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Customs and Excise Act 2018

Customs powers - Powers in relation to craft

196: Firing on ship

You could also call this:

"Chasing and stopping ships that break the law in New Zealand waters"

Illustration for Customs and Excise Act 2018

If you are in charge of a boat that works for the government, you must help the chief executive if they ask you to chase a ship in New Zealand. You have to chase the ship if it does not stop when signalled or if the person in charge of the ship will not let officials on board. You can fire a warning shot and then fire at the ship as a last resort to make it stop. When a government ship is involved, the person in charge must make sure the proper flag is visible on the ship at all times when following this rule, you can find more information about this rule by looking at the Customs and Excise Act 2018 and similar laws like s 142.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM7039455.

Topics:
Crime and justice > Police and safetyTransport and travel > Boating
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195: Securing goods on craft, or

"Customs officers can lock up or move goods on a boat to keep them safe"

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197: Power to order ship to leave New Zealand, or

"Customs can order a ship to leave New Zealand if it's in the public's best interest."

Part 4Customs powers
Powers in relation to craft

196Firing on ship

  1. The person in charge of any craft in the service of the Crown—

  2. must, at the request of the chief executive, give chase to any ship in New Zealand if—
    1. the ship does not immediately bring to when signalled or required to bring to; or
      1. the person in charge of the ship refuses to permit the ship to be boarded; and
      2. may, as a last resort (after having fired a warning shot), fire at or onto the ship to compel it to bring to.

        1. In the case of a ship in the service of the Crown, the person in charge of the ship must ensure that the proper ensign of the ship or the Customs flag is hoisted or prominently displayed on the ship at all times when acting under this section.

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