Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand

and the organization he helps lead. With specific responsibility for the Aviation Safety Group, Harrison shares insights into the CAA’s operations, the challenges they face, and the innovations driving the future of aviation safety. THE ROLE OF THE CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY The New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority, a Crown entity, and public service organization is tasked with a comprehensive mandate: to control standards and policies for aviation within New Zealand and its associated airspace.This responsibility extends to one of the largest airspace areas globally, encompassing substantial expanses of the Pacific Ocean. Despite New Zealand’s relatively small landmass, its airspace coverage presents unique challenges that the CAA must navigate. “We oversee aviation within New Zealand and its associated airspace, which, from a global context, is one of the largest areas for any country,” Harrison explains. The CAA’s jurisdiction includes the skies above New Zealand and stretches far into the Pacific, requiring dynamic regulatory frameworks. As a government entity, the CAA maintains independence from the political system, ensuring unbiased regulatory oversight while remaining accountable to the Minister through the Ministry of Transport. This structure is designed to balance regulatory independence with political oversight, a model mirrored by other aviation authorities such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and counterparts in Australia and Canada. ADDRESSING AND MITIGATING KEY RISKS “The Civil Aviation Act is our top-level legislation, and it sets all the baseline parameters for how aviation operates and how we supervise aviation,” Harrison states. Beneath the Civil Aviation Act is a suite of civil aviation rules establishing the industry’s operating parameters.“These rules ensure a level playing field, requiring all operators to meet minimum standards to be certified,” Harrison explains. The regulatory framework is necessary for maintaining safety and consistency across the aviation sector. A significant update to the Civil Aviation Act was made legal in 2023 and will come into practical application in April 2025. The update represents a comprehensive review and revamp of existing legislation, reflecting the CAA’s commitment to evolving alongside industry standards and technological advancements. 3 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07 CIVI L AVIAT ION AUTHORI TY OF NEW ZEALAND