regional parks at any time:

• Ambury
• Duder
• Hūnua Ranges
• Motukorea / Browns Island
• Muriwai Gannet Colony 
• Mutukāroa / Hamlins Hill
• Te Ārai
• Tāwharanui
• Tawhitokino
• Shakespear
• Waharau
• Whatipū, Waitakere Ranges.

Council-managed land

To use a drone or UAV on council-managed land, you must follow the rules and regulations and comply with New Zealand Civil Aviation regulations.

Other places where you need permission to fly a drone or UAV

You must get permission to fly a drone or UAV:

• within 4km of an airport or airfield
• on protected conservation land 
• on land, property or facilities used to educate children under 18 years, such as:
  • early childhood centres
  • primary intermediate
  • secondary schools
• on roads, road reserves and at train stations 
• over railways.

Professional filming with a drone or UAV

You need a permit to fly a drone or UAV for professional filming over public spaces, such as for:

• film and television productions, including:
  • documentaries
  • TV shows
  • music videos
• advertisements
• videos for financial or promotional gain.

Visit Screen Auckland for more information about commercial drone and UAV permits.