When you are on a plane, you must do what the crew members tell you to do. This includes sitting in a seat or berth when they tell you to, and wearing a safety belt or harness when they tell you to. You must keep the safety belt or harness fastened when you are told to.

If you do not follow these instructions, you can get in trouble. You might have to pay a fine of $500, or you might have to go to court and pay a fine of up to $2,500.

This law is similar to a law that was in place before, which you can read about in section 65M of a previous act.

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This page was last updated on 29 June 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS49795.

Topics:

Transport and travel > Air travel

400: Portable electronic devices must not be operated, or

"No using phones or devices on planes that aren't allowed"

402: No smoking, or

"No smoking allowed on planes in New Zealand or with NZ airlines"

Part 9Monitoring, investigation, and enforcement
Unruly passenger offences: Unruly passenger offences

401Non-compliance with seating and safety belt instructions

A person must comply with an instruction given by a crew member, passenger information sign, or placard to—
occupy a seat or berth; or
fasten and keep fastened about the person any safety belt or safety harness installed, or provided by a crew member.

A person who breaches subsection (1) commits an infringement offence and is liable to—
an infringement fee of $500; or
a fine imposed by a court not exceeding $2,500.

Compare

1990 No 98 s 65M