Yes, often. Gorse on steep faces, gullies, wet ground and stream edges is one of the jobs spray drones are best at, especially where plants are scattered and can be spot-sprayed.
It is not always the best option. Large, dense blocks are usually quicker by helicopter, and flat, accessible ground may be cheaper by ground rig. Most gorse also needs follow-up, whatever method you use.
We’re independent and don’t do spraying. This page explains when a drone suits gorse on hill country, how a typical job runs, what limits it, and what to ask before you book.
Is a drone suitable for your gorse?
| Your situation | Drone | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Scattered bushes or regrowth on a steep face | Good fit | Spot spraying single plants saves chemical and reaches ground a crew can’t safely walk |
| Gorse along a stream, bush edge or boundary | Good fit | Low, accurate application; useful for boundary clearance rules |
| A few hectares of patchy gorse | Good fit | Small enough that a helicopter’s minimum charge may outweigh the job |
| A medium block of fairly dense gorse | Depends | Can work, but compare with a helicopter quote on total cost and time |
| Large, dense infestation over tens of hectares | Usually slower | A helicopter “can spray dozens of hectares in a single load” (helicopter operator) |
| Flat, firm, accessible ground | Depends | A ground rig or knapsack crew may be cheaper |
Targeted or blanket spraying?
Targeted (spot) spraying treats individual bushes and patches and leaves the pasture in between alone. It suits scattered gorse and regrowth. Blanket spraying covers the whole area and suits dense stands.
Drones can do both. A Whanganui operator working for Horizons Regional Council and DOC says drones use “far less spray” than aircraft and can target individual plants (NZ Herald, 21 Jan 2025) Media. Many jobs mix the two: blanket-spray the thickest patches, spot-spray the rest.
How a typical job runs
A real mixed-method example (not gorse): at Whangamarino wetland in Waikato, DOC spent half a day mapping, then three days using drones to apply a “targeted jet of herbicide” to royal fern, while willows were controlled by helicopter (DOC, 12 Mar 2026) Government.
How many hectares can it do?
Much less than on open paddocks. One NZ operator reports “around 3–4 ha/hour” for woody weeds such as gorse and broom (Drone Spray FAQs) Operator. Expect wide variation:
- Density: thick gorse needs more product and more passes.
- Spot vs blanket: hand-flying scattered bushes is slower than a planned pass.
- Terrain: steep, broken faces and trees slow the work.
- Water rate: woody weeds usually need higher rates, so more refills.
- Refill point and access: a nearby water supply and take-off spot save time.
Indicative only. Actual cost and productivity depend on area, terrain, application rate, access, travel, weather and operator.
More on this: How many hectares can a spray drone do in a day?
What will it cost?
Gorse work is usually charged by the hour because it’s slow and variable. At a B+LNZ field day, a drone operator put gorse control at “around $450/hour” (B+LNZ field day report, Jun 2025) Operator. Other published hourly rates for targeted work sit around $300–$650 an hour, often with a minimum charge. See the drone spraying cost guide.
Helicopter and ground-crew prices for gorse: Quote dependent. We couldn’t find credible, current published NZ prices.
Chemical and water
Councils list herbicides commonly used on gorse, including glyphosate, metsulfuron, triclopyr/picloram and picloram. Label directions are mandatory under the ACVM Act, and some products restrict aerial or low-volume application. Drone water rates run from about 15 to 450 L/ha depending on the target, with dense woody weeds at the top end (Drone Spray FAQs) Operator. A good operator confirms the product and rate are allowed before quoting.
Drone, helicopter or ground crew?
- Drone: best on steep, scattered, awkward or sensitive sites, and for follow-up spot spraying.
- Helicopter: usually faster on large, dense infestations. A helicopter “can spray dozens of hectares in a single load” (Central Heliwork, Sep 2025) Operator.
- Ground rig or knapsack crew: can be cheaper on flat, accessible ground or small patches near tracks.
