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Fisheries Act 1996

Offences and penalties

229: Obstructing fishery officers or high seas fishery inspectors

You could also call this:

"Don't stop fishery officers from doing their job"

Illustration for Fisheries Act 1996

If you stop a fishery officer or high seas fishery inspector from doing their job, you are committing an offence. You must not resist or obstruct them when they are executing their powers or duties. You can find more information about their powers in section 219, section 196(3), and section 113Q(2) and (3). If you use threatening language or behave in a threatening way towards a fishery officer or high seas fishery inspector, you are also committing an offence. You must not refuse to let them exercise their powers, and you must comply with their lawful requirements. If you provide false or misleading information to a fishery officer or high seas fishery inspector, you are committing an offence. If you pretend to be a fishery officer or high seas fishery inspector, you are committing an offence. You can find the penalty for committing this offence in section 252(3).

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM398676.

Topics:
Crime and justice > Criminal lawEnvironment and resources > ConservationEnvironment and resources > Farming and fishing
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228: Breach of conditions or requirements, or

"Breaking fishing rules or conditions is against the law"

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230: Neglect or refusal to supply particulars, and improper divulging of information, or

"Not giving information or giving false information about fishing"

Part 13Offences and penalties

229Obstructing fishery officers or high seas fishery inspectors

  1. Every person commits an offence who—

  2. resists or obstructs, or aids, abets, incites, or encourages any other person to resist or obstruct,—
    1. any fishery officer or high seas fishery inspector executing his or her powers or duties; or
      1. any person assisting a fishery officer or high seas fishery inspector in accordance with section 219; or
        1. any person acting under the directions of—
          1. a fishery officer in accordance with section 196(3); or
            1. a high seas fishery inspector in accordance with section 113Q(2) and (3); or
          2. uses threatening language or behaves in a threatening manner towards—
            1. any fishery officer or high seas fishery inspector executing his or her powers or duties; or
              1. any person assisting a fishery officer or high seas fishery inspector in accordance with section 219; or
                1. any person acting under the directions of—
                  1. a fishery officer in accordance with section 196(3); or
                    1. a high seas fishery inspector in accordance with section 113Q(2) and (3); or
                  2. fails to comply with any lawful requirement of any fishery officer or high seas fishery inspector; or
                    1. provides to any fishery officer or high seas fishery inspector any particulars that are false or misleading in any material respect; or
                      1. personates or falsely claims to be a fishery officer or high seas fishery inspector or a person lawfully assisting a fishery officer or high seas fishery inspector.

                        1. Every person who refuses to allow—

                        2. any fishery officer or high seas fishery inspector; or
                          1. any person assisting a fishery officer or high seas fishery inspector in accordance with section 219; or
                            1. any person acting under the directions of—
                              1. a fishery officer in accordance with section 196(3); or
                                1. a high seas fishery inspector in accordance with section 113Q(2) and (3)—
                                  2. to exercise any of the powers conferred on that fishery officer, high seas fishery inspector, or person by this Act is deemed to be obstructing that fishery officer, high seas fishery inspector, or person.

                                2. For the avoidance of doubt, this section applies whenever a fishery officer exercises powers under section 215, even if such powers are exercised extra-territorially.

                                3. Every person who commits an offence against subsection (1) is liable to the penalty set out in section 252(3).

                                Compare
                                • 1983 No 14 ss 95, 107
                                • 1986 No 34 s 27(1)
                                • 1990 No 29 s 51
                                Notes
                                • Section 229 heading: amended, on , by section 55(1) of the Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 18).
                                • Section 229(1)(a)(i): amended, on , by section 55(2) of the Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 18).
                                • Section 229(1)(a)(ii): amended, on , by section 55(2) of the Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 18).
                                • Section 229(1)(a)(iii): replaced, on , by section 55(3) of the Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 18).
                                • Section 229(1)(b)(i): amended, on , by section 55(2) of the Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 18).
                                • Section 229(1)(b)(ii): amended, on , by section 55(2) of the Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 18).
                                • Section 229(1)(b)(iii): replaced, on , by section 55(4) of the Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 18).
                                • Section 229(1)(c): amended, on , by section 55(2) of the Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 18).
                                • Section 229(1)(d): amended, on , by section 55(2) of the Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 18).
                                • Section 229(1)(e): amended, on , by section 55(2) of the Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 18).
                                • Section 229(2): replaced, on , by section 55(5) of the Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 18).