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Civil Aviation Act 2023

Aviation security - Aviation security services and aviation security powers - Other rights and powers of aviation security officers

156: Right of access for aviation security officers

You could also call this:

"Aviation security officers can enter certain areas to keep people safe"

Illustration for Civil Aviation Act 2023

When you are an aviation security officer on duty, you can enter certain areas at any time. These areas include security designated aerodromes, navigation installations, aircraft, buildings, or other places within these areas, so you can do your job under the Civil Aviation Act 2023. You can do this to make sure everyone is safe.

If you are not with a constable, you can only enter these areas peacefully and without using force. This means you cannot break in or use violence to get in.

When the Police are in charge of a situation at an aerodrome or navigation installation, your rights to enter certain areas may be limited by the senior constable present. They can tell you where you can and cannot go.

You cannot enter an aircraft or vehicle that is not being used for commercial purposes, unless you have a good reason to believe it might be a threat to the aerodrome, installation, or people. You can find more information about this rule by looking at the related legislation.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS49703.

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Transport and travel > Air travelCrime and justice > Police and safety
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Part 5Aviation security
Aviation security services and aviation security powers: Other rights and powers of aviation security officers

156Right of access for aviation security officers

  1. An aviation security officer while on duty may at any time enter any security designated aerodrome or a security designated navigation installation, or any aircraft, building, or place in any part of a security designated aerodrome or security designated navigation installation, for the purpose of exercising and carrying out the officer’s powers, functions, and duties under this Act.

  2. Unless the aviation security officer is accompanied by a constable, the power of entry conferred by subsection (1) is limited to peaceful and non-forcible entry.

  3. Despite subsection (1), if the Police have taken command of any situation at an aerodrome or navigation installation, the rights of aviation security officers to enter any part of the aerodrome or navigation installation or any aircraft, building, or place are subject to any limitations that the senior constable present at the aerodrome or navigation installation specifies.

  4. Where an aircraft or a vehicle is not being used for commercial purposes, subsection (1) does not apply unless the aviation security officer has reasonable grounds to believe that there is in that vehicle or aircraft a person or thing likely to endanger the aerodrome or installation or any of its facilities or any person.

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