Aspeq at the AIANZ Conference 2026

It's the highlight of the industry calendar, bringing together every corner of Kiwi aviation, agricultural operators, helicopter crews, engineers, training providers, drone pilots and airlines, for three days of learning, debate and reconnecting with old friends.

This year, Aspeq was proud to return as a Gold Sponsor, once again backing the Welcome Function that kicked the conference off on the Sunday evening. It's always a great way to open proceedings, a room full of familiar faces, a few new ones, and the buzz of a conference about to begin.

Sessions that stood out

With three divisional streams running most days there was no shortage of things to see. A few threads ran right through the conference:

Politics and the industry's future. The Political Panel brought representatives from Labour, the Greens, ACT, New Zealand First and National together to lay out each party's vision for aviation ahead of the 2026 election. With so much regulatory and cost pressure on the sector at the moment, it was a valuable chance to hear where each party stands.

An update from the regulator. Kane Patena, CAA Chief Executive and Director, gave a strategic update on the Authority's direction, building on Catherine MacGowan's earlier keynote on risk-based, intelligence-led certification and monitoring. Between the two sessions, delegates got a good sense of where the CAA is heading over the next few years.

Drones. UAV operations were one of the most talked-about topics of the week, spanning everything from BVLOS and SORA workshops and licensing discussions through to genuinely inspiring project showcases, Mercury Energy and Droneshows among them. It's clear this part of the industry is only going to keep growing.

The fuel crisis. Unsurprisingly, the ongoing fuel supply pressures were a constant thread through conversations on the trade floor and in sessions alike, from the NZAAA panel on costs, supply chains and risk, right through to one-on-one chats between sessions. It's front of mind for almost everyone in the sector right now.

Hamish Findlay, Aspeq's CE:

"Every year this conference reminds you just how connected our industry is. Whether it's the regulatory changes coming through, the growth we're seeing in the drone space, or the pressure everyone's under with fuel costs, the conversations happening in the hallways are just as valuable as what's on stage. It was great to spend time with so many people who care about doing this industry well."

Congratulations to the award winners

The conference wrapped up with the Gala Dinner and Awards, sponsored by New Zealand Airline Academy Limited, and it was a fantastic night celebrating the people driving this industry forward.

A special congratulations from all of us at Aspeq to:

• Rick Graham, our flight examiner, on receiving the CAA Director's Award
• Richard Small, our former board member, on receiving the AIANZ Individual Award

Both thoroughly deserved recognitions, and a proud moment for the wider Aspeq team.

Thanks, AIANZ

A big thank you to the team at AIANZ for putting together another outstanding conference. It's a huge undertaking to bring the whole industry together like this, and this year's event delivered on every front, great sessions, great company, and plenty to think about on the flight home.

We're already looking forward to next year.