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How many reported unauthorised occurrences involving unmanned aircraft used for agricultural purposes have been recorded by the Civil Aviation Authority in each of the last five financial years, broken down by occurrence type, and how many resulted in enforcement action?

Answered Question 41008 (2026)
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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • How many reported unauthorised occurrences involving unmanned aircraft used for agricultural purposes have been recorded by the Civil Aviation Authority in each of the last five financial years, broken down by occurrence type, and how many resulted in enforcement action?

Answered by

Hon James Meager

Member for Rangitata · National Party · Associate Minister of Transport

Answer

Prior to the Act implementation (5 April 2025), occurrences by commercial unmanned operations were not generally reported to the Authority. Where an operator's status is known to be unauthorised for agricultural drone work at the time of the occurrence and the occurrence was positively identified as an agricultural operation. FY24/25 Accident – 0 Aviation related concern – 0 Defect – 1 Incident – 6 TOTAL = 7 FY25/26 Accident – 6 Aviation related concern – 4 Defect – 0 Incident – 5 TOTAL = 15 No infringements have been issued is the last 5 years for unmanned aircraft used for agricultural purposes.