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The Aviation Council exists to drive leadership, direction and performance across the civil aviation system.
The Aviation Council supports system leadership on the current and future direction of aviation in New Zealand, in recognition of the key role that a strong and successful aviation sector plays in our economy.
The Council works on matters of national significance to the aviation sector including workforce, infrastructure, regulation, innovation and emerging technology, safety and security and international engagement.
The interim Council first met in March 2024 and was replaced by a 14-member permanent Council in October 2025.
One of its early priorities was the development of the Aviation Action Plan [PDF, 1.3MB], which sets out the long-term principles, objectives and outcomes to provide the sector with enduring strategic direction.
The need for stronger and more structured leadership was a key finding of the Air Navigation System Review, carried out by an independent expert panel between 2021 and 2023.
The Government has appointed the permanent Aviation Council, which will strengthen sector leadership and help shape the industry’s future.
The 14-person forum includes representatives from government, industry associations and nationally significant aviation businesses like Air New Zealand and Auckland Airport.
The permanent Council replaces the interim Aviation Council which was established in March 2024.
The permanent Aviation Council will report to the Minister annually on progress against actions in the Aviation Action Plan. The Council will also keep the Action Plan current by reviewing and refreshing it every 3 years.
You can read the Minister’s press release here(external link).
The Government has released the Aviation Action Plan outlining 25 actions to grow and future-proof the aviation sector.
Developed in partnership between government and industry through the Interim Aviation Council, the Plan sets out a clear direction for building an efficient, resilient and innovative aviation system.
The Council received an update on New Zealand’s upcoming ICAO audit, scheduled for July and briefly discussed the implementation of the new Drug and Alcohol Management Plans (DAMPs) regime.
Members discussed the draft Vision for Aviation to 2035 [later renamed the Aviation Action Plan], including its scope, framing, and implementation. Feedback was provided on areas for further development, including connectivity and workforce.
The Minister is expected to attend the next meeting to discuss Aviation Action Plan 2025 and the Council’s future structure. The next meeting on 26 June 2025 will be the final for the Interim Council, with terms of reference for the permanent Council to be developed.
At the Council’s November meeting, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) provided an overview of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) audit which will take place in July 2025. The CAA also updated the Council on other ICAO work underway including an update of the State Safety Programme and the development of a National Aviation Safety Plan, both to be completed before the audit in July.
The Minister of Transport Simeon Brown joined the meeting to discuss the Council’s work and he noted that the National Aviation Policy Statement (NAPS) being developed by the Council will be an important document to align government and sector views about aviation priorities.
The Council agreed to discuss and provide feedback on a draft NAPS at its next meeting in March 2025, and to discuss key strategic issues facing the sector at future meetings in 2025.
At its September meeting, the Council discussed the progress being made through the working papers to the develop the National Aviation Policy Statement (NAPS).
The Council noted that the NAPS should have actionable outcomes but should avoid overly complex approaches.
The Ministry of Transport provided updates on advanced aviation, highlighting the Government’s commitment to a world-class regulatory environment by 2025 with a light-touch approach.
Other significant topics included a presentation by Airways on uncrewed aircraft management, addressing workforce shortages in the aviation sector, and incorporating a Te Ao Māori perspective into the Council’s work.
The next meeting will be on 27 November 2024.
At its July meeting, the Council discussed a communications paper, articulating the need for transparency and agreed to publish key messages from each meeting on the Ministry’s website.
The Council discussed the updated ambition paper and requested that it be shortened.
The Council also reviewed and provided feedback on the following working papers:
· innovation and emerging technology.
· infrastructure
· workforce
The Council approved a draft template for working papers going forward.
At its May meeting, the Council approved the updated terms of reference and the proposed work schedule.
Noting the amount of work required to complete the National Aviation Policy Statement, the Council agreed to extend the timeframe to mid 2025, to complete the work.
The Council reviewed and provided feedback on:
· a draft ambition statement
· a draft workforce working paper
The Council requested that working papers should be presented to Council in a consistent format and requested that a template be developed to enable this.
The interim Aviation Council met for the first time in March 2024. It discussed and provided feedback on the draft terms of reference. The Council also discussed the National Aviation Policy Statement (NAPS), and the need to prioritise NAPS topics.
The Council agreed that work on an ambition statement should be given priority and it would set up a working group to work on the various topics that would form part of the NAPS.
The final terms of reference, including members of the Council is below: