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Water Services Act 2021

Standards, enforcement, and other matters - Offences - Offence involving failure to comply with emergency directions

185: Offence involving failure to comply with emergency directions or conditions

You could also call this:

"Breaking water rules in an emergency can lead to a big fine."

Illustration for Water Services Act 2021

You commit an offence if you fail to comply with a direction, prohibition, or requirement issued by the Water Services Authority under section 62, or a condition of an exemption issued by the Water Services Authority under section 63, or a direction issued by a compliance officer under section 105. If you commit this offence, you can be fined. The fine can be up to $50,000 for an individual or up to $200,000 for a body corporate or an unincorporated body.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS374920.

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Environment and resources > WaterCrime and justice > Police and safety
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Part 3Standards, enforcement, and other matters
Offences: Offence involving failure to comply with emergency directions

185Offence involving failure to comply with emergency directions or conditions

  1. A person commits an offence against this section if the person fails to comply with—

  2. a direction, prohibition, or requirement issued by the Water Services Authority under section 62; or
    1. a condition of an exemption issued by the Water Services Authority under section 63; or
      1. a direction issued by a compliance officer under section 105.

        1. A person who commits an offence against subsection (1) 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.

            Notes
            • Section 185(1)(a): amended, on , by section 111(2) of the Local Government (Water Services) (Repeals and Amendments) Act 2025 (2025 No 43).
            • Section 185(1)(b): amended, on , by section 111(2) of the Local Government (Water Services) (Repeals and Amendments) Act 2025 (2025 No 43).