Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Outer Space and High-altitude Activities Act 2017

Enforcement and other matters - Offences - Offences relating to licences, permits, and authorisations

70: Offence to fail to comply with condition of licence, permit, or authorisation

You could also call this:

"Breaking space activity rules can get you in trouble"

Illustration for Outer Space and High-altitude Activities Act 2017

If you have a licence or permit for space or high-altitude activities, you must follow the conditions. You can get in trouble if you do not follow these conditions. This includes launch licences, payload permits, facility licences, and high-altitude licences, as well as something called a GBSI activity authorisation.

If you break the rules, you can be punished. If you are an individual, you might go to prison for up to one year or get a fine of up to $50,000, or both. If you are a company, you might get a fine of up to $250,000.

You should be aware that the rules about space and high-altitude activities have been updated by the Outer Space and High-altitude Activities Amendment Act 2025, which you can read more about on the New Zealand legislation website.

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 It might be out of date or be missing some parts.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=DLM6966527.

Topics:
Business > Industry rulesEnvironment and resources > Conservation
Previous

69: Providing false or misleading information to Minister, or

"Telling lies or giving wrong information to the Minister is not allowed"

Next

71: Providing false or misleading information to enforcement officer, or

"Telling lies to police or enforcement officers is against the law"

Part 3Enforcement and other matters
Offences: Offences relating to licences, permits, and authorisations

70Offence to fail to comply with condition of licence, permit, or authorisation

  1. A person commits an offence if the person, being the holder of one of the following licences or permits, knowingly or without reasonable excuse fails to comply with any condition of that licence or permit:

  2. a launch licence or overseas launch licence:
    1. a payload permit or overseas payload permit:
      1. a facility licence.

        1. A person commits an offence who, being the holder of a high-altitude licence or GBSI activity authorisation, knowingly or without reasonable excuse fails to comply with any condition of that licence or authorisation.

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

        3. in the case of an individual, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 1 year or a fine not exceeding $50,000, or both; or
          1. in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $250,000.

            Notes
            • Section 70 heading: amended, on , by section 19(1) of the Outer Space and High-altitude Activities Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 38).
            • Section 70(2): amended, on , by section 19(2)(a) of the Outer Space and High-altitude Activities Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 38).
            • Section 70(2): amended, on , by section 19(2)(b) of the Outer Space and High-altitude Activities Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 38).