Wildlife Act 1953

General provisions - Infringement offences

70S: Infringement offences relating to waterfowl

You could also call this:

"Rules for hunting waterfowl: follow the law or you might break it"

If you want to hunt or kill waterfowl, you must follow the rules. You cannot hunt or kill waterfowl in a designated area where food has been put out within 30 days before the open season. You also cannot hunt or kill waterfowl in a designated area where the waters were artificially formed, or where there is a notice under section 17(5) erected or affixed. The occupier of the land can tell you if food has been put out or the waters have been artificially formed, and you must not hunt or kill waterfowl in that area.

You must not destroy, deface, or tamper with a notice erected or affixed under section 17(5). If you are the occupier of the land and you get a written notice under section 17(5), you must comply with it. If you do not follow these rules, you commit an infringement offence.

The terms used in these rules have special meanings, which are explained in section 17(1).

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This page was last updated on 24 May 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS149781.

Topics:

Environment and resources > ConservationCrime and justice > Criminal law

70R: Infringement offences relating to wildlife refuges, or

"Rules to protect wildlife in special refuges"

70T: Infringement offences relating to homing pigeons, or

"Rules to protect homing pigeons and what happens if you break them"

Part 5General provisions
Infringement offences

70SInfringement offences relating to waterfowl

A person must not, without the consent of the Minister, hunt or kill waterfowl during an open season for game in a designated area where, during the open season or within 30 days immediately before the open season, any food has been cast, thrown, placed, or planted.
A person must not hunt or kill waterfowl during an open season for game in a designated area—
in which, during the open season for game or within 30 days immediately before the open season, the waters were artificially formed; or
in which, or in the near vicinity of which, there is a notice under section 17(5) erected or affixed during that open season or within 30 days immediately before the open season; or
in respect of which the occupier of the land has informed the person that food has been cast, thrown, placed, or planted, or that the waters have been artificially formed, during the open season or within the 30 days immediately before the open season.

A person must not destroy, deface, or tamper with a notice erected or affixed under section 17(5).
An occupier of land who is served with a written notice under section 17(5) must comply with the notice.
A person who fails to comply with this section commits an infringement offence.
In this section, designated area, food, waterfowl, and waters have the meanings given in section 17(1).

Notes

Section 70S: inserted, on 21 December 2018, by section 69 of the Conservation (Infringement System) Act 2018 (2018 No 61).