Many farms use a mix: helicopter or drone for the main treatment, drone or knapsack for follow-up. Full comparison: Drone vs helicopter vs ground spraying.
Limitations: when a drone isn’t the answer
- Large, dense gorse over tens of hectares, where a helicopter is usually quicker.
- Sites with no safe take-off spot or line of sight to the work area.
- Windy sites in the months you need to spray.
- Products whose label doesn’t allow aerial or low-volume application.
- Expecting one pass to finish the job. Gorse regrowth and seedlings need follow-up.
Why councils care about gorse and blackberry
Both are pest plants in most regional pest management plans, and many plans require landowners to keep a strip along boundaries clear. Some examples:
| Region | Plant | Rule (summary) |
|---|---|---|
| Waikato | Gorse | Sustained control, with a 20 m boundary rule (RPMP 2022–2032) |
| Canterbury | Gorse and broom | Keep 10 m along boundaries clear (RPMP 2018–2038) |
| Hawke’s Bay | Blackberry | Sustained control; 10 m boundary clearance when directed in writing (RPMP 2018–2038) |
Rules differ between regions, so check your own council’s plan.
When to spray
- Gorse is most susceptible when it’s actively growing (Waikato Regional Council). Operators commonly target spring and autumn.
- Blackberry is usually sprayed in summer to autumn, before the leaves become brittle (Hawke’s Bay Regional Council).
Your operator will also look at the weather on the day, because wind, rain and temperature affect both results and drift.
Plan for follow-up
One spray rarely finishes the job. Blackberry’s underground stems regrow, and Weedbusters advises waiting at least four months after spraying before replanting. Gorse leaves a seed bank, so regrowth is normal. Environment Canterbury suggests monitoring three times a year, and replanting natives after two or three treatments. Oversowing pasture or planting quickly helps stop gorse coming back.
Questions to ask an operator
- Do you hold a Part 102 certificate (currently required), and does the pilot hold the chemical and agricultural ratings?
- Which product and water rate will you use, and does the label allow aerial application?
- How will you manage drift near waterways, bush or neighbours?
- Do you charge per hectare or per hour, and is there a minimum charge?
- What follow-up do you recommend, and what does it cost?
Currently: Part 102 still applies. Spraying agrichemicals from a drone can’t be done under the standard Part 101 rules. The operator needs a CAA Part 102 certificate (CAA).
Planned reform: the Government announced in August 2026 that routine drone spraying is intended to move to a notification regime, where operators tell CAA in advance instead of holding a certificate. Implementation is expected from mid-2027, after detailed design and engagement. Higher-risk or complex drone operations, and spraying from planes and helicopters, are to stay under existing requirements (NZ Government, 20 August 2026). It is an announcement, not a rule in force. Chemical-handling competency and regional council spray rules still apply (Agricultural Drone Association).
Not sure whether a drone is right for your job? Tell us what you need done and we’ll help connect you with suitable operators.
Related: Drone vs helicopter vs ground spraying · What does drone spraying cost? · How many hectares a day? · All farm drone guides
Sources
- Government DOC: Tech tool used to target pest plants at precious wetland (12 Mar 2026)
- Government Waikato Regional Council: Gorse
- Government Environment Canterbury: Gorse
- Government Hawke’s Bay Regional Council: Blackberry
- Government MPI: Using agricultural chemicals
- Government NZ Government: drone reform announcement (20 Aug 2026)
- Industry body Weedbusters: Blackberry
- Operator Drone Spray NZ: FAQs
- Operator Central Heliwork: Helicopters or drones for crop spraying? (16 Sep 2025)
- Operator Agrodrone: Gorse spraying
- Industry body B+LNZ: Field day focuses on game-changing technologies (26 Jun 2025), quoting a drone operator
- Media NZ Herald: Whanganui’s Airbourne Drones leads charge against invasive species (21 Jan 2025)
General information, not advice for a specific property. Always follow the product label and your regional council’s rules. Checked September 2026.