41017 (2026). Hon Julie Anne Genter to the Associate Minister of Transport

Written Question

Published date: 28 Sep 2026

Metadata

Document type:	Written Question
Parliament number:	54
Question number:	41017 (2026)
Question asked:	15 Sep 2026
Member asking:	Hon Julie Anne Genter
Portfolio:	Associate Minister of Transport
Minister replying:	Hon James Meager
Answer received:	22 Sep 2026
Status:	Question Answered
Reply type:	Reply
Document ID:	WQ_41017_2026
Document guid:	d3f4ce29-c58c-43df-96e7-74a9f2f7377b

41017 (2026). Hon Julie Anne Genter to the Associate Minister of Transport: Which agencies with responsibility for environmental protection, conservation, waterways, and agrichemicals, if any, were consulted on the environmental consequences of replacing certification with notification for agricultural drone operations, and what was the substance of any feedback from these agencies?

Hon James Meager: The Ministry of Transport consulted with the Ministry for Primary Industries, the Ministry for the Environment, the Department of Conservation, and the Environmental Protection Authority in June 2026. These agencies noted that spray drift is a key environmental risk associated with aerial application of agrichemicals by crewed and uncrewed aircraft (including drones) and that this risk would need to be managed appropriately.