You commit an offence if you fail to comply with a preservation direction without a reasonable excuse. If you are found guilty, you can be punished. The punishment depends on whether you are an individual or a company, with individuals facing up to 1 year in prison and companies facing a fine of up to $40,000.

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 It might be out of date or be missing some parts.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 26 November 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS1528207.

Topics:

Environment and resources > ConservationCrime and justice > Criminal law

88W: Notice for section 88U(5): when section 88U(2) partially lifted, or

"Notice when some documents are no longer held under a preservation direction"

88Y: False application for preservation direction or renewal, or

"Lying when asking to keep something as evidence is against the law"

Part 3APreservation directions relating to foreign investigations or proceedings
Invalidity, offences, and immunities, etc: Other offences

88XFailing to comply with preservation direction

A person commits an offence if the person, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with a preservation direction.
A person who commits an offence against this section is liable on conviction,—
if they are an individual, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 1 year; or
if they are a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $40,000.

Notes

Section 88X: inserted, on 1 October 2025, by section 20 of the Budapest Convention and Related Matters Legislation Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 39).