Wildlife Act 1953

Introduction

You could also call this:

"Protecting Wild Animals and Birds in New Zealand"

Illustration for Wildlife Act 1953

This law is about protecting and controlling wild animals and birds. You will learn about rules for game shooting seasons. It also talks about groups that help animals adapt to new environments. These groups are called acclimatisation societies. They have certain powers and responsibilities. The law explains how these groups are set up and what they can do. The law brings together and updates rules about wild animals, birds, and game shooting. It helps keep everything organised and easy to understand. You can find more information about game shooting seasons and acclimatisation societies in other parts of the law, such as the sections that [link to relevant section](relevant section) about these topics.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM276813.

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Highlights from this law




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1: Short Title and commencement, or

"What the Wildlife Act 1953 is called and when it started"

Wildlife Act 1953

Reprint as at:
2025-11-27
Assent:
1953-10-31
Commencement:
see section 1(2)

The Parliamentary Counsel Office has made editorial and format changes to this version using the powers under subpart 2 of Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019.

Note 4 at the end of this version provides a list of the amendments included in it.

This Act is administered by the Department of Conservation.


An Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to the protection and control of wild animals and birds, the regulation of game shooting seasons, and the constitution and powers of acclimatisation societies