7Certain wildlife not protected

1. The wildlife for the time being specified in Schedule 4 is hereby declared to be unprotected throughout New Zealand, except where that schedule otherwise provides: provided that, where the Minister considers that hunting by other persons is likely to interfere with studies and investigations of or campaigns against the wildlife specified in that schedule carried out by the Department, he may from time to time in his discretion, by notice, declare that any wildlife for the time being specified in that schedule may not be hunted or killed or had in possession in such area and during such period as are specified in the notification.

2. Every person who in any area and during any period specified in any notification under subsection (1) hunts, kills, or has in his or her possession any wildlife to which the notification refers, commits an offence against this Act and is liable on conviction to the penalty set out in section 67F(3).

3. The wildlife for the time being specified in Schedule 5 is hereby declared to be unprotected throughout New Zealand, except where that schedule otherwise provides.

4. A notice under this section is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).