Maritime Transport Act 1994

Local regulation of maritime activity - Navigation bylaws

33N: Offences relating to navigation bylaws

You could also call this:

"Breaking navigation rules can lead to fines of up to $2,500"

If you break a navigation bylaw, you commit an offence against the Maritime Transport Act 1994 and can be punished if you are convicted. The Governor-General can decide the fine for breaking a navigation bylaw, which can be up to $2,500. You can be fined up to $500 if you break a navigation bylaw and there is no other penalty set.

If you break a navigation bylaw, you can be charged with an offence within 12 months of when the offence happened, even though section 25 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 usually has different rules. The Governor-General makes regulations about fines, and these are secondary legislation, which means they have to be published in a certain way, as explained in Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019. These regulations can include how much you have to pay if you break a navigation bylaw.

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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=DLM5691723.

33M: Navigation bylaws, or

"Rules to keep you safe on the water"

33O: Infringement offences relating to navigation bylaws, or

"Breaking navigation rules can lead to a fine of up to $1,000"

Part 3ALocal regulation of maritime activity
Navigation bylaws

33NOffences relating to navigation bylaws

Every person who breaches a navigation bylaw commits an offence against this Act punishable on conviction.
The Governor-General may, by Order in Council, make regulations prescribing a fine not exceeding $2,500 for any offence under subsection (1).
Every person who commits an offence under subsection (1) for which no penalty is provided for under subsection (2) is liable to a fine not exceeding $500.
Despite section 25 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011, a charging document for an offence against subsection (1) may be filed within 12 months of the time when the matter to which the charging document relates arose.
Regulations under subsection (2) are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).

Compare

ss 683, 698, 699

Notes

Section 33N: inserted, on 23 October 2013, by section 7 of the Maritime Transport Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 84).
Section 33N(5): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).