Who We Are

The Recreational Backcountry Pilots Association (RBPA) is an incorporated non-profit organisation representing the vast majority of New Zealand’s recreational backcountry aviators. The RBPA's purpose is to enable access to New Zealand's backcountry for fixed wing aircraft.

Formed by our founding members in 2012, we continue to work with with DOC, backcountry user groups, and other stakeholders who enjoy the backcountry. We ask all our members to fly considerately, care for the conservation estate, and respect other visitors to the backcountry. We also support conservation initiatives, make contributions toward public facilities in the backcountry, and support targeted pest control initiatives.

Using fixed wing aircraft to access New Zealand's hard to reach places began as early as the 1920s, but it didn't become mainstream until the 1950s and beyond. The 1960s and 1970s saw a huge boom of airstrip creation and identification, mostly in support of increased visitor access and venison recovery. Many of these places are still in use today. Fixed wing aircraft access to the backcountry is an increasingly unique and special way for recreational users to reach backcountry locations.

What We Do

1. Securing and Managing Access

Nationwide Concession Holder: The RBPA holds a multi-year national aircraft concession with the Department of Conservation (DOC Te Papa Atawhai), granting members legal permission for non-commercial landings at more than 100 designated backcountry airstrips, grass flats, river gravel bars, and remote water bodies.

Expanding Access: Over time, the association has carefully negotiated and added more than 25 new landing places to the national concession, including designated South Island lakes for float- and sea-planes.

Protecting Existing Rights: Gaining our original concession to land aircraft in conservation estate and national parks throughout New Zealand, in such a way which enabled managed community access for our entire membership base, was a long and deeply involved process. This would not be possible without help and support from the DOC team and the RBPA volunteers. Our concession is an asset to New Zealand's aviation community, we work to ensure it is safeguarded.

2. Advocacy and Representation

Protecting Recreational Rights: We represent recreational pilots in key legislative and statutory planning processes (such as making submissions Conservation Legislation, as well as National Conservation Strategies, Planning, and Policy Statements.

Advocating for Recreational Access: We champion the rights of everyday Kiwis to access public conservation land, ensuring recreational aviation is recognised alongside commercial tourism and protected from displacement.

Streamlining Access Frameworks: We actively advocate for practical, low-barrier management frameworks tailored to the relatively low environmental footprint of recreational aviation.

3. Safety Oversight, Setting Expectations for Responsible Aviation

Peer-to-Peer Access Briefings: Backcountry flying comes with distinct environmental challenges and risks. We connect members with local committee pilots who know specific landing places intimately - enabling pilots to seek briefings on locations, strip conditions, weather factors, operational limits, and runholder considerations before they fly in.

Hazard Reporting: We maintain an active reporting network to monitor airstrip conditions, and local hazards, keeping both pilots and DOC informed.

Code of Conduct: We establish clear operating guidelines to protect our privileges - managing noise (avoiding unnecessary prop pitch, low overflights), communicating limits for daily aircraft movements, and the rules for respecting other outdoor visitors.

4. Environmental and Conservation Stewardship

Wildlife & Habitat Protection: Members follow strict seasonal closures to safeguard protected wildlife, including braided riverbed access controls during bird nesting season.

Biosecurity Compliance: We educate pilots and promote strict preventative measures for Didymo, Myrtle Rust, Kauri Dieback, as well as preventing the spread of general weed / pest species.

Leave No Trace: All RBPA flights operate on a strict “fly-in, fly-out” rubbish and waste ethic.

Supporting Backcountry Facilities: Subscription fees and member funds can be used for maintaining and upgrading backcountry facilities where it aligns with the RBPA's purpose.

Volunteer Conservation Flights: We partner with DOC, backcountry user groups, and volunteer maintenance groups to provide airlift support for materials and personnel, to support a range of conservation projects in remote valleys.