Impounding Act 1955

Procedure for disposing of unclaimed, suffering, or worthless impounded stock

50: Sales of impounded stock

You could also call this:

"Selling impounded animals: rules for buying and selling stock that's been taken in"

When stock is impounded and then sold, the sale happens at the time and place stated in the notice from section 46. You can buy a maximum of 10 sheep or goats, 5 pigs, or 1 head of any other kind of stock in one lot. The person running the sale is called an auctioneer, and they do not have to be registered under the Auctioneers Act 2013.

The local authority or the person running the sale cannot buy any stock for themselves, either directly or through someone else. If a sale has a minimum price, this price cannot be more than what the local authority is owed for costs and charges under this Act.

You should be aware that the local authority sets the rules for these sales, and they must follow the law when selling impounded stock.

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This page was last updated on 19 July 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM294216.

Topics:

Housing and property > Land useEnvironment and resources > Farming and fishing

49: Stock not claimed to be sold at auction, or

"What happens to your animals if you don't pick them up before they are sold"

51: Purchaser of stock not bound to prove regularity of sale, or

"Buying stock at an auction sale means you don't have to check if the sale was done correctly."

Part 8Procedure for disposing of unclaimed, suffering, or worthless impounded stock

50Sales of impounded stock

Sales of impounded stock shall be held at the time and place specified in the notice referred to in subsection (2) of section 46, and at any such sale not more than 10 sheep or goats nor more than 5 pigs nor more than 1 head of any other kind of stock shall be sold in 1 lot.
At every such sale the poundkeeper or any other person authorized by the local authority shall act as auctioneer, and any such auctioneer is not required to be an auctioneer registered under the Auctioneers Act 2013.
The local authority or any poundkeeper employed by the local authority or any person conducting the sale on its behalf shall not either in person or through an agent purchase any stock at any such sale, or have any interest of any kind in the stock so purchased.
Any sale of impounded stock by public auction notified to be subject to a reserved or upset price shall be subject to a reserved or upset price not exceeding the amount of costs and charges to which the local authority is entitled under this Act.

Compare

1908 No 79 s 41

Notes

Section 50(2): amended, on 18 December 2013, by section 28(3) of the Auctioneers Act 2013 (2013 No 148).
Section 50(4): inserted, on 25 November 1968, by section 4 of the Impounding Amendment Act 1968 (1968 No 32).