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Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025

Miscellaneous provisions - Offences - Offences relating to stormwater network

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

You could also call this:

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

Illustration for Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025

If you connect to or disconnect from a stormwater network without permission from a water service provider, you are doing something wrong. You also do something wrong if you discharge materials or substances into a stormwater network without authorisation. This is against the law and you can get in trouble for it.

If you do one of these things without permission, you can be charged with an offence. As an individual, you could be fined up to $50,000 if you are found guilty.

If you are a company or a group, you could be fined up to $500,000 if you are found guilty, you can find more information about this by looking at the Local Government Act for comparison.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS1006769.

Topics:
Environment and resources > Food and water safetyGovernment and voting > Local councils
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321: Engaging in conduct relating to stormwater network that causes specified serious risk, or

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

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323: Negligently engaging in conduct relating to stormwater network that causes specified serious risk, or

"Causing big problems with stormwater networks by being careless is against the law."

Part 5Miscellaneous provisions
Offences: Offences relating to stormwater network

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

  1. A person commits an offence if they, without authorisation from a water service provider,—

  2. connect to or disconnect from a stormwater network; or
    1. discharge materials or substances into a stormwater network.

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

      2. for an individual, to a fine not exceeding $50,000:
        1. for a body corporate or an unincorporated body, to a fine not exceeding $500,000.

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