35DOChastakena conservativeapproach
to droneuseandinsistsoperatorsapplyfora
concessionto fly from or over publicconserva-
tionland.Thisprocessis becomingstreamlined
andDOChasnowreleaseda listof preferred
locationsfordroneuse.Thisis anexcellent
opportunityfor touristswho wish to fly a drone
whileonholidayin thefrontcountry.DOCtreats
dronesasaircraft,andit is likelythatpermission
will only be grantedto fly dronesin areas where
aircraftarepermittedto landandtakeoff.Many
populartouristlocationsdonotallowdrones
duetothenegativeeffectsonothervisitors.It is
alsoimportantto keepecologicalsensitivityand
disturbancetowildlifein mindwhenplanninga
drone flight or concessionapplication.
Airshare.co.nzis an excellentfirst port of call
for New Zealanddrone flying information.The
websitehasa greatmappingtoolto helpwork
out whereto fly, wherepermissionis needed.
AirsharealsoprovidesinformationontheCAA
rulesdroneoperatorsmustfollow.
I recentlybegana journeytotrampintore-
motelocationsandcapturefreshimagesofNZ’s
backcountry.I photographedthedramatickarst
onMtOwenandthelimestoneontheThousand
AcrePlateau,bothin KahurangiNationalPark.
Myfavouriteimagessofarareof thewinding
CascadeRiverin SouthWestlandandthenew
PaparoaGreatWalknearGreymouth.
It was amazingto be able to fly in these
mountain areas.LarrikinCreek
Hut,Kahurangi
National Park