Oceania
New Zealand
CAA NZ — Part 101 (standard rules) / Part 102 (certified operators)
New Zealand distinguishes between Part 101 (standard rules for drones under 25kg, no certification needed) and Part 102 (a CAA certificate is needed for operations that exceed standard limits). There is no legal registration requirement, but voluntary registration on AirShare is the de facto standard.
No legal requirement in 2026; voluntary registration on AirShare (over 56,000 users) is nonetheless strongly recommended.
No certification required within Part 101 limits; a CAA certificate is required for Part 102 operations (e.g. night flight, controlled airspace, beyond visual line of sight).
Zones to avoid
No-fly zones usually follow the same recurring categories (airports, military sites, protected areas, historic centers). For this country: Always check airspace before flying; Department of Conservation permits required for many national park areas.
Verify officially before flying
Source: Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand (CAA NZ)
Last checked: 2026-08
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Why registration exists
Even without a formal requirement, it's still worth keeping a note of the drone's details (serial number, owner) somewhere accessible: proving ownership and responsibility is useful in case of an inspection or incident, regardless of what the law requires. For New Zealand, the official reference remains Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand (CAA NZ), also via AirShare. No legal requirement in 2026; voluntary registration on AirShare (over 56,000 users) is nonetheless strongly recommended.
How this usually works
Even where an exam isn't formally required, most aviation authorities still recommend a basic safety course: rules change often, and flying without the basics is a real risk even without a legal obligation. The exam and certificate are handled by Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand (CAA NZ), also via AirShare. No certification required within Part 101 limits; a CAA certificate is required for Part 102 operations (e.g. night flight, controlled airspace, beyond visual line of sight).
Other countries in Oceania
Informational content, not legal advice. Zones and rules change constantly: always check the country's official website before every flight.