AIANZ said 436 domestic learners had enrolled in and completed affiliated aviation training programmes in the past five years. But New Zealand’s weather brought many rainy or windy days inappropriate for flight training, Wallace said. AIANZ said New Zealand’s pilot training system had capacity to meet demand, but financial and funding arrangements were locking aspiring New Zealand pilots out. The Aviation Action Plan, announced last September, aimed to develop options to address challenges in workforce training and retention. On training durations, he said Ringa Hora (Workforce Development Council), the Aviation Council and providers worked together on getting pilot training programmes to 14 months.

Source: New Zealand Herald January 15, 2026 22:02 UTC