Search and Surveillance Act 2012

General provisions in relation to search, surveillance, and inspection powers - Search warrants - Issuing of search warrant

105: Transmission of search warrant

You could also call this:

"What to do if you can't carry the actual search warrant with you"

When you are given a search warrant to execute, you usually need to have the actual warrant with you. If it is not possible or practicable for you to have the warrant, you can use another document instead. This document is considered to be the same as the warrant for legal purposes.

You can use a facsimile or a printout of an electronically generated copy of the warrant that was issued by the issuing officer. You can also use a copy that you made, as long as you made it at the direction of the issuing officer and they endorsed it to say that it is okay. This copy is considered to be the same as the actual warrant.

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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=DLM2136797.

Topics:

Crime and justice > Police and safetyCrime and justice > Criminal lawRights and equality > Privacy

104: Issuing officer may require search warrant report, or

"The person who approved a search can ask for a report on what happened during the search."

106: When search warrant executed, or

"How to know when a police search is finished"

Part 4General provisions in relation to search, surveillance, and inspection powers
Search warrants: Issuing of search warrant

105Transmission of search warrant

If it is not possible or practicable for the person charged with executing the warrant to have it in his or her possession at the time of execution, one of the following documents (which is deemed for all legal purposes to constitute the warrant) may be executed:
a facsimile, or a printout of an electronically generated copy, of a warrant issued by the issuing officer:
a copy made by the person to whom the warrant is directed, at the direction of the issuing officer and endorsed to that effect.