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Fisheries Act 1996

Cost recovery

269: Suspension of permit, licence, or registration where levies unpaid

You could also call this:

"What happens if you don't pay a levy for your fishing permit, licence, or registration?"

Illustration for Fisheries Act 1996

If you have a fishing permit, licence, or registration, it can be suspended if you do not pay a levy. The chief executive will tell you in writing that they plan to suspend it. You will have two months to pay the levy. If you have more than one permit or licence, some or all of them can be suspended. A suspended permit, licence, or registration does not work during that time. For a fish farm, no fish or seaweed can be moved on or off the farm while the registration is suspended. The chief executive can lift the suspension if you pay the levy. They can also lift the suspension if you make a repayment arrangement with them. A court can also lift the suspension if you ask them to.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM399354.

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"What happens if you don't pay a levy on your fishing quota"

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"What happens first when debts need to be paid in fishing matters"

Part 14Cost recovery

269Suspension of permit, licence, or registration where levies unpaid

  1. The chief executive may, by notice in writing, after giving a person notice in writing of the chief executive's intention to do so, suspend a fishing permit or special permit or licensed fish receiver's licence or fish farmer's registration held by the person if—

  2. the person is liable to pay a levy imposed under section 264; and
    1. the person does not pay the levy in full within 2 months after the date on which payment of the levy is due, or within the time allowed under an arrangement with the chief executive, as the case may be; and
      1. payment of the outstanding levy has not been waived under section 267(2).

        1. The chief executive may suspend a permit, licence, or registration under subsection (1) regardless of whether or not the levy has been imposed on the person as a holder of a permit, licence, or registration.

        2. If the person holds 2 or more fishing permits or special permits or licensed fish receiver's licences, or holds any combination of 2 or more of them, the chief executive may suspend such of the permits or licences, as he or she considers appropriate.

        3. A fishing permit or special permit or licensed fish receiver's licence suspended under this section has no effect during the period of the suspension.

        4. While a fish farmer registration is suspended under this section, no fish, aquatic life, or seaweed is to be transferred onto or off the fish farm specified in the registration.

        5. The chief executive—

        6. must lift a suspension under this section if the outstanding levy is paid to the chief executive:
          1. may, conditionally or unconditionally, lift a suspension under this section if the chief executive and the person liable to pay the outstanding amount of the levy enter into an arrangement for repayment of that amount.

            1. A court may at any time, on application by the holder of a fishing permit, special permit, licensed fish receiver's licence, or fish farmer registration that has been suspended under this section, make an order lifting the suspension subject to any sureties and conditions specified by the court.

            Notes
            • Section 269: substituted, on , by section 13 of the Fisheries Amendment Act (No 3) 2004 (2004 No 104).
            • Section 269(1): amended, on , by section 58(1) of the Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 18).
            • Section 269(1)(a): substituted, on , by section 6(6) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (Restructuring) Amendment Act 2010 (2010 No 19).
            • Section 269(1)(b): amended, on , by section 6(7) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (Restructuring) Amendment Act 2010 (2010 No 19).
            • Section 269(1)(c): substituted, on , by section 6(8) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (Restructuring) Amendment Act 2010 (2010 No 19).
            • Section 269(3): amended, on , by section 58(2) of the Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 18).
            • Section 269(4): amended, on , by section 58(1) of the Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 18).
            • Section 269(6)(a): amended, on , by section 6(9) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (Restructuring) Amendment Act 2010 (2010 No 19).
            • Section 269(7): amended, on , by section 58(3) of the Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 18).