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Maritime Transport Act 1994

Maritime New Zealand - Provisions relating to Authority

431: Functions of Authority

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"The Authority's jobs are to keep people safe on the water and protect the ocean."

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The Authority has many jobs. You can think of these jobs as keeping people safe on the water and protecting the ocean. The Authority must do what the Minister tells them to do, as stated in section 112 of the Crown Entities Act 2004. The Authority's jobs include keeping you safe on the water and protecting the ocean in New Zealand and beyond. They must make sure there are good systems for emergency calls and navigation. They also prepare for and respond to oil spills in the ocean. The Authority licenses ships and their crews, and they investigate accidents on the water. They keep a record of all the ships in New Zealand and give advice to the Minister on maritime safety. If the Minister tells them to, the Authority will also run a search and rescue centre, or help with search and rescue operations, as stated in section 199(1)‎(a). The Authority must work with other government agencies if the Minister asks them to, but only if it does not interfere with their other jobs. They also provide information and education about maritime transport and marine protection, and they maintain records and documents related to their jobs. The Authority does other jobs that are given to them by this Act or other Acts. They must follow the directions of the Minister, as stated in section 199A.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM338807.

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Part 29Maritime New Zealand
Provisions relating to Authority

431Functions of Authority

  1. The Authority has the following functions:

  2. to promote maritime safety and security, and protection of the marine environment in New Zealand:
    1. to promote maritime safety and security, and protection of the marine environment beyond New Zealand in accordance with New Zealand’s international obligations:
          1. to ensure the provision of appropriate distress and safety radio communication systems and navigational aids for shipping:
            1. to ensure New Zealand’s preparedness for, and ability to respond to, marine oil pollution spills:
              1. to license ships, their operation, and their crews:
                  1. to co-operate with, or to provide advice and assistance to, any government agency or local government agency when requested to do so by the Minister, but only if the Minister and the Authority are satisfied that the performance of the Authority’s functions and duties will not be compromised:
                    1. to provide information and advice with respect to maritime transport and marine protection, and to foster appropriate information education programmes with respect to maritime transport and marine protection, that promote its objective:
                      1. to investigate and review maritime transport accidents and incidents and maritime security breaches and incidents:
                        1. to maintain the New Zealand Register of Ships:
                          1. to maintain and preserve records and documents relating to the Authority’s functions:
                            1. to advise the Minister on technical maritime safety policy:
                              1. to perform such other functions as are conferred on it by this Act or any other Act.

                                1. The Authority shall carry out such other maritime functions, and such maritime duties, as the Minister may from time to time direct in accordance with section 112 of the Crown Entities Act 2004.

                                2. The Authority must, if directed by the Minister under section 199A, do any or all of the following:

                                3. maintain and operate the search and rescue co-ordination centre established under section 199(1)(a):
                                  1. co-ordinate, or participate in the co-ordination of, any search and rescue operation specified in section 199(1)(a):
                                    1. perform, or participate in the performance of, any search and rescue operation specified in section 199(1)(a):
                                      1. exercise any or all of the powers of the Minister under section 199(1)(b) and (c) and (2).

                                        Compare
                                        • 1993 No 89 s 5
                                        Notes
                                        • Section 431(1): amended, on , by section 9(1) of the Maritime Transport Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 98).
                                        • Section 431(1)(a): substituted, on , by section 9(2) of the Maritime Transport Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 98).
                                        • Section 431(1)(b): substituted, on , by section 9(2) of the Maritime Transport Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 98).
                                        • Section 431(1)(c): repealed, on , by section 9(2) of the Maritime Transport Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 98).
                                        • Section 431(1)(d): repealed, on , by section 9(2) of the Maritime Transport Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 98).
                                        • Section 431(1)(h): repealed, on , by section 35(3) of the Health and Safety in Employment Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 86).
                                        • Section 431(1)(i): substituted, on , by section 9(3) of the Maritime Transport Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 98).
                                        • Section 431(1)(ia): inserted, on , by section 9(3) of the Maritime Transport Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 98).
                                        • Section 431(1)(j): amended, on , by section 81(8) of the Maritime Security Act 2004 (2004 No 16).
                                        • Section 431(2): amended, on , by section 200 of the Crown Entities Act 2004 (2004 No 115).
                                        • Section 431(3): replaced, on , by section 479 of the Civil Aviation Act 2023 (2023 No 10).