Defence Act 1990

Offences punishable by civil courts

87: Failure to account for issued property

You could also call this:

"Returning Armed Forces property when asked"

You must return property issued by the Armed Forces if you are asked to. You will get a notice in writing telling you to return the property. You have to return it within a reasonable time. If you do not return the property, you can get a fine of up to $1,000. This happens if you do not have a good reason for not returning it. You can also get a fine if you lose the property on purpose or by being careless. You have to be careful with property that is not yours to keep. If you are told to return it, you must do so to avoid getting a fine.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM206902.

This page was last updated on 14 December 2025 — View changes

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86: False statements regarding pay or allowances, etc, or

"Lying to get extra money or awards from the military is against the law"

88: Giving false certificate, etc, or

"Lying on official documents is against the law"

Part 7Offences punishable by civil courts

87Failure to account for issued property

Every person in New Zealand to whom any property has been issued by or for the purposes of the Armed Forces otherwise than for that person’s permanent retention shall, on being required to do so by a notice in writing purporting to be signed by a member of the Defence Force and delivered to that person personally or posted by registered letter to his or her place of residence, return the property to such person and within such reasonable time as may be specified in the notice.
If any person to whom any such notice has been delivered fails, without lawful excuse, to return any such property as required by the notice, that person commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000.
If any person in New Zealand to whom any property has been issued by or for the purposes of the Armed Forces otherwise than for that person’s permanent retention recklessly or negligently loses the property, that person commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000.

Notes

Section 87(2): amended, on 1 July 2013, by section 413 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 (2011 No 81).
Section 87(3): amended, on 1 July 2013, by section 413 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 (2011 No 81).