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Wildlife Act 1953
1: Short Title and commencement

1Short Title and commencement 2Interpretation 2AMeaning of possession 2AATransitional, savings, and related provisions 2BApplication of certain provisions restricted

Part 1:
Protection of wildlife

3Wildlife to be protected 4Certain wildlife declared to be game 5Certain wildlife partially protected 6Certain wildlife may be hunted subject to conditions imposed by the Minister 7Certain wildlife not protected 7AWild animals 7BTerrestrial and freshwater invertebrates 7BAMarine species 7CFarming certain unprotected animals 8Alteration of schedules

Part 2:
Game

15Open season for game 16Notification as to conditions on which open season declared 17Hunting or killing in game areas 18Restrictions on the taking of game 19Licence to hunt or kill game 19AGame bird habitat stamp 20Limitation of licence 21Holder of game licence not to enter on land without consent 22Shooting of game not in flight prohibited 23Sale of game and sale of shooting rights prohibited

Part 3:
Administration

Acclimatisation districts and societies

24Acclimatisation districts 25Acclimatisation societies 26Societies to be bodies corporate 27Appointment to councils of societies of representatives of farming interests, etc 28Disqualification of officers of societies 29Rules of acclimatisation societies 30Functions of societies 31Appointment of officers and servants 32Societies may undertake research 33Expenditure by societies 34Annual reports and balance sheets of societies to be forwarded to Minister 35Failure of society to act 36Dissolution of societies

Wildlife districts

37Wildlife districts

Rangers

38Rangers 38AFish and game rangers to be rangers under this Act 39Powers of rangers 39ACertain rangers to have additional powers 39BPower to seize evidential material 39CPowers to require people to stop and to stop things or articles in transit 39DPower to intervene to prevent offending 39ECertain people to have power of arrest 39FPower of arrest 39GApplication of Search and Surveillance Act 2012 40Obstructing persons acting under this Act

Powers of Minister

41Minister's general powers 42Fencing of land 43Tenancies 44Delegation of Minister's powers

Powers of Director-General

44ADelegation of powers by Director-General

New Zealand Game Bird Habitat Trust Board

44BNew Zealand Game Bird Habitat Trust Board established 44CBoard to be body corporate 44DFunctions of Board 44EPowers of Board 44FMembership of Board 44GTerm of office of members of Board 44HServicing 44IFunds to be held on trust 44JCrown entity 44KAnnual report 44LMembers not personally liable

Part 4:
Injurious birds

45Interpretation 46Local authority may apply or raise funds for destruction of injurious birds 47Local authorities to submit plans for destruction for approval of Director-General 48Appointment of Inspectors, and bylaws 49Provisions to secure concerted action 50Minister may appoint Inspectors to carry out this Part if local authority fails to do so 51Obstructing Inspector 52Expenses of carrying out this Part

Part 5:
General provisions

53Director-General may authorise taking or killing of wildlife for certain purposes 53AAuthority may be granted under section 53 to kill wildlife incidentally 53BAuthority under section 53 to kill wildlife incidentally: consistency with protection of wildlife 53CConditions that may be imposed on authority under section 53 to kill wildlife incidentally 54Director-General may authorise hunting or killing of wildlife causing damage 55Keeping of specimens in museums 56Restrictions on liberation or export of animals, birds, etc 56AApplication of Customs and Excise Act 2018 57Ownership of animals 58Homing pigeons 59Entry on land for purposes of Act 60Protection of rangers and others 61Person in pursuit of wildlife to comply with demand by authorised officer

Offences and penalties

62Offences in relation to transport of wildlife 63Taking protected wildlife or game, etc 63ATaking of absolutely or partially protected marine wildlife 63BReporting of accidental or incidental death or injury 64Offences in relation to wildlife sanctuaries 65Other offences 65ALiability of directors and managers 66Continuing offence after being required to desist 66AOffenders to give identifying information 67Penalties for offences in respect of marine wildlife 67APenalties for offences in respect of absolutely protected wildlife 67BPenalty for offence of liberating wildlife 67CPenalties for offences in respect of partially protected wildlife 67DPenalty for offence of obstructing ranger 67EPenalties for offences in respect of game 67FPenalties for other offences 67GSentence of community work 67HOffenders also liable for loss or damage 67IPenalties for offences committed for commercial gain or reward 68Conduct of proceedings and recovery of fines 68AProceedings in respect of offences 68ABMens rea and strict liability offences 68BDefences to offences in respect of marine wildlife 69Evidence of boundaries, etc 70Forfeitures

Infringement offences

70ARelationship between infringement offences and other offences 70BHunting during close season 70CHunting without licence during open season 70DContravening terms of open season notification 70EHunting wildlife in contravention of conditions prescribed by Minister 70FFailure to produce licence on demand 70GTaking protected wildlife or game 70HTaking game in contravention of Act or notification 70IFailure to comply with condition of authority to take or kill wildlife 70JLiberating wildlife or exporting animals or animal products 70KTransporting wildlife without proper information on container 70LFarming or breeding certain unprotected animals 70MFailure to report accidental or incidental death or injury 70NInterfering with items on land under section 59 70OLittering 70PActing without required licence, permit, etc 70QContravening instruments made under this Act 70RInfringement offences relating to wildlife refuges 70SInfringement offences relating to waterfowl 70TInfringement offences relating to homing pigeons 70UProceedings for infringement offences 70VWho may issue infringement notices 70WInfringement notices 70XReminder notices 70YPayment of infringement fees 70ZPenalties for infringement offences

Miscellaneous

71Saving of other Acts 71AControl of dogs 72Regulations 73Repeals, savings, and consequential amendments

Schedule 1AA:
Transitional, savings, and related provisions

Schedule 1:
Wildlife declared to be game

Schedule 2:
Partially protected wildlife

Schedule 3:
Wildlife that may be hunted or killed subject to Minister's notification

Schedule 4:
Wildlife not protected, except in areas and during periods specified in Minister's notification

Schedule 5:
Wildlife not protected

Schedule 6:
Animals declared to be wild animals subject to the Wild Animal Control Act 1977

Schedule 7:
Terrestrial and freshwater invertebrates declared to be animals

Schedule 7A:
Marine species declared to be animals

Schedule 8:
Wildlife not protected but may be kept, bred, or farmed in captivity pursuant to regulations made under principal Act or by Minister's direction

Schedule 9:
Acts not affected by this Act

Schedule 10:
Enactments repealed

Wildlife Act 1953

1: Short Title and commencement

You could also call this:

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

This Act is called the Wildlife Act 1953. You can refer to it by this name when talking about it. The Act started on 1 April 1954.

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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=DLM276818.

Topics:

Environment and resources > Conservation

Wildlife Act 1953, or

"Rules for Protecting Wild Animals and Birds in New Zealand"

2: Interpretation, or

"What words mean in the Wildlife Act 1953"

1Short Title and commencement

This Act may be cited as the Wildlife Act 1953.
This Act shall come into force on 1 April 1954.