40919 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Associate Minister of Transport

40919 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Associate Minister of Transport: When were the Aviation Industry Association's concerns regarding the agricultural drone regulatory changes announced on 20 August 2026, including that agricultural drone operation is "not a low-risk activity that lends itself to hasty reform", conveyed to him, and what advice did officials provide in response, if any?

Hon James Meager: Officials met with the Aviation Industry Association of New Zealand on 8 June 2026 during development of policy options for better enabling agricultural drone operations. The 30 June 2026 briefing from the Ministry of Transport included a summary of Aviation Industry Association of New Zealand’s views (OC260481 Civil Aviation Rules: Policy options for better enabling agricultural spraying drone operations, Ministry of Transport, 30 June 2026). Officials from the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority are engaging with industry bodies as part of the detailed policy and rule design currently underway. Officials met with the Aviation Industry Association of New Zealand on 20 August 2026 to discuss their concerns and seek input into detailed policy and rule design.