If you are an enforcement officer and you arrest someone, you can enter and search their vehicle without a warrant. This is only allowed if you have good reasons to think the vehicle has evidence related to the crime the person was arrested for. You must have reasonable grounds to believe this evidence is in or on the vehicle.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

This page was last updated on 24 May 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM2136764.

Topics:

Crime and justice > Criminal lawCrime and justice > Police and safetyRights and equality > Privacy

83: Entry without warrant after arrest, or

"Searching a place without a warrant after someone is arrested to find evidence before it's hidden or destroyed"

85: Rub-down search of arrested or detained person, or

"What happens during a rub-down search when you're arrested or detained"

Part 3Enforcement officers' powers and orders
Warrantless powers of entry and search incidental to arrest or detention

84Warrantless entry and search of vehicle after arrest

A person to whom this subpart applies who has arrested a person and who has reasonable grounds to believe that evidential material relating to the offence for which the person was arrested is in or on a vehicle may enter and search it without a warrant.