Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Wildlife Act 1953

Game

21: Holder of game licence not to enter on land without consent

You could also call this:

"Get permission before hunting on someone else's land, even with a game licence"

If you have a game licence, it does not mean you can enter any land to hunt or kill game. You need to get consent from the occupier of the land first. The occupier can be the person who lives on the land or the person in charge of it, such as the Director-General or the Minister, depending on the type of land. For example, if the land is a reserve under the Reserves Act 1977, the occupier would be the Director-General or the administering body.

You must get permission from the right person before you enter the land. This rule applies to all types of land, including wildlife sanctuaries and reserves. If you are not sure who the occupier is, you need to find out before you enter the land.

The occupier is the person who has control over the land, and they can say yes or no to you entering it. You must respect their decision and not enter the land without their consent.

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This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM277351.

Topics:
Environment and resources > ConservationCrime and justice > Criminal law
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20: Limitation of licence, or

"Rules that limit what you can do with a game licence"

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22: Shooting of game not in flight prohibited, or

"Don't shoot game birds that are on the ground or water, only shoot them when they are flying."

Part 2Game

21Holder of game licence not to enter on land without consent

  1. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Act, or in any Proclamation or Order in Council or notice pursuant thereto, nothing in any game licence or other authority under this Act shall authorise the holder to enter upon or to hunt or kill game on any land without the consent of the occupier of the land.

  2. In subsection (1), the term occupier includes:

  3. in the case of any reserve within the meaning of the Reserves Act 1977, the Director-General or, as the case may require, the administering body:
    1. in the case of any land actually and exclusively used by any Fish and Game Council for the purposes of this Act, that Fish and Game Council:
      1. in the case of any wildlife sanctuary, wildlife refuge, or wildlife management reserve, the Minister or Director-General, or, where authorised by the Director-General, the person or body having day-to-day control of the wildlife sanctuary, wildlife refuge, or wildlife management reserve:
        1. in any other case, the occupier.

          Notes
          • Section 21: replaced, on , by section 6 of the Wildlife Amendment Act 1983 (1983 No 48).
          • Section 21 heading: amended, on , by section 91(1) of the Electronic Interactions Reform Act 2017 (2017 No 50).
          • Section 21(1): amended, on , by section 91(2) of the Electronic Interactions Reform Act 2017 (2017 No 50).
          • Section 21(2)(a): amended, on , by section 65(1) of the Conservation Act 1987 (1987 No 65).
          • Section 21(2)(b): amended, on , by section 72(a) of the Conservation Law Reform Act 1990 (1990 No 31).
          • Section 21(2)(c): amended, on , by section 72(b) of the Conservation Law Reform Act 1990 (1990 No 31).
          • Section 21(2)(c): amended, on , by section 65(1) of the Conservation Act 1987 (1987 No 65).