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Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025

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

333: Tampering with water meter

You could also call this:

"Don't touch or move a water meter without permission or you could get fined."

Illustration for Local Government (Water Services) Act 2025

If you alter a water meter without permission from the water service provider, you are doing something wrong. You must not change the index of a water meter or tamper with it in any way. You also must not move a water meter from its original position without permission.

If you do any of these things, you can get in trouble with the law. 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 $200,000 if you are found guilty, you can see similar rules in the legislation from 2022.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS1006784.

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

333Tampering with water meter

  1. A person commits an offence if they, without the prior written authorisation of a water service provider,—

  2. alter the index of, or in any other manner tamper with, a water meter; or
    1. alter the position of a water meter.

      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 $200,000.

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