Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Wildlife Act 1953

Protection of wildlife

7A: Wild animals

You could also call this:

"What are considered wild animals in New Zealand?"

The law says animals of certain species are wild animals. You can find these species in Schedule 6. These wild animals are subject to the Wild Animal Control Act 1977. The Governor-General can change which animals are in Schedule 6 by adding or removing species. When the Governor-General makes an order, it is secondary legislation, which has to be published, as explained in Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM277098.

Topics:
Environment and resources > Conservation
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"Some wildlife is not protected and can be hunted or killed in certain situations."

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7B: Terrestrial and freshwater invertebrates, or

"Rules about animals without backbones on land and in freshwater"

Part 1Protection of wildlife

7AWild animals

  1. Animals of any of the species for the time being specified in Schedule 6 are hereby declared to be wild animals, and shall be subject to the Wild Animal Control Act 1977.

  2. The Governor-General may from time to time, by Order in Council,—

  3. amend Schedule 6 by including a reference to any other species of animal, or by omitting the reference to any species of animal for the time being included therein:
    1. amend any other schedule of this Act by omitting the reference to any species of animal included in Schedule 6 under paragraph (a), or by including the reference to any species of animal excluded from Schedule 6 under that paragraph.

      1. An order under this section is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).

      Notes
      • Section 7A: inserted (with effect on 1 April 1956), on , by section 2(1) of the Wildlife Amendment Act 1956 (1956 No 5).
      • Section 7A heading: replaced, on , by section 112(1) of the Statutes Amendment Act 2016 (2016 No 104).
      • Section 7A(1): amended, on , by section 112(2)(a) of the Statutes Amendment Act 2016 (2016 No 104).
      • Section 7A(1): amended, on , by section 112(2)(b) of the Statutes Amendment Act 2016 (2016 No 104).
      • Section 7A(1): amended, on , by section 112(2)(c) of the Statutes Amendment Act 2016 (2016 No 104).
      • Section 7A(3): inserted, on , by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).