Apply for a commercial drone concession
You can apply to DOC for a concession to operate your drone on public conservation land.

Drones are aircraft. All aircraft taking off, landing, or hovering on public conservation land requires a concession under the Conservation Act 1987.

Before you apply for a drone concession

You should refer to Drone use on conservation land to ensure you understand the requirements for operating a drone on public conservation land.

This includes complying with:

Step 1: Identify the purpose for which you want to fly your drone

This page sets out how you can apply to use your drone for commercial purposes. Commercial drone use is when you operate your drone for commercial gain or reward.

Examples can include using a drone for filming purposes to:

  • produce media content for public consumption, for example, television show, commercial, feature film, sporting events
  • provide non-media content, for example, surveying or mapping an area for the purposes of a building consent or building development).

If you are planning to use your drone for other purposes (such as recreational use, or research use) you should refer to Drone use on conservation land.

Step 2: Identify where you want to fly your drone

DOC manages a range of public conservation land. To support drone applicants with understanding where drone use is appropriate, DOC has categorized what types of public conservation land are suitable for drone use.

Public conservation land is split into one of three categories:

Green category

Drone use at this location is likely to be consistent with the Conservation Act 1987. A concession should be granted unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Orange category

Unclear if drone use at this location is likely to be consistent with the Conservation Act 1987. Further assessment is required.

Red category

Drone use at this location is unlikely to be consistent with the Conservation Act 1987. A concession should not be granted unless there are exceptional circumstances.

How to identify conservation land

To identify if the location at which you want to operate is suitable for commercial drone use undertake the following steps:

  1. Use DOC maps to identify the name of public conservation land location(s) you want to operate at.
  2. Refer to the docuiment below to confirm if your proposed locations are consistent with the Drone Use Categories.

Commercial drone use public conservation land locations (XLXS, 258K)

DOC is still working to categorize public conservation land on the West Coast. Until this is complete, conservation land in the West Coast is categorised under the orange category.

If the public conservation land location at which you want to fly your drone is not listed in the above spreadsheet, let us know at permissions@doc.govt.nz. 

Step 3: Submit your concession application

The drone use category for the public conservation land location(s) where you want to fly your drone will impact the next steps.

You should select this option if:

If you want to fly at green category locations but wish for a longer concession term (i.e., more than 1-year) refer to the section ‘You want to fly at orange category locations’.

Complete the drone use green category commercial application form

Green category - commercial (WORD, 83K)

Green category - commercial (PDF, 296K)

Send the completed application form to permissions@doc.govt.nz.

Processing fee

There is a fee for processing your application. This is charged whether or not your application is successful.

The green category application processing fee is $180 plus GST.

Processing timeframes

We aim to process applications within 5 working days of receipt of your application.

If your application is granted

If you want to fly your drone for other purposes (for example, recreational use, you must apply for a separate concession.

Additional fees

You will be required to pay an activity fee. Your activity fee will depend on the commercial purposes for which you are using your drone, and the frequency in which you use your drone. For more information see ongoing concession fees.

You should select this option if:

  • you want to fly at orange category locations; or
  • you want to fly at green category locations but want a concession longer than a 1-year concession term; or
  • you want to fly at a combination of drone category locations.

Complete the drone use application form for orange and red category.

Drone use - orange and red category (WORD, 90K)

Drone use - orange and red category (PDF, 302K)

Send the completed application form to permissions@doc.govt.nz.

Processing fee

There is a fee for processing your application. This is charged whether or not your application is successful.

The processing fee varies depending on the complexity of the activity, because DOC staff time is cost recovered. The minimum processing fee charged is $2065 plus GST.

On receipt of your application you will be provided a processing fee cost estimate.

Processing timeframes

For information on processing timeframes, see How long it takes to process an application.

If your application is granted

You will be provided with a copy of your concession contract. You must read, sign and return the contract to DOC before you can operate your drone on public conservation land. 

Additional fees

You will be required to pay an activity fee. Your activity fee will depend on the commercial purposes for which you are using your drone, and the frequency in which you use your drone. For more information see ongoing concession fees.

You should select this option if:

  • you want to fly at red category locations (identified in Step 2).

Complete the drone use application form for orange and red category.

Drone use application form - orange and red category (WORD, 90K)

Drone use application form - orange and red category (PDF, 302K)

Send the completed application form to permissions@doc.govt.nz.

Processing fee

There is a fee for processing your application. This is charged whether or not your application is successful.

The red category application processing fee is $180 plus GST.

Processing timeframes

We aim to process applications within 5 working days of receipt of your application.

Refer to the section ‘You want to fly at orange category locations’.

Contact Us

For further information or assistance, you can contact us at permissions@doc.govt.nz.