Auckland Council is expanding its use of drone technology across the organisation, helping teams work more safely, efficiently and effectively while delivering better outcomes for Aucklanders.
The organisation currently has 18 Civil Aviation Authority-certified drone pilots across seven business units and recently appointed a Chief Pilot Drone Operations to serve all unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operations at council. A further three departments are expected to adopt the technology in the next financial year.
Chair of the Transport and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Andy Baker says drone technology is helping modernise the way council delivers services across Auckland.
"Drone technology is proving to be a smart investment for Auckland. It allows us to gather better information, access difficult locations, respond faster to issues and make more effective use of ratepayer funding.
"We're seeing benefits across a range of council activities, from environmental management and emergency response through to planning and asset monitoring. This is a practical example of how innovation can improve services, reduce costs and increase safety for staff and communities."
One area already benefiting from the use of drone technology is Auckland Council's Environmental Services department, which has been using drones since 2019 to help manage and protect Auckland's unique ecosystems and native species.
Applications include native wildlife monitoring, ecosystem mapping, biosecurity response, invasive plant detection, detecting kauri dieback while preventing its spread and forest health monitoring . Current projects range from pekapeka (native bat) and matuku-hūrepo (Australasian bittern) monitoring to thermal surveys for pest animals, kauri dieback surveillance and high-resolution aerial mapping to detect pest plants.
General Manager Environmental Services Samantha Hill says the technology is helping teams gather better information while reducing the need for time-consuming and potentially high-risk fieldwork.
"This technology is not an end in itself. It is a practical tool that helps us better manage and protect native species, monitor environmental change and target our resources where they will have the greatest impact."
"Drones are helping us see more, sooner, and with less impact on the environments we are working to protect. They allow our teams to monitor sensitive habitats, respond to emerging threats and make better-informed decisions about where to focus effort and investment."
Senior Bio Information Analyst and Chief Pilot Drone Operations, Hugo Geddes, says drones provide a safer and more efficient way to collect environmental data across large and difficult-to-access areas.
"With drones, we can collect consistent, high-quality data over large areas far more efficiently than traditional methods alone. That helps us track change over time and make more confident, resource-efficient decisions about environmental management."
The benefits extend beyond operational efficiencies. Council teams are increasingly combining drone technology with advanced tools including high-resolution aerial mapping, thermal imaging, multispectral analysis, telemetry tracking and AI-assisted image classification.
Hill says these technologies are helping build a more complete picture of environmental change and support faster, more effective action.
"The better the information we have, the better we can protect native biodiversity, respond to threats quickly and invest in the work that will make the biggest difference for Auckland's natural environment."