Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Maritime Transport Act 1994

General provisions relating to shipping - Safety services

199: Search and rescue operations

You could also call this:

"Helping People in Trouble at Sea"

Illustration for Maritime Transport Act 1994

The Minister has to set up a centre to co-ordinate search and rescue operations. You can think of this centre as a place where people work together to find and help those in trouble. The Minister can also use powers to make sure these operations are done well. The Minister can appoint people to help with search and rescue operations. If you help with a search and rescue operation, the Minister might pay you for your help. The Minister can also pay the owner of a vehicle, ship, or aircraft used in a search and rescue operation. You can find more information about this by looking at the Maritime Transport Act and the Civil Aviation Act 2023. The Minister makes decisions about search and rescue operations. The Minister's role is important for keeping people safe.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS1431414.

This page was last updated on — View changes

Topics:
Transport and travel > BoatingTransport and travel > Air travelHealth and wellbeing > Public healthGovernment and voting > Emergency management

Part 14General provisions relating to shipping
Safety services

199Search and rescue operations

  1. The Minister—

  2. must establish, maintain, and operate a search and rescue co-ordination centre to co-ordinate and conduct—
    1. an aviation search and rescue operation; and
      1. a maritime search and rescue operation; and
        1. any other search and rescue operation that the Minister considers appropriate; and
        2. may exercise any powers that may be necessary or desirable—
          1. for the effective co-ordination and performance of a search and rescue operation specified in paragraph (a); and
            1. to implement any international convention or agreement relating to search and rescue to which New Zealand is a party; and
            2. may appoint persons to, either generally or in any particular case, participate in or co-ordinate a search and rescue operation specified in paragraph (a).

              1. The Minister may authorise the payment, out of money appropriated for the purpose by Parliament, of an amount that the Minister considers appropriate to—

              2. any person who assisted in a search and rescue operation specified in subsection (1)(a) at the request of a person appointed under subsection (1)(c); or
                1. the owner of any vehicle, ship, or aircraft used in a search and rescue operation specified in subsection (1)(a) in response to a request by a person appointed under subsection (1)(c).

                  Compare
                  Notes
                  • Section 199: inserted, on , by section 478 of the Civil Aviation Act 2023 (2023 No 10).