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Water Services Act 2021

Standards, enforcement, and other matters - Powers of compliance officers - Power to obtain information

119: Protection of persons acting under authority of Act

You could also call this:

"People who follow the Water Services Act 2021 are protected when doing their job."

Illustration for Water Services Act 2021

You are protected if you act under the Water Services Act 2021. This applies to you if you are a compliance officer, the chief executive, or someone helping a compliance officer. It also applies if you are the Water Services Authority, an operator appointed under section 83(2), or a person authorised under section 114(1). You will not be liable for anything you do or do not do when performing your duties under this Act. This is if you act in good faith and with reasonable cause. You can also look at section 6 of the Crown Proceedings Act 1950 for more information.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS374826.

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118: Power to ask for assistance, or

"When can you be asked to help a water compliance officer with their job?"

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120: Power to serve compliance order, or

"What to do if you're not following the water rules"

Part 3Standards, enforcement, and other matters
Powers of compliance officers: Power to obtain information

119Protection of persons acting under authority of Act

  1. This section applies to the following persons:

  2. a compliance officer:
    1. the chief executive:
      1. a person called to assist a compliance officer:
        1. the Water Services Authority:
          1. an operator appointed under section 83(2):
            1. a specified person authorised under section 114(1).

              1. The person is protected from civil and criminal liability, however it may arise, for any act that the person does or omits to do in the performance or purported performance of the person’s functions or duties, or the exercise or purported exercise of the person’s powers, under this Act—

              2. in good faith; and
                1. with reasonable cause.

                  1. See also section 6 of the Crown Proceedings Act 1950.

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                  Notes
                  • Section 119(1)(d): amended, on , by section 111(2) of the Local Government (Water Services) (Repeals and Amendments) Act 2025 (2025 No 43).