Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Conduct towards animals - Ill-treating, hunting, or killing wild animals or animals in wild state

30B: Hunting or killing

You could also call this:

"Hunting or killing animals is allowed in some cases, following certain laws and rules."

Illustration for Animal Welfare Act 1999

You can hunt or kill some animals without breaking the law. This includes animals in a wild state. You can also hunt or kill wild animals or pests according to the Wildlife Act 1953, the Wild Animal Control Act 1977, the Conservation Act 1987, or the Biosecurity Act 1993. You can hunt game animals according to the Game Animal Council Act 2013. You can catch fish from a constructed pond. There are some exceptions to this rule, which are explained in other parts of the law, like sections 30A and 30C to 30E, and Part 6.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM6475335.

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Topics:
Environment and resources > ConservationEnvironment and resources > Farming and fishingRecreation and sport > Hunting and fishing
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30A: Wilful or reckless ill-treatment of wild animals or animals in wild state, or

"Harming wild animals on purpose or by being reckless is against the law and can lead to big fines or prison."

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30C: Hunting in safari parks, or

"Hunting animals in safari parks is allowed, but you must follow animal welfare rules."

Part 2Conduct towards animals
Ill-treating, hunting, or killing wild animals or animals in wild state

30BHunting or killing

  1. Nothing in this Act makes it unlawful to hunt or kill—

  2. any animal in a wild state; or
    1. any wild animal or pest in accordance with the provisions of—
      1. the Wildlife Act 1953; or
        1. the Wild Animal Control Act 1977; or
          1. the Conservation Act 1987; or
            1. the Biosecurity Act 1993; or
              1. any other Act; or
              2. any other wild animal or pest; or
                1. any game animal in accordance with the provisions of the Game Animal Council Act 2013; or
                  1. any fish caught from a constructed pond.

                    1. Subsection (1) is subject to sections 30A and 30C to 30E and Part 6.

                    Compare
                    • 1960 No 30 s 19(1)(c), (2)
                    Notes
                    • Section 30B: inserted, on , by section 20 of the Animal Welfare Amendment Act (No 2) 2015 (2015 No 49).