Civil Aviation Act 1990

Aviation security

80A: Powers and duties of aviation security officer relating to dangerous goods

You could also call this:

"Aviation security officers can check for and handle dangerous items before you board a plane"

An aviation security officer can check you and your belongings before you get on a plane to see if you have dangerous items. If they find something dangerous that they think might not be allowed on the plane, they can take it away to check if it's okay.

If the officer decides the item isn't allowed on the plane, they will tell the airline or delivery service. They might keep the item, give it to the airline, or get rid of it if the Director of Civil Aviation says it's okay.

If the item is actually allowed on the plane, the officer should try to give it back to you. But if the officer thinks the item is really dangerous right now, they can destroy it or get rid of it without asking anyone else.

The officer has to report when they find dangerous items, following the rules or what the Director tells them to do.

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This page was last updated on 15 April 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM217800.

Topics:

Transport and travel > Air travel

80: Powers, functions, and duties of Aviation Security Service, or

"The Aviation Security Service keeps air travel safe by checking people and things, patrolling airports, and working with others"

80B: Power of aviation security officers to search for and seize certain items or substances to be carried on aircraft or into sterile areas, or

"Aviation security officers can search for and take away unsafe items at airports"

Part 8Aviation security

80APowers and duties of aviation security officer relating to dangerous goods

Without limiting section 80(a) and (ab), an aviation security officer may screen any person boarding an aircraft or any thing to be carried by an aircraft for the purpose of detecting dangerous goods.
If dangerous goods are detected and the aviation security officer has reasonable grounds to believe that they may not be lawfully carried on an aircraft, the aviation security officer may seize and detain the dangerous goods for the purpose of determining whether or not they may be lawfully carried on an aircraft.
If the aviation security officer determines that the dangerous goods may not be lawfully carried on an aircraft, the aviation security officer must notify the relevant operator or delivery service as soon as practicable and—
may detain the dangerous goods until they are dealt with in accordance with paragraph (b) or paragraph (c); or
may deliver the dangerous goods to the operator or delivery service; or
may, if the Director agrees, destroy or otherwise dispose of the dangerous goods.

If the aviation security officer determines that the dangerous goods may be lawfully carried on an aircraft, the aviation security officer must, as far as practicable, return the dangerous goods to the owner of the dangerous goods.
Despite anything in this section, if the aviation security officer has reasonable grounds to believe that the dangerous goods pose an imminent risk to safety, the aviation security officer may destroy or otherwise dispose of the dangerous goods.
The aviation security officer must report the detection of dangerous goods in accordance with the rules or, in the absence of rules, as the Director may direct.

Notes

Section 80A: inserted, on 1 June 2002, by section 20 of the Civil Aviation Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 15).