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Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025

Miscellaneous provisions - Offences - Offences relating to plans, permits, bylaws, directions, and compliance orders

329: Failure to comply with water use restriction or limit

You could also call this:

"Breaking water use rules can lead to big fines if you know you're causing harm."

Illustration for Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025

If you do not follow a water use restriction or limit that applies to you, you might commit an offence. This restriction or limit must be set out in a bylaw made under section 258. You must also know you are not following the rule and your actions cause a serious risk.

If you break this rule, you can get a fine. The fine is up to $20,000 if you are an individual. If you are a company or a group, the fine can be up to $100,000.

You can be taken to court and convicted if you do not follow the water use restriction or limit and you know you are causing a serious risk.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS1006780.

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Part 5Miscellaneous provisions
Offences: Offences relating to plans, permits, bylaws, directions, and compliance orders

329Failure to comply with water use restriction or limit

  1. A person commits an offence if they—

  2. are subject to a water use restriction or limit set out in a bylaw made under section 258; and
    1. knowingly fail to comply with that restriction or limit and that non-compliance causes a specified serious risk.

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

      2. for an individual, to a fine not exceeding $20,000:
        1. for a body corporate or an unincorporated body, to a fine not exceeding $100,000.

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