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Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025

Miscellaneous provisions - Offences - Offences relating to stormwater network

321: Engaging in conduct relating to stormwater network that causes specified serious risk

You could also call this:

"Don't put people or the environment at risk with stormwater systems or you could get in trouble."

Illustration for Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025

If you do something with a stormwater network that causes a big risk, you can get in trouble. You must not do things that cause a big risk on purpose or without caring about the risk. If you break this rule, you can be punished when you are found guilty. As an individual, you might go to prison for up to 2 years, or you might have to pay a fine of up to $75,000, or you might get both punishments, but for a company or group, the fine can be up to $1.5 million.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS1006768.

Topics:
Environment and resources > Food and water safetyGovernment and voting > Local councils
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320: Negligently disposing of or discharging materials or substances into stormwater network causing specified serious risk, or

"Don't carelessly put bad things into stormwater drains or you might get a big fine."

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322: Connecting to or disconnecting from, or discharging materials or substances into, stormwater network without authorisation, or

"No permission? Don't connect to or mess with stormwater systems!"

Part 5Miscellaneous provisions
Offences: Offences relating to stormwater network

321Engaging in conduct relating to stormwater network that causes specified serious risk

  1. A person commits an offence if they—

  2. engage in conduct relating to a stormwater network that causes a specified serious risk; and
    1. intentionally cause, or are reckless as to causing, that specified serious risk.

      1. A person who commits an offence against this section is liable on conviction,—

      2. for an individual, to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 2 years or a fine not exceeding $75,000, or both:
        1. for a body corporate or an unincorporated body, to a fine not exceeding $1.5 million.

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