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284: Power of entry and search of craft
or “Immigration officers can board and search vessels near NZ borders”
You could also call this:

“Immigration officers can search border areas without permission to enforce immigration laws”

An immigration officer can enter and search certain places near the border without needing permission or a warrant. They can do this to catch people breaking immigration laws or to find people who need to leave the country.

The officer can use force if they need to when entering these places. They can do this if they think someone is breaking the law or if they believe someone who needs to leave the country is there.

The places an immigration officer can search include beaches, the edges of ports, harbours, lakes, and rivers. They can also search places in ports like container areas, immigration control areas, wharves, and transit buildings. This includes piers or other structures that are attached to and extend from the shore.

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Next up: 285A: Search of persons

or “Rules for searching people arriving in New Zealand”
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Part 8 Compliance and information
Powers at border

285Power of entry and search at border place

  1. An immigration officer may exercise the powers in subsection (2) for the purpose of—

  2. detecting an offence against this Act; or
    1. apprehending a person who is liable for deportation or turnaround.

      1. An immigration officer may at any time for a purpose described in subsection (1), without a warrant or any other authority than this section, and by force if necessary, enter and search any border place where the officer—

      2. has good cause to suspect that an offence against this Act is likely to be, or is being, committed; or
        1. believes on reasonable grounds that a person to whom subsection (1)(b) applies is in the place.

          1. In subsection (2), border place means—

          2. any part of the foreshore:
            1. the shores or banks of a port, bay, harbour, lake, river, or other waters:
              1. any land or premises in a port, including a containerbase, immigration control area, wharf, or transit building:
                1. a pier or other structure attached to and extending from any shore or bank described in paragraph (b).

                  Notes
                  • Section 285(2): amended, on , by section 70(1) of the Immigration Amendment Act 2015 (2015 No 48).
                  • Section 285(2)(a): replaced, on , by section 70(2) of the Immigration Amendment Act 2015 (2015 No 48).
                  • Section 285(2)(b): replaced, on , by section 70(2) of the Immigration Amendment Act 2015 (2015 No 48).