Submissions

AIANZ has made a submission to Parliament’s Environment Select Committee on the Conservation Reform Bill, highlighting the important role aviation plays in supporting tourism, regional economies, and access to remote conservation areas.

AIANZ has submitted its response to Airways’ FY27 Price Reset consultation, advocating for price stability across the current pricing period. The submission highlights concerns about increasing charges during a time of ongoing cost pressures for the aviation sector, and emphasises the need for predictability, fairness, and a focus on internal efficiencies.

AIANZ has released a comprehensive paper outlining the challenges and workforce shortages in aviation maintenance engineering across New Zealand. The report sets out practical solutions—including the proposed establishment of a dedicated aviation engineering training provider—to support a sustainable, skilled engineering workforce for the sector.

AIANZ has submitted a detailed response to the Aviation Council regarding the proposed 12‑month timeframe for Commercial Pilot Licence training. The paper outlines why a fixed one‑year limit is not feasible under current regulatory and funding settings and highlights the structural barriers affecting student debt, access, and training quality.

AIANZ has released its Flight Training survey results, providing a current picture of domestic pilot training, graduate employment outcomes, and the financial pressures shaping New Zealand’s aviation training system. The findings will help inform the Aviation Action Plan’s workforce priorities.

AIANZ has made an overarching submission to the CAA on the Definition of Air Crew, while its NZAAA and NZHA divisions have also made submissions specific to their areas.

AIANZ has submitted to Parliament’s Environment Select Committee on the Planning Bill, supporting the goals that enable economic growth, as well as the national direction that we think will be important in sending a message to Councils on the importance of commercial aviation.

Briefing to Incoming Ministers

The AIANZ has lodged a submission to the IRD on its plans to tax not-for-profit membership organisations. Along with Business New Zealand and other industry bodies, the Association is strongly opposed to the IRD proposals which could threaten the financial sustainability of many such organisations.

You can read the submission here

The Association, along with some of its members in the Training and Development Division, has made a submission this week to the Ministry of Education on funding determinations. The AIANZ has used the opportunity to again highlight the following points:

• Annual funding rate adjustments do not address the aviation training funding gap.
• The AM/FM cap is incompatible with aviation cost structures.
• Consequences for students.
• Impacts on training providers.
• Wider industry and economic impacts.
• Equity and access concerns.

The AIANZ has made a submission to the CAA regarding the Advanced Aviation Reform (AAR) project which is part of actions taken to Cabinet by the Minister for Space Hon. Judith Collins KC that focuses on growing and enhancing the space and advanced aviation sector. 

There are two streams of AAR actions, including the development of a new civil aviation rule to allow for rapid testing and iteration (also known as Part 107) and refreshing our Part 101 rules to remove the need for certification for some types of operation.

The AIANZ has made a submission to the Tertiary Education Commission on the Coverage of Industry Skills Boards (ISBs), under the reform of Vocational Education and Training.

The Association has recommended the aviation industry sit under the Infrastructure ISB since the Services ISB is wide and disparate.

The AIANZ lodged a submission on 4 April to Airways on the Pricing Review for the period 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2028.

While acknowledging the critical role played by Airways in the aviation system in New Zealand, the Association has opposed the extent of increases being proposed, which is says adds to a growing burden of cost recovery being passed on to industry.

The Association has this week completed a submission to the Ministry of Transport on alternative arrangements for aviation security services.

The AIANZ believes AvSec should be separated from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The latter should focus solely on regulatory functions as they apply to the safety of aviation operations in New Zealand and AvSec should focus on security, while enhancing service delivery for the travelling public. Service provision for security must be unbundled from safety regulatory functions.

The AIANZ has lodged a comprehensive submission on the CAA Pricing Review.

The AIANZ has provided a detailed submission to the Ministry of Transport on the independent reviews of the Director of CAA’s decisions.

In our submission, we supported the broadest possible scope for the review function, arguing that anything less would not serve the interests of our members in the aviation industry.

The AIANZ has made a detailed submission to the consultation on the redesign of the vocational education and training system. We received extensive feedback from our members that was valuable in informing the submission we lodged.

Our submission appraised the three proposals put forward by the Ministry of Education, all of which have relevance to training in the aviation industry. While on balance, we indicated that Option 2, Proposal B was the preferred model for our sector, we pointed out that a ‘one-size fits all’ system will not always serve the interests of aviation.

The AIANZ used the opportunity to highlight the current policy shortcomings with the student loan cap and some immigration settings as they apply to international students.