Summary Offences Act 1981

Offences against persons or property

12: Acts endangering safety

You could also call this:

"Doing things in public that might hurt others is against the law"

Illustration for Summary Offences Act 1981

You can get in trouble if you do something in a public place that might hurt someone. If you put something in the way, dig a hole, or remove a warning sign without a good reason, you might go to prison for up to 3 months or pay a fine of up to $2,000. You must have a reasonable excuse for doing these things to avoid getting in trouble.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM53541.

This page was last updated on 11 December 2025 — View changes

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11B: Possession of graffiti implements, or

"Having things to do graffiti vandalism without a good reason is against the law"

13: Things endangering safety, or

"Having things in public that can hurt others is against the law"

12Acts endangering safety

Every person is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or a fine not exceeding $2,000 who, in any public place, without reasonable excuse and in circumstances likely to cause injury,—
places or makes any obstruction; or
digs and leaves any hole; or
removes any protective structure or any warning sign or device.

Compare

1927 No 35 ss 4(1)(p), 5(a), (b)

Notes

Section 12: amended, on 1 January 1998, by section 7 of the Summary Offences Amendment Act 1997 (1997 No 97).