Wildlife Act 1953

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

  • (1) No person shall, without the prior written authority of the Director-General, granted subject to any regulations in that behalf under this Act,—

    • (a) capture or attempt to capture or have in his possession for the purpose of liberating or turning at large any wildlife; or

    • (ab) liberate or turn at large, or allow to go at large any wildlife; or

    • (b) export from New Zealand any bat or any bird (not being a domestic bird) or any reptile or any amphibian or any terrestrial or freshwater invertebrate specified in Schedule 7 or any skin, feathers, egg, flesh, or other part of any such species.

    • (c) [Repealed]

    (1A) The Director-General in his discretion may refuse to grant his authority to do any act referred to in subsection (1), or may grant his authority either unconditionally or subject to such conditions as he thinks fit to impose.

    (2) The Director-General may at any time revoke or vary any authority granted under subsection (1).

    (3) Before granting any authority under paragraph (b) or paragraph (c) of subsection (1) to export anything referred to in either of those paragraphs, the Director-General may require the applicant to satisfy him that a permit for its importation into the country to which it is proposed to be exported has been granted by the appropriate authority in that country.

    (4) Every person who contravenes subsection (1)(ab) commits an offence against this Act and is liable on conviction to the penalty set out in section 67B.

    (5) Every person who contravenes subsection (1)(a) or (b) commits an offence against this Act and,—

    • (a) in respect of an offence committed in relation to absolutely protected wildlife, is liable on conviction to the penalty set out in section 67A(1):

    • (b) in respect of an offence committed in relation to partially protected wildlife, is liable on conviction to the penalty set out in section 67C(1):

    • (c) in any other case, is liable on conviction to the penalty set out in section 67F(3).

    Compare: 1921–22 No 57 s 30

    Section 56(1): amended, on 1 April 1987, by section 65(1) of the Conservation Act 1987 (1987 No 65).

    Section 56(1): amended, on 21 October 1959, by section 9 of the Wildlife Amendment Act 1959 (1959 No 49).

    Section 56(1): amended, on 10 May 1956, by section 7(2) of the Wildlife Amendment Act 1956 (1956 No 5).

    Section 56(1)(a): amended, on 15 October 2000, by section 8 of the Wildlife (Penalties and Related Matters) Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 43).

    Section 56(1)(ab): inserted, on 15 October 2000, by section 8 of the Wildlife (Penalties and Related Matters) Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 43).

    Section 56(1)(b): amended, on 6 December 1983, by section 11 of the Wildlife Amendment Act 1983 (1983 No 48).

    Section 56(1)(c): repealed, on 1 April 1976, by section 24(a) of the Protected Objects Act 1975 (1975 No 41).

    Section 56(1A): inserted, on 10 May 1956, by section 7(1) of the Wildlife Amendment Act 1956 (1956 No 5).

    Section 56(1A): amended, on 1 April 1987, by section 65(1) of the Conservation Act 1987 (1987 No 65).

    Section 56(2): amended, on 1 April 1987, by section 65(1) of the Conservation Act 1987 (1987 No 65).

    Section 56(3): amended, on 1 April 1987, by section 65(1) of the Conservation Act 1987 (1987 No 65).

    Section 56(4): replaced, on 15 October 2000, by section 8 of the Wildlife (Penalties and Related Matters) Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 43).

    Section 56(5): inserted, on 15 October 2000, by section 8 of the Wildlife (Penalties and Related Matters) Amendment Act 2000 (2000 No 43).