National Parks Act 1980

Offences

65: Ranger may stop and search boats, vehicles, premises, and possessions in park

You could also call this:

"Rangers can check your stuff in national parks to make sure you're following the rules"

If you're in a national park, a ranger can search your things at a reasonable time. This is part of their job to make sure everyone follows the rules in the park.

The ranger can stop and search your car, bike, horse, boat, or even a small plane if it's on the ground or water. They can also look inside your tent, caravan, or small house in the park.

The ranger needs to have a good reason to think you've broken a rule and that they'll find proof by searching. They can open and look through your bags, packages, or containers, but only when you or the person who owns them is there.

There are special rules about how these searches should be done. These rules come from another law called the Search and Surveillance Act. Some parts of that law don't apply to these park searches.

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This page was last updated on 13 May 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM38500.

Topics:

Environment and resources > Conservation

64A: Power to require information, or

"Rangers can ask for your details if they think you broke a park rule"

66: Stopping and searching boats outside parks, or

"Officers can stop and search boats outside parks to check if someone broke park rules"

Part 7Offences

65Ranger may stop and search boats, vehicles, premises, and possessions in park

Any ranger may, in the exercise of his functions, powers, and duties within any park, at any time that is reasonable in the circumstances,—
search, and for that purpose, stop and detain, any vehicle, or any riding or pack animal, or any boat, or any aircraft while on the ground or on the water, and search any tent, caravan, hut, or bach, if he has reasonable cause to believe—
1. that any offence against this Act or any bylaw made under this Act has been committed by the owner or person in possession or occupation thereof or by any other person; and
2. that evidence relating to the offence will be found in the course of that search; and
in the presence of the owner or other person in possession, open and search any parcel, package, case, bag, luggage, or other container in or on that vehicle, riding or pack animal, boat, aircraft, tent, caravan, hut, or bach.

The provisions of Part 4 of the Search and Surveillance Act 2012 (except subpart 3 and sections 118 and 119) apply.

Notes

Section 65(1): amended, on 10 April 1990, by section 125(1) of the Conservation Law Reform Act 1990 (1990 No 31).
Section 65(2): replaced, on 1 October 2012, by section 285(6) of the Search and Surveillance Act 2012 (2012 No 24).