Changes to New Zealand’s Uncrewed Aircraft Rules. On 22nd December 2025, updated Part 101, Part 102, as well as the new Part 107 rule and the new Civil Aviation Transport Instrument CATI 101-1 come into effect. These rule changes are part of the Government’s Advanced Aviation Reforms and will help operators to streamline operations and innovate efficiently and safely.
Part 107
CAA has created a new rule part, Part 107, which is a performance-based rule. Part 107 applies to many operations across the full spectrum of aviation activity regulated by the CAA. The objective of the initial issue of Part 107 is to provide a regulatory environment to enable rapid iterative research and development activity for aviation systems, whilst maintaining appropriate levels of aviation safety. For the purposes of Part 107, research and development means the testing, inspecting and investigating of an aviation system using an unmanned aircraft or manned aircraft.
Part 107 will allow approved research organisations to rapidly develop and test emerging aviation technologies within pre-defined geographic areas and operational limits. The rule part also removes regulatory burden on organisations carrying out research and development by no longer requiring regulatory approval every time an iteration is made. Part 107 is technology agnostic, allowing for R&D on all aviation systems and ancillary systems.
To apply for a Part 107 certificate, you will need to prepare an exposition and submit an application in a similar way to Part 102. However, unlike Part 102, you can structure your application to cover a whole testing program instead of the current iteration.
Though Part 107 does not specify geographic testing locations, using a location with significant safety mitigations in place will likely make the approval more straightforward Things like established special use airspace, controlled ground areas, separation from the other airspace users, and ground based infrastructure could all be useful in selecting an area for approval.
Key considerations for a Part 107 application include:
- Scope and details of intended R&D activities
- The flight testing location, including airspace classification
- Risk management processes
Part 101 & CATI101-1
Part 101 has been updated to enable more operations that would have previously required a Part 102 certificate to be done under Part 101.
Much of the technical details from Part 101 have been moved to a new transport instrument CATI 101-1. Transport Instruments are a new tool created by the new Civil Aviation Act 2023 that sits alongside rule parts. They are intended to cover things that are technical, facilitate innovation, are contained, and noncontroversial. The Transport Instrument will allow CAA to be more responsive to industry development, as changes to the transport instrument can occur more frequently than that of a standard rule part.
The key changes to what is permitted under Part 101 are:
- Night flights permitted with a night rating + recency requirements under CATI 101-1.
- Enclosed BVLOS permitted under CATI 101-1.
- Shielded operations are permitted up to 33 ft above the shield under CATI 101-1.
- Part 101 now clarifies that aerial spraying/topdressing / vertebrate toxic agent application requires Part 102, regardless of drone mass.
Part 102
Part 102 has changed to now state that if an organisation holds a Part 102 certificate, all unmanned aircraft operations by the organisation fall under that certificate, even if flown within 101 rules.
This is a big step forward for clarity, advanced ops and future innovation across NZ skies. If you have any questions about the updates or would like to explore how you could use them within your organisation, contact Hover UAV.
Changes to New Zealand’s Uncrewed Aircraft Rules – Full CAA announcement here
Link to pending rules Part 101, Part 102, CATI101-1, Part 107
AU: 
