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Natural Environment Bill

Foundations - Duties and restrictions - Restrictions

24: Prohibitions relating to radioactive waste or other radioactive matter and other waste in coastal marine area

You could also call this:

"No dumping of radioactive or toxic waste in coastal areas"

Illustration for Natural Environment Bill

You cannot dump radioactive waste from ships, planes, or installations in the coastal marine area. You also cannot store radioactive waste or toxic waste on or in land or water in this area. This rule applies even if other parts of the law say something different. You need to know what radioactive waste and toxic waste mean. Radioactive waste is defined in the Maritime Transport Act 1994. Toxic waste is defined by regulations. These rules are about what you can and cannot do in the coastal marine area. They are part of a proposed new law to protect the environment. The law will help keep the coastal marine area safe and clean.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS1549977.

This page was last updated on 14 December 2025 — View changes

Topics:

Environment and resources > ConservationEnvironment and resources > Town planning

23: Discharge of harmful substances from ships or offshore installations, or

"Rules to stop ships and offshore installations from polluting our environment"

25: Certain existing activities allowed, or

"You can keep doing something you were already doing, even if new rules start."

Part 2Foundations
Duties and restrictions: Restrictions

24Prohibitions relating to radioactive waste or other radioactive matter and other waste in coastal marine area

A person must not, in the coastal marine area,—
dump from any ship, aircraft, or offshore installation any radioactive waste or other radioactive matter; or
store any radioactive waste or other radioactive matter or toxic or hazardous waste on or in any land or water.

Subsection (1) applies despite any provision to the contrary in this Act.
In this section,—
radioactive waste or other radioactive matter has the same meaning as in section 257 of the Maritime Transport Act 1994
toxic or hazardous waste means any waste or other matter prescribed as toxic or hazardous waste by regulations.