New guidelines in place for drone use at Te Mata Park

Dramatic scenery at Te Mata makes for amazing drone photos, but drone operators better check new guidelines before flying. Photo / Patrick O'Sullivan

Drones. Love them or hate them they are here to stay, and in response to increasing numbers Te Mata Park has put new guidelines in place for operators.

Owner of Tim Whittaker Photography, Tim Whittaker, who has been using a drone for eight years, is happy with the guidelines, as he says the primary purpose of the park is to allow people to be with nature.

"Te Mata Park is such a beautiful place, and on the flipside, an amazing place to go fly a drone, but more importantly for the people who use it, a place where they can be in nature and private, as well as, in a peaceful environment."

"Drones are about as appreciated as a jet ski, not many people like them, I fully understand that."

Manager of the Te Mata Park Trust, Emma Buttle, said it was a response to the increasing number of drone users on the park, and guidelines would become more common place across the world.

"It's something that's just become increasingly evident, that there's definitely more and more use of drones up in the park, and that's on a worldwide basis as well, not just locally."

"The feedback is generally positive from park users. They feel it's about time we address the drone policy."

She said the policy was based on Civil Aviation Authority guidelines and Hasting District Council's draft policy around drone usage, with some specific guidelines for Te Mata.

She said the guidelines were essentially common sense, including not flying on to roads and not flying on to neighbouring properties.

The board was also hoping for increased communication between drone operators and the board. Operators would have to apply for permission to use their drone on the park.

To ensure people knew about the policy they were putting new signs up in the park.

She said there are volunteers and are caretaker, who work in the park, who would keep an eye out for any unusual behaviour, but apart from that the new guidelines would be managed by a system of trust.

"I want to make it clear though as well, if any drone operators have any questions or concerns, just to make contact with us and we're happy to talk with them."

"We do realise as well, the footage of the park is very important from a commercial perspective as well."

"We don't want to restrict it, just make sure we a all on the same page."