Maritime Transport Act 1994

Wreck of ships and aircraft - Dealing with wreck

105: Rules to be observed by person finding wreck

You could also call this:

"What to do if you find a shipwreck in New Zealand"

If you find a wreck in New Zealand, you must tell the Director as soon as possible. You do this by notifying them that you have found the wreck. If you are not the owner of the wreck, you must give it to the Police or let them take it.

The Director can share the information you give them with other people or groups they think should know. If you do not follow these rules without a good reason, you can get in trouble and have to pay a fine. You might also have to pay the owner of the wreck double its value, or pay the person who is entitled to it if the owner does not claim it.

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This page was last updated on 25 May 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM336279.

104: Receiver to make inquiry, or

"Old law about a receiver investigating that is no longer in use"

106: Articles washed ashore to be delivered to Receiver, or

"Found something on the beach? You must give it to the person in charge of wrecked things."

Part 9Wreck of ships and aircraft
Dealing with wreck

105Rules to be observed by person finding wreck

If a person finds or takes possession of any wreck within the limits of New Zealand, or takes possession of and brings within the limits of New Zealand any wreck found outside those limits, the following provisions apply:
the person must, as soon as is reasonably practicable after finding or taking possession of the wreck, notify the Director that the person has found or taken possession of the wreck:
if the person is not the owner of the wreck, the person must, as soon as is reasonably practicable after finding or taking possession of the wreck, either deliver it to the Police or allow the Police to take possession of it.

The Director may transmit to such persons and agencies as the Director thinks appropriate any information received by him or her under subsection (1).
Repealed
Every person commits an offence who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with this section, and shall in addition, if he or she is not the owner, forfeit any claim to salvage, and shall be liable to pay to the owner of the wreck if it is claimed, or, if it is unclaimed, to the person entitled to the same, double the value thereof, to be recovered in the same way as a fine of a like amount under this Act.

Compare

1952 No 49 s 348
1963 No 129 s 23

Notes

Section 105(1): substituted, on 9 June 1999, by section 17(1) of the Maritime Transport Amendment Act 1999 (1999 No 68).
Section 105(1)(a): amended, on 23 October 2013, by section 33 of the Maritime Transport Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 84).
Section 105(1)(b): amended, on 23 October 2013, by section 33 of the Maritime Transport Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 84).
Section 105(1A): inserted, on 9 June 1999, by section 17(1) of the Maritime Transport Amendment Act 1999 (1999 No 68).
Section 105(2): repealed, on 9 June 1999, by section 17(2) of the Maritime Transport Amendment Act 1999 (1999 No 68).