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Animal Welfare Act 1999

Provisions relating to administration - Miscellaneous provisions

157: Offenders to give name and address

You could also call this:

"If you break animal welfare laws, you must give your name and address to an inspector."

Illustration for Animal Welfare Act 1999

If you break the Animal Welfare Act, an inspector can ask you for your name, address, and date of birth. You must give the inspector this information if they ask for it. The inspector can also ask you to prove the information you give is true. If you do not give the inspector the information they ask for, or if you give false information, you can get in trouble. You might even get arrested if you refuse to give the information after the inspector warns you. You can also be fined up to $5,000 if you are an individual, or up to $25,000 if you are a company. An inspector who is a constable can arrest you without a warrant if you refuse to give them the information they ask for. You will be in trouble if you give false information to the inspector, so it is best to tell the truth. The inspector is just trying to make sure you are following the law and treating animals well.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM51903.

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Topics:
Crime and justice > Police and safetyEnvironment and resources > ConservationAnimal welfare > Animal protection
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Part 7Provisions relating to administration
Miscellaneous provisions

157Offenders to give name and address

  1. An inspector may request any person to give his or her full name, address, and date of birth—

  2. if that person has been found offending against this Act or any regulations made under this Act; or
    1. if the inspector has reasonable grounds to believe that that person has committed an offence against this Act or any regulations made under this Act.

      1. If the inspector believes on reasonable grounds that any details given to the inspector under subsection (1) are false or misleading, the inspector may request the person to give to the inspector such verification of those details as it is reasonable in the circumstances to require the person to provide.

      2. If any person, without reasonable excuse, refuses or fails to comply with a request made under subsection (1) or subsection (2) and persists in the refusal or failure after being warned by the inspector of the provisions of this subsection, any inspector who is a constable may arrest that person without warrant.

      3. A person commits an offence who, without reasonable excuse,—

      4. fails to comply with a request made under subsection (1) or (2); or
        1. gives to an inspector, in response to a request made under subsection (1) or (2), particulars that are false in a material respect.

          1. A person who commits an offence against subsection (4) is liable on conviction,—

          2. in the case of an individual, to a fine not exceeding $5,000; or
            1. in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $25,000.

              Notes
              • Section 157(3): amended, on , pursuant to section 116(a)(ii) of the Policing Act 2008 (2008 No 72).
              • Section 157(4): replaced, on , by section 57 of the Animal Welfare Amendment Act (No 2) 2015 (2015 No 49).
              • Section 157(5): inserted, on , by section 57 of the Animal Welfare Amendment Act (No 2) 2015 (2015 No 49).