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Wildlife Act 1953

General provisions - Offences and penalties

65A: Liability of directors and managers

You could also call this:

"Company bosses can be blamed if their company breaks wildlife rules"

If you are a director or manager of a company and the company breaks a rule in the Wildlife Act 1953, you can be guilty of the same offence. This happens if the court proves that the offence occurred with your permission or that you knew it was happening and did not try to stop it. You will be treated like an individual who broke the rule and will face the same penalty.

If the court decides that you are guilty, you will have to face the consequences, just like someone who is not a director or manager. The penalty will be the same as for anyone else who breaks the same rule in the Wildlife Act 1953. You can find more information about the changes to this rule in section 5 of the Wildlife (Penalties and Related Matters) Amendment Act 2000.

As a director or manager, it is important to make sure your company is following the rules in the Wildlife Act 1953 to avoid getting in trouble.

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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=DLM278159.

Topics:
Environment and resources > ConservationBusiness > Industry rules
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65: Other offences, or

"Breaking wildlife laws in other ways, like bribing rangers or using fake licences"

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66: Continuing offence after being required to desist, or

"Breaking a wildlife rule after being told to stop"

Part 5General provisions
Offences and penalties

65ALiability of directors and managers

  1. Where any body corporate is convicted of an offence against this Act, every director and every person concerned in the management of the body corporate is guilty of the same offence if the prosecution proves—

  2. that the act that constituted the offence took place with the director's or manager's authority, permission, or consent; or
    1. that the director or manager knew or could reasonably be expected to have known that the offence was to be or was being committed and failed to take all reasonable steps to prevent or stop it.

      1. Where any director or person concerned in the management of a body corporate is convicted of an offence against this Act by virtue of subsection (1), the director or person is liable to the penalty applicable to an individual who commits the offence.

      Notes
      • Section 65A: inserted, on , by section 5 of the Wildlife (Penalties and Related Matters) Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 43).