Burial and Cremation Act 1964

Offences and penalties

57: Trespass by animals

You could also call this:

"Looking after animals to prevent them entering cemeteries"

Illustration for Burial and Cremation Act 1964

You can get in trouble if you let animals enter a cemetery or burial ground when they are not supposed to. If you own an animal or are in charge of it, you must take reasonable precautions to stop it from entering these areas. You can be fined if you do not do this, and the fine can be up to 20 pounds plus an extra 5 pounds for each animal that enters.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM355879.

This page was last updated on 12 December 2025 — View changes

56: Offences concerning cremation, or

"Breaking Cremation Rules is Against the Law"

58: Offences punishable on summary conviction, or

"Punishments for breaking burial and cremation rules"

Part 8Offences and penalties

57Trespass by animals

Any person who permits any animal to enter any cemetery or burial ground or Maori burial ground contrary to any regulations or bylaws which may be made under this Act or otherwise than in accordance with any such regulations or bylaws, or, if there are no such regulations or bylaws applicable thereto, except with the permission of the local authority or trustees or managers or person or persons having the control and management of the Maori burial ground, as the case may be, commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding 20 pounds and to a further fine not exceeding 5 pounds in respect of every animal so entering.
The owner of any animal, and the person for the time being in charge of any animal, who fails to take reasonable precautions to prevent such animal from entering a cemetery, burial ground, or Maori burial ground contrary to subsection (1), shall be deemed to have permitted such entry.

Compare

1908 No 19 s 89

Notes

Section 57(1): amended, on 1 July 2013, by section 413 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 (2011 No 81).