Reserves Act 1977

Miscellaneous provisions - Offences

93: Powers of constables, rangers, and other officers

You could also call this:

"What happens if a constable, ranger, or officer catches you breaking a rule in a reserve"

If you break a rule in a reserve, a constable, ranger, or other officer can stop you. They can tell you to stop doing what you are doing. If you do not stop, you can get in trouble with the law. You might have to tell the officer your name, address, and date of birth. You might also have to prove who you are. If you do not do what the officer says, you can get in trouble with the law and even be arrested. When an officer arrests you, they have to take you to court as soon as possible. The officer will show you a special card or paper to prove they are allowed to arrest you. In this case, an officer is a constable, ranger, or someone who works for the group in charge of the reserve and is allowed to make decisions.

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This page was last updated on 18 September 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM444968.

Topics:

Crime and justice > Police and safetyEnvironment and resources > ConservationEnvironment and resources > Town planning

92: Relief of lessees and licensees of reserves, or

"Help with rent for people using reserves"

94: Offences on reserves, or

"What happens if you break the rules on a reserve"

Part 5Miscellaneous provisions
Offences

93Powers of constables, rangers, and other officers

Any officer may summarily interfere to prevent any actual or attempted breach of this Act or of any regulation or bylaw thereunder, and he or she may require any person found offending to desist from the offence. If any person when so required continues the offence, he or she commits a further offence against this Act.
It shall be lawful for an officer to require any person found offending against this Act or any regulation or bylaw made under this Act to disclose the person’s full name, residential address, and date of birth, and to provide evidence, as soon as practicable, of those particulars, and if that person, when so required,—
refuses or fails to disclose information required under this subsection; or
refuses or fails to provide evidence required under this subsection as soon as practicable,—

the person commits

Any person arrested under subsection (2) shall be brought before a court, as soon as possible, to be dealt with according to law.
The production by any officer of his or her warrant, instrument of appointment, or other written evidence of identification shall be sufficient evidence of the authority of that officer to exercise the powers conferred by this section.
In this section, officer means—
any ranger or constable; and
any officer or employee of an administering body who is authorised by that body to exercise the powers of an officer under this Part.

Compare

1953 No 69 s 83

Notes

Section 93(2): amended, on 21 December 2018, by section 38(1) of the Conservation (Infringement System) Act 2018 (2018 No 61).
Section 93(2): amended, on 21 December 2018, by section 38(4) of the Conservation (Infringement System) Act 2018 (2018 No 61).
Section 93(2)(a): replaced, on 21 December 2018, by section 38(2) of the Conservation (Infringement System) Act 2018 (2018 No 61).
Section 93(2)(b): replaced, on 21 December 2018, by section 38(3) of the Conservation (Infringement System) Act 2018 (2018 No 61).
Section 93(2)(c): repealed, on 21 December 2018, by section 38(3) of the Conservation (Infringement System) Act 2018 (2018 No 61).
Section 93(5): replaced, on 1 October 2012, by section 299(2) of the Search and Surveillance Act 2012 (2012 No 24).