Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

National Parks Act 1980

Offences

66: Stopping and searching boats outside parks

You could also call this:

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

If an authorised officer thinks someone has broken the rules in a national park using a boat, they can do some things to check. Even if the boat is in New Zealand's sea area, the officer can stop the boat and look around it. They can do this at a time that makes sense for the situation.

The officer can take away any plants, animals, rocks, soil, or special New Zealand objects they think were taken from the park. They can also arrest someone if they believe that person broke the rules.

If you try to stop an authorised officer from doing these things, you are breaking the law.

There are special rules about how the officer can search and what they can do with the things they take. These rules are in another part of the law called the Search and Surveillance Act.

An authorised officer can be different people. It could be someone in charge of a Navy ship, a park ranger, someone the Minister has given special permission to, a police officer, or the captain of a New Zealand government ship.

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This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM38503.

Topics:
Environment and resources > ConservationCrime and justice > Police and safety
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65: Ranger may stop and search boats, vehicles, premises, and possessions in park, or

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

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67: Proceedings in respect of offences, or

"How legal action starts when someone breaks national park rules"

Part 7Offences

66Stopping and searching boats outside parks

  1. Any authorised officer who has good cause to suspect that an offence against this Act or any bylaws made under this Act has been committed on or from or in respect of any boat or by any person on any boat, may, while that boat is within the territorial sea of New Zealand, and if he has reasonable cause to believe that evidence relating to the offence is on that boat,—

  2. at any time that is reasonable in the circumstances, stop, Board, and search the boat; and
    1. inspect, seize, and detain any specimens of plants or animals, rock, mineral, soil, or protected New Zealand objects on Board that he has good cause to believe have been taken from a park; and
      1. arrest without warrant any person whom he has good cause to suspect of having committed such an offence.

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

        2. Repealed

        3. Every person commits an offence against this Act who in any way prevents or attempts to prevent any authorised officer or any assistant of any authorised officer from exercising any power conferred by this section.

        4. Section 61 shall apply with respect to anything seized under subsection (1)(b) as if it had been seized under that section.

        5. In this section the term authorised officer means—

        6. the officer in command of any vessel of the New Zealand Naval Forces; and includes any person under his command and authorised by him to act in any particular case:
          1. any ranger:
            1. any officer of the Department specifically authorised in writing by the Minister to act under this section:
              1. any constable:
                1. the master of any New Zealand Government ship within the meaning of section 2(1) of the Shipping and Seamen Act 1952.

                  Compare
                  • 1977 No 66 s 100
                  Notes
                  • Section 66(1)(a): amended, on , by section 126(1) of the Conservation Law Reform Act 1990 (1990 No 31).
                  • Section 66(1)(b): amended, on , by section 35 of the Protected Objects Amendment Act 2006 (2006 No 37).
                  • Section 66(2): replaced, on , by section 285(7) of the Search and Surveillance Act 2012 (2012 No 24).
                  • Section 66(3): repealed, on , by section 285(7) of the Search and Surveillance Act 2012 (2012 No 24).