If you want to do something with wildlife, you must have a licence or permit if this Act or its regulations say you need one. You cannot do something that requires a licence, permit, concession, or other right or authority without getting it first. If you do something without the required licence or permit, you are breaking the law.

If you break this rule, you commit what is called an infringement offence. This means you have done something wrong according to the Wildlife Act 1953.

You can find more information about changes to this section in the Conservation (Infringement System) Act 2018, which is available at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM7116389, but this is where you can learn about the amendment that was made on 21 December 2018.