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Outer Space and High-altitude Activities Act 2017

Preliminary provisions

6: Act binds the Crown

You could also call this:

"The government must follow this law, except in some special cases."

Illustration for Outer Space and High-altitude Activities Act 2017

This Act applies to the government, which is also known as the Crown. You need to know that the government must follow the rules in this Act, but there are some exceptions. The Act does not apply to the New Zealand Defence Force, and it also does not apply to some other groups or people in certain situations, such as intelligence and security agencies, or people working with the Defence Force.

The Act has some specific parts that do not apply to certain people or groups, these are called the GBSI provisions, which include subpart 6A of Part 2, subpart 3A of Part 3, or Part 2 of Schedule 1. You should look at these parts to see what they say. The GBSI provisions do not apply to people like those working with the Defence Force, or people operating ground-based space infrastructure in certain areas, like defence areas, with the consent of the Defence Force.

The Defence Force and some other groups, like intelligence and security agencies, are exempt from following some of the rules in this Act, as are people who are working with these groups, or people operating in certain areas, like premises owned by an intelligence and security agency, you can find more information about defence areas in section 2(1) of the Defence Act 1990, and about assisting intelligence and security agencies in section 51 of the Intelligence and Security Act 2017.

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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=DLM6966440.

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Part 1Preliminary provisions

6Act binds the Crown

  1. Subject to subsection (2), this Act binds the Crown.

  2. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Act or any other Act, or in regulations made under this Act,—

  3. nothing in this Act or in regulations made under this Act applies to the New Zealand Defence Force; and
    1. nothing in subpart 6A of Part 2, subpart 3A of Part 3, or Part 2 of Schedule 1 of this Act (the GBSI provisions), or in regulations made under this Act to the extent that they relate to the GBSI provisions, applies to—
      1. a person assisting or providing services to, or working jointly with, the New Zealand Defence Force; or
        1. a person operating ground-based space infrastructure in a defence area (as defined in section 2(1) of the Defence Act 1990) with the consent of the New Zealand Defence Force; or
          1. an intelligence and security agency; or
            1. the New Zealand Police, or any other organisation or other person, assisting an intelligence and security agency under section 51 of the Intelligence and Security Act 2017; or
              1. a person operating ground-based space infrastructure in premises or a place owned, leased, or otherwise occupied by an intelligence and security agency.

              Notes
              • Section 6(2): replaced, on , by section 6 of the Outer Space and High-altitude Activities Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 38).