Civil Aviation Act 2023

Functions, powers, and duties of participants in civil aviation system - Regulatory roles - CAA

23: Functions of CAA

You could also call this:

"What the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) does to keep people safe when flying"

The CAA has many jobs to do. You can think of the CAA like a team that helps keep people safe when they fly. The CAA promotes safety and security in New Zealand's civil aviation system.

The CAA also helps make sure the civil aviation system is working well by contributing to its regulation. This means the CAA helps create and enforce rules to keep people safe.

The CAA has to do many other things, like investigate accidents and incidents, and keep records of what happens in the civil aviation system. The CAA also has to provide information and advice to the Minister, and work with other government agencies.

The CAA can issue warnings and reports, and comment on things that affect the civil aviation system. The CAA can also work with other countries to make sure their civil aviation systems are safe and secure.

The CAA has to follow rules and directions from the Minister, and do other jobs that are related to its main functions, like publishing its regulatory strategy in accordance with section 27. The CAA also has to perform any additional functions that the Minister directs under section 112 of the Crown Entities Act 2004.

The CAA's jobs include things like providing a service to keep airports and flights safe, as outlined in section 138, and notifying the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) about accidents and incidents, as required by section 50. The CAA also has to maintain records, like the New Zealand Register of Aircraft, and make sure people have the information they need to fly safely.

The CAA can enter into arrangements with other people or organisations to collect and publish information, and it has to make sure the Director of the CAA is doing their job well. The CAA can also share information with other government agencies, as allowed by section 466, and work with them to keep people safe.

The CAA's main goal is to keep people safe when they fly, and it has many jobs to do to make sure that happens. The CAA has to investigate accidents and incidents, and review what happened, as allowed by section 14(3) of the Transport Accident Investigation Commission Act 1990.

The CAA can provide information and advice to people, and support education programmes or research about civil aviation. The CAA can also enter into arrangements with other countries to make sure their civil aviation systems are safe and secure.

Overall, the CAA has a big job to do to keep people safe when they fly, and it has to work hard to make sure that happens.

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This page was last updated on 29 June 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS50103.

Topics:

Transport and travel > Air travelGovernment and voting > Government departments

22: Objective of CAA, or

"The CAA's main job is to keep air travel safe for everyone."

24: Duties of CAA in relation to search and rescue, or

"What the CAA must do to help with search and rescue"

Part 2Functions, powers, and duties of participants in civil aviation system
Regulatory roles: CAA

23Functions of CAA

The CAA has the following functions:
to promote civil aviation safety and security in New Zealand:
to contribute to establishing, implementing, operating, delivering, monitoring, investigating, and enforcing the regulation of the civil aviation system:
to promote civil aviation safety and security beyond New Zealand in accordance with New Zealand’s international obligations:
to provide and oversee a service to be called the Aviation Security Service, which has the functions and duties specified in section 138:
to investigate and review civil aviation accidents and incidents in its capacity as the responsible safety and security authority (subject to the limitations set out in section 14(3) of the Transport Accident Investigation Commission Act 1990):
to notify TAIC in accordance with section 50 of accidents and incidents notified to the CAA:
to maintain and preserve records and documents relating to activities within the civil aviation system, and in particular to maintain the New Zealand Register of Aircraft and the Civil Aviation Records:
to ensure the collection, publication, and provision of charts and aeronautical information, and to enter into arrangements with any other person or organisation to collect, publish, and distribute the charts and information:
to appoint and oversee the performance of the Director, including by ensuring that the Director performs efficiently and effectively:
to provide to the Minister the information and advice that the Minister may at any time require:
to advise, assist, or co-operate with, or to provide advice and assistance to, any government agency or local government agency, including sharing information under section 466, if the CAA is satisfied that the performance of the functions and duties of the CAA will not be compromised:
to issue warnings, reports, and guidance, and to comment about any matter relating to the civil aviation system and its participants or any other persons engaged with the civil aviation system:
to provide or support the provision of information and advice with respect to civil aviation, and to foster appropriate information education programmes or research with respect to civil aviation:
to enter into technical or operational arrangements, or both, with civil aviation authorities of other countries:
to publish its regulatory strategy in accordance with section 27:
to perform any additional function that the Minister directs under section 112 of the Crown Entities Act 2004:
to carry out and exercise the functions, powers, or duties that are conferred or imposed on it under this Act or under any other Act:
any functions that are incidental and related to, or consequential on, the CAA’s functions in paragraphs (a) to (q).

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1990 No 98 s 72B(1)