40927 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Associate Minister of Transport

Written Question

Published date: 28 Sep 2026

Metadata

Document type:	Written Question
Parliament number:	54
Question number:	40927 (2026)
Question asked:	14 Sep 2026
Member asking:	Tangi Utikere
Portfolio:	Associate Minister of Transport
Minister replying:	Hon James Meager
Answer received:	22 Sep 2026
Status:	Question Answered
Reply type:	Reply
Document ID:	WQ_40927_2026
Document guid:	5e6f8283-c818-41fa-b45f-8a1ab62c2a2d

40927 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Associate Minister of Transport: What regulatory options for agricultural drone operations other than a notification pathway were assessed by officials, if any, including targeted changes to Civil Aviation Rule Parts 101 and 102 thresholds, a class exemption under sections 322 and 323 of the Civil Aviation Act 2023, an operator accreditation or competency requirement, and weight or airspace-based thresholds, and in which document is each assessment recorded?

Hon James Meager: The options in the advice I received on 30 June were a streamlined certification pathway, a notification pathway, open access (no certification or notification required) and process improvements.