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Civil Aviation Act 2023

Aviation security - Aviation security services and aviation security powers - Searching powers at aerodromes and navigation installations

142: Requirements and incidental powers relating to manner of searching persons

You could also call this:

"What to do when an aviation security officer searches you at an airport"

Illustration for Civil Aviation Act 2023

When an aviation security officer tells you to, you must do what they say to help with a search under section 141. This means you might have to remove or open some of your clothes so the officer can do the search. You will have to take off things like your coat or jacket, and also things like gloves, shoes, and hats.

You might also have to let the officer pat you down to make sure you are not hiding anything. The officer can search the clothes you took off, like your coat or hat.

If you are being searched by a person, it will usually be an aviation security officer who is the same sex as you. But if you ask, you can be searched by someone of a different sex if that makes you feel more comfortable.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS447038.

Topics:
Transport and travel > Air travel
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141: Searching powers of aviation security officers, or

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Part 5Aviation security
Aviation security services and aviation security powers: Searching powers at aerodromes and navigation installations

142Requirements and incidental powers relating to manner of searching persons

  1. With respect to a search of a person under section 141, a person must, if directed to do so by an aviation security officer,—

  2. remove, raise, lower, or open any outer clothing, including (but not limited to) any coat, jacket, jumper, cardigan, or similar article that the person is wearing, to enable the search to be carried out, except where the person has no other clothing, or only underclothing, under the outer clothing:
    1. remove any gloves, footwear (including socks or stockings), head coverings, belts, jewellery, or other accessories:
      1. allow an aviation security officer to carry out a pat down search.

        1. The search of a person may include a search (whether involving physical contact or not) of—

        2. any outer clothing of the person removed, raised, lowered, or opened for the purposes of the search of the person; and
          1. any head covering, gloves, or footwear (including socks or stockings) of the person removed for the purposes of the search of the person.

            1. If a search of a person is made by means other than solely an aviation security dog or a mechanical or electrical or electronic or other similar device, the person must be searched by—

            2. an aviation security officer who is of the same sex as the person being searched; or
              1. if the person being searched reasonably requests, a person of a different sex.

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