Drones
Drone Policy
This policy aims to enable and promote the safe and efficient use of RPAS (also known as remotely piloted aircraft systems, or drones) within and above Council controlled land parks.
This policy is limited by, and subordinate to the requirements of the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand (CAANZ) Rule Parts 101 and 102.
Most of the parks and open spaces within the Blenheim and Picton area fall within controlled airspace or within 4km of an airfield so additional permission will be required from other agencies - details of these agencies are available in the policy and links to contact details for these agencies are available on this page.
Read The Policy
Permission Requests
To request permission to fly over parks and open spaces:
Go to to our park booking system to book the relevant space
To request permission to fly over rivers email:
To request permission to fly over Marlborough Sounds water:
To request permission to fly over roads and highways:
Other Agency Details
To fly a drone in many areas of Marlborough you will need to contact one, if not many of the other agencies below:
Woodbourne Air Traffic Control
Omaka Airfield (Marlborough Aero Club)
Picton Airfield (Sounds Air)
Wairau Hospital (Nelson Marlborough District Health Board)
Department of Conservation - drone use on conservation land
Useful Links
CAANZ information on drones (includes rules, FAQs, information on drone training)