Manufacturer tutorial, not New Zealand-specific. Confirm the aircraft and software your operator uses.
Why we chose this video
Orchards are harder to spray than open paddocks: tree heights vary, rows are tight, and there are shelter belts and wires. DJI’s own tutorial covers how fruit trees are mapped before an Agras drone works a block. It’s a useful look at the preparation behind an orchard job.
New Zealand context
New Zealand kiwifruit and orchard spraying is governed by NZ rules, your spray diary and your packhouse’s requirements. Check your packhouse’s crop protection rules before using a drone. The operator needs Part 102 and rated pilots.
Key takeaways
- Bay of Plenty operators offer drone spraying for kiwifruit and avocado, citing spraying when orchard floors are too wet for machinery. (Agrodrone, Nov 2025)
- At Felton Road vineyard, Central Otago, the drone covers a hectare in about 20 minutes. The tractor takes over an hour. (EECA, 2025)
- Orchard jobs usually start with a mapping flight, so allow for it in the timing and the quote.
- We found no published Zespri position on drone spraying. Check your packhouse’s crop protection requirements before using a drone.
Takeaways written by DroneServices.nz and checked against the linked sources in September 2026. The video is produced by the publisher credited above. DroneServices.nz isn’t affiliated with it, and it isn’t New Zealand legal advice. Rules and prices change, so confirm with your operator.
