Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Provisions relating to administration - Offences

159: Obstruction of inspector or auxiliary officer

You could also call this:

"Don't stop animal welfare inspectors from doing their job or you could get in trouble"

If you stop an inspector or auxiliary officer from doing their job under the Animal Welfare Act 1999, you can get in trouble. You will be committing an offence if you wilfully obstruct or hinder them. This means you might be fined or even go to prison if you are found guilty.

If you are found guilty as an individual, you could go to prison for up to 3 months, or you might have to pay a fine of up to $5,000, or you could get both.

If you are a company, you could be fined up to $25,000 if you are found guilty of obstructing an inspector or auxiliary officer.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

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=DLM51906.

Topics:
Crime and justice > Criminal lawEnvironment and resources > Farming and fishing
Previous

158: Protection of persons acting under authority of Act, or

"People helping animals under this law are protected from being sued for doing their job."

Next

160: Impersonating inspector or auxiliary officer, or

"Pretending to be an animal welfare inspector when you're not is against the law."

Part 7Provisions relating to administration
Offences

159Obstruction of inspector or auxiliary officer

  1. A person commits an offence who wilfully obstructs or hinders an inspector or auxiliary officer in the exercise of the inspector's or auxiliary officer's powers or in the performance of the inspector's or auxiliary officer's duties under this Act.

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

  3. in the case of an individual, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to both; or
    1. in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $25,000.

      Notes
      • Section 159(2): amended, on , by section 413 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 (2011 No 81).