We're contracted to develop the Civil Aviation Rules by the Ministry of Transport for the Minister. Under this contract the Minister of Transport approves a programme of new rules and changes to existing rules each year. Any ordinary rule changes are subject to the Minister of Transport's agreement.

This page is updated monthly to provide progress reports on our current rule projects together with information on recent rule changes that have come into effect.

You can also find a list of current regulatory issues and how to raise your own issue with our regulatory system. 

If you have any queries regarding a rule project, please contact us by emailing docket@caa.govt.nz.

Rules programme tracker

Projects in progress chart

Current rule projects progress report

Rule project name and reference Description and purpose of rule Current status Next milestone

Drug and Alcohol Management Plans and Testing (24/CAR/02)

Rules are required to give effect to the Civil Aviation Act 2023 provisions for drug and alcohol management plans (DAMPs) and random testing: primarily the scope of the participants/certificate holders affected and dates for submitting first DAMPs.

Draft NPRM being finalised

Publish NPRM

Assorted Issues

(24/CAR/01)

The Assorted Issues policy project consists of a collection of issues that exceed the criteria of an omnibus rule amendment (very minor changes), yet do not warrant an individual stand-alone policy and rules project. Individually, these changes are not likely to meet cost-benefit or significance thresholds to be prioritised for rule development but are good to do from a regulatory stewardship perspective.

The NPRM was published for public consultation on 13 February and will be open for six weeks.

Consultation period closes on 25 March 2024.

Project milestones

  1. Minister accepts rule project onto Transport Rules Programme
  2. Publish NPRM
  3. Consultation period closes
  4. Publish summary of public submissions
  5. Final rule package agreed with the Ministry of Transport
  6. Minister signs the rule
  7. Rules come into effect

Petition to raise a regulatory issue

If you wish to raise a regulatory issue for assessment that may progress to a rule change, please complete form 24011-01 [PDF 24 KB] and email it to docket@caa.govt.nz.

For more information about issue assessment see the rule development process and regulatory policy pages.

Recently completed CAA rule projects

Rule project name Description and purpose of rule Rules and amendment numbers Important dates