Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Conduct towards animals - Ill-treatment of animals

29: Further offences

You could also call this:

"More ways you can break the law and hurt animals"

You commit an offence if you ill-treat an animal. You also commit an offence if you keep or use a place to make animals fight or to hurt them. You are not allowed to be at a place where animals are fighting or being hurt, if you are there to watch.

You commit an offence if you help or encourage animals to fight or be hurt. You also commit an offence if you release an animal that has been kept in captivity, and this causes the animal pain or distress. You commit an offence if you help someone else to do something that causes an animal pain or distress.

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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=DLM50430.

Topics:
Environment and resources > Farming and fishingCrime and justice > Criminal law
Previous

28A: Reckless ill-treatment of animals, or

"Hurting animals on purpose is against the law and can lead to big fines or even jail."

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30: Strict liability, or

"No excuse is needed to be guilty of hurting an animal, but you can defend yourself if you tried to prevent harm."

Part 2Conduct towards animals
Ill-treatment of animals

29Further offences

  1. A person commits an offence who—

  2. ill-treats an animal; or
      1. keeps or uses a place for the purpose of causing an animal to fight, or for the purpose of baiting or otherwise ill-treating an animal, or manages or assists in the management of, any such place; or
        1. is present, for the purpose of witnessing the fighting or baiting of an animal, at a place used or kept for the purpose; or
          1. in any manner encourages, aids, or assists in the fighting or baiting of an animal; or
              1. releases an animal, being an animal that has been kept in captivity, in circumstances in which the animal is likely to suffer unreasonable or unnecessary pain or distress; or
                1. counsels, procures, aids, or abets any other person to do an act or refrain from doing an act as a result of which an animal suffers unreasonable or unnecessary pain or distress.

                  Notes
                  • Section 29(b): repealed, on , by section 19 of the Animal Welfare Amendment Act (No 2) 2015 (2015 No 49).
                  • Section 29(f): repealed, on , by section 19 of the Animal Welfare Amendment Act (No 2) 2015 (2015 No 49).