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Local Government Act 2002

Offences, penalties, infringement offences, and legal proceedings - Offences - Miscellaneous offences

234: Unauthorised use of coat of arms

You could also call this:

“Don't use a local council's special symbol without asking first”

You’re not allowed to use a local authority’s coat of arms without their written permission. If you do, you’re breaking the law. This applies in two situations:

  1. If you put the coat of arms, or something that looks like it, on an item you want to sell.

  2. If you sell or try to sell an item that has the coat of arms, or something that looks like it, on it. This is also wrong if you let someone else sell it.

If you do either of these things, you’re committing an offence. The punishment for this offence is explained in section 242(2) of the law.

Remember, it’s important to get written permission from the local authority before using their coat of arms for any business purposes.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM174031.

Topics:
Government and voting > Local councils
Business > Fair trading
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Part 9 Offences, penalties, infringement offences, and legal proceedings
Offences: Miscellaneous offences

234Unauthorised use of coat of arms

  1. Every person commits an offence and is liable on conviction to the penalty specified in section 242(2) who, without prior written authority of the relevant local authority,—

  2. for the purposes of sale, applies or permits to be applied to an article the coat of arms of the local authority or an imitation of that coat of arms; or
    1. sells or offers the article for sale, or permits it to be sold or offered for sale, knowing that the coat of arms or an imitation of it has been applied to the article.

      Compare
      Notes
      • Section 234: amended, on , by section 413 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 (2011 No 81).