Armed Forces Discipline Act 1971

Offences - Offences involving guard duty, violence, and insubordination

40: Failure to comply with directions given by the captain of a ship or aircraft

You could also call this:

"Not following the captain's orders on a ship or aircraft"

Illustration for Armed Forces Discipline Act 1971

You can commit an offence if you are in or near a ship or aircraft and you do not follow a lawful direction given by the person in charge. This direction can be about sailing or handling the ship, or flying or handling the aircraft. The person in charge can be a member of the Armed Forces or not, and you can be liable to imprisonment for up to 5 years if you fail to comply with their direction, especially if it affects the safety of the ship or aircraft.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM402715.

This page was last updated on 1 January 2026 — View changes

Topics:

Transport and travel > BoatingTransport and travel > Air travelCrime and justice > Police and safety

39: Failure to comply with written orders, or

"Not following rules you know about or should know about"

41: Ill-treatment of person of lower rank, or

"Being mean or violent to someone with a lower rank is against the law"

Part 2Offences
Offences involving guard duty, violence, and insubordination

40Failure to comply with directions given by the captain of a ship or aircraft

Every person subject to this Act commits an offence, and is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years, who, when in or near any ship or aircraft, fails to comply with a lawful direction given to him by or with the authority of the person in command of the ship or aircraft—
in relation to the sailing or handling of the ship or flying or handling of the aircraft; or
affecting the safety of the ship or aircraft—

member of the Armed Forces

Notes

Section 40: amended, on 1 April 1990, by section 105(1) of the Defence Act 1990 (1990 No 28).