The Parliamentary Counsel Office has made editorial and format changes to this version using the powers under subpart 2 of Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019.

Note 4 at the end of this version provides a list of the amendments included in it.

This Act is administered by the Ministry of Justice.

An Act to make provision with respect to the jurisdiction in admiralty of the High Court of New Zealand and of the District Court, and the jurisdiction in prize of the High Court

Title: amended, on 1 March 2017, by section 261 of the District Court Act 2016 (2016 No 49).

Title: amended, on 1 April 1980, pursuant to section 12 of the Judicature Amendment Act 1979 (1979 No 124).

1 Short Title and commencement

(1)

This Act may be cited as the Admiralty Act 1973.

(2)

This Act shall come into force on a date to be appointed by the Governor-General, by Order in Council.

(3)

An order under this section is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).

Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section
Publication	PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette	LA19 s 69(1)(c)
Presentation	The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives	LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a)
Disallowance	It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives	LA19 ss 115, 116
This note is not part of the Act.

Section 1(2): this Act brought into force, on 1 August 1976, by clause 2 of the Admiralty Act Commencement Order 1976 (SR 1976/194).

Section 1(3): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).

2 Interpretation

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

aircraft has the same meaning as in the Civil Aviation Act 2023

Collision Regulations has the same meaning as in section 168 of the Maritime Transport Act 1994

court means any court upon which jurisdiction is conferred by this Act

goods includes baggage

hovercraft means a machine designed to be supported in the atmosphere, wholly or partly by air expelled from the machine to form a cushion extending beneath the machine to the surface of any ground, water, or other part of the earth’s surface

maritime lien, without derogating from the generality of the term, includes a lien in respect of bottomry, respondentia, salvage of property, seamen’s wages, and damage

master, in relation to any ship, means any person (except a pilot) having command or charge of the ship

New Zealand territorial waters means all waters within the outer limits of the territorial sea of New Zealand (as defined in section 3 of the Territorial Sea, Contiguous Zone, and Exclusive Economic Zone Act 1977); and includes the waters of any lake, river, or stream

ship includes any description of vessel used in navigation; and includes a hovercraft

towage and pilotage, in relation to an aircraft, mean towage and pilotage while the aircraft is waterborne.

Section 2 aircraft: amended, on 5 April 2025, by section 486 of the Civil Aviation Act 2023 (2023 No 10).

Section 2 Collision Regulations: replaced, on 1 February 1995, by section 203 of the Maritime Transport Act 1994 (1994 No 104).

Section 2 New Zealand territorial waters: amended, on 1 August 1996, pursuant to section 5(4) of the Territorial Sea and Exclusive Economic Zone Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 74).

Section 2 New Zealand territorial waters: amended, on 1 October 1977, pursuant to section 33(2)(a) of the Territorial Sea, Contiguous Zone, and Exclusive Economic Zone Act 1977 (1977 No 28).

3 Exercise of admiralty jurisdiction

(1)

The admiralty jurisdiction conferred by this Act—

(a)

may be exercised by the High Court in rem and in personam; and

(b)

may be exercised by the District Court in personam where the debt, demand, or damage or the value of the chattels claimed does not exceed the amount specified in section 74 of the District Court Act 2016, but the District Court does not, for the purposes of this Act, have jurisdiction in rem.

(2)

In exercising the jurisdiction conferred by this Act, the court may exercise at the same time any of its other civil jurisdiction, whether statutory or otherwise, and all powers incidental thereto.

(3)

Nothing in this Act derogates from any common law or equitable jurisdiction of the High Court or the District Court.

Section 3(1)(a): amended, on 1 April 1980, pursuant to section 12 of the Judicature Amendment Act 1979 (1979 No 124).

Section 3(1)(b): replaced, on 1 March 2017, by section 261 of the District Court Act 2016 (2016 No 49).

Section 3(2): replaced, on 9 October 1975, by section 2 of the Admiralty Amendment Act 1975 (1975 No 57).

Section 3(3): replