Much of the NZ airspace management has been privatized by the NZ government. A private corporation usually makes $$$ through these user fees. As a result of this expansion of regulation and user fees, the last 15 years has seen a destruction of a once-vibrant general aviation culture in NZ. Regulations and user-fees make it too expensive, and too much of a hassle, for most private individuals to fly a light aircraft there.

It seems-to-me perfectly consistent with the current user-fee regime in NZ to crush RC and drone hobbyists under similar regulation and user fees. The NZ CAA and its private corporate partner are continually hungry for more $$$. The CAA $600 RC "certification " fee sounds like it could be just the start.

U.S. hobbyists take note. User fees are being pitched every time the FAA is re-authorizated, and will likely lead to the same conclusion in the U.S. if allowed to be imposed. Under user fees, only well-heeled well-connected commercial operators will be able to use the skies -- no hobbyists or personal use: light aircraft, RCs, and "drones" alike.

Patriotism is indeed the first refuge of the scoundrel.