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New Zealand Legislation: Acts

Acts are laws made by Parliament

Reprint as at 1 August 2008

Wildlife Act 1953

Public Act	1953 No 31
Date of assent	31 October 1953

Note

Changes authorised by section 17C of the Acts and Regulations Publication Act 1989 have been made in this eprint.

A general outline of these changes is set out in the notes at the end of this eprint, together with other explanatory material about this eprint.

This Act is administered in the Department of Conservation.

Contents

1 Short Title and commencement

2 Interpretation

2A Meaning of possession

2B Application of certain provisions restricted

Part 1
Protection of wildlife

3 Wildlife to be protected

4 Certain wildlife declared to be game

5 Certain wildlife partially protected

6 Certain wildlife may be hunted subject to conditions imposed by the Minister

7 Certain wildlife not protected

7A Noxious animals

7B Terrestrial and freshwater invertebrates

7BA Marine Species

7C Farming certain unprotected animals

8 Alteration of Schedules

Wildlife sanctuaries

9 Wildlife sanctuaries

10 All wildlife in sanctuaries absolutely protected

11 Destruction or seizure of certain animals found in sanctuaries

12 Mining privileges, coal mining rights, and public works [Repealed]

13 Seizure of wildlife, etc, illegally taken

Wildlife refuges

14 Wildlife refuges

Wildlife management reserves

14A Wildlife management reserves

14AA Granting of concessions in wildlife sanctuaries, wildlife refuges, and wildlife management reserves

Management planning

14B Wildlife areas to be managed by Department

14C General policy

14D Conservation management strategies

14E Conservation management plans

14F Population management plans

14G Determining maximum allowable level of fishing-related mortality

14H Determining area-based maximum levels of fishing-related mortality

14I Procedure for preparation and approval of population management plans

15 Open season for game

16 Notification as to conditions on which open season declared

17 Hunting or killing in game areas

18 Restrictions on the taking of game

19 Licence to hunt or kill game

19A Game bird habitat stamp

20 Limitation of licence [Repealed]

21 Holder of licence not to enter on land without consent

22 Shooting of game not in flight prohibited

22A Game hunting guides to be licensed [Not in force]

23 Sale of game and sale of shooting rights prohibited

Part 3
Administration

24 Acclimatisation districts [Repealed]

25 Acclimatisation societies [Repealed]

26 Societies to be bodies corporate [Repealed]

27 Appointment to councils of societies of representatives of farming interests, etc [Repealed]

28 Disqualification of officers of societies [Repealed]

29 Rules of societies [Repealed]

30 Functions of societies [Repealed]

31 Appointment of officers and servants [Repealed]

32 Societies may undertake research [Repealed]

33 Expenditure [Repealed]

34 Annual reports and balance sheets of societies to be forwarded to the Minister [Repealed]

35 Failure of society to act [Repealed]

36 Dissolution of societies [Repealed]

Wildlife districts

37 Wildlife districts

38A Fish and game rangers to be rangers under this Act

39 Powers of rangers

40 Assaulting, obstructing, etc, rangers

Powers of Minister

41 Minister's general powers

42 Fencing of land

44 Delegation of Minister's powers

Powers of Director-General

44A Delegation of powers by Director-General

New Zealand Game Bird Habitat Trust Board

44B New Zealand Game Bird Habitat Trust Board established

44C Board to be body corporate

44D Functions of Board

44E Powers of Board

44F Membership of Board

44G Term of office of members of Board

44I Funds to be held on trust

44J Crown entity

44K Annual report

44L Members not personally liable

Part 4
Injurious birds

45 Interpretation

46 Local authority may apply or raise funds for destruction of injurious birds

47 Local authorities to submit plans for destruction for approval of Director-General

48 Appointment of Inspectors, and bylaws

49 Provisions to secure concerted action

50 Minister may appoint Inspectors to carry out this Part if local authority fails to do so

51 Obstructing Inspector

52 Expenses of carrying out this Part

Part 5
General provisions

53 Director-General may authorise taking or killing of wildlife for certain purposes

54 Director-General may authorise hunting or killing of wildlife causing damage

55 Keeping of specimens in museums

56 Restrictions on liberation or export of animals, birds, etc

56A Application of Customs and Excise Act 1996

57 Ownership of animals

58 Homing pigeons

59 Entry on land for purposes of Act

60 Protection of rangers and others

61 Person in pursuit of wildlife to comply with demand by authorised officer

Offences and penalties

62 Offences in relation to transport of wildlife

63 Taking protected wildlife or game, etc

63A Taking of absolutely or partially protected marine wildlife

63B Reporting of accidental or incidental death or injury

64 Offences in relation to wildlife sanctuaries

65 Other offences

65A Liability of directors and managers

66 Offenders to give name and address to rangers, etc

67 Penalties for offences in respect of marine wildlife

67A Penalties for offences in respect of absolutely protected wildlife

67B Penalty for offence of liberating wildlife

67C Penalties for offences in respect of partially protected wildlife

67D Penalty for offence of obstructing ranger

67E Penalties for offences in respect of game

67F Penalties for other offences

67G Sentence of community work

67H Offenders also liable for loss or damage

68 Offences to be tried summarily to offences in respect of marine wildlife

68A Proceedings in respect of offences

68AB Mens rea and strict liability offences

69 Evidence of boundaries, etc

71 Saving of other Acts

71A Control of dogs

73 Repeals, savings, and consequential amendments

Schedule 1
Wildlife declared to be game

Schedule 2
Partially protected wildlife

Schedule 3
Wildlife that may be hunted or killed subject to Minister's notification

Schedule 4
Wildlife not protected, except in areas and during periods specified in Minister's notification

[Repealed]

Schedule 5
Wildlife not protected

Schedule 6
Animals declared to be noxious animals subject to the Noxious Animals Act 1956

Schedule 7
Terrestrial and freshwater invertebrates declared to be animals

Schedule 7A
Marine species declared to be animals

Schedule 8
Wildlife not protected but may be kept, bred, or farmed in captivity pursuant to regulations made under principal Act or by Minister's direction

Schedule 9
Acts not affected by this Act

Schedule 10
Enactments repealed

An Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to the protection and control of wild animals and birds, the regulation of game shooting seasons, and the constitution and powers of acclimatisation societies

BE IT ENACTED by the General Assembly of New Zealand in Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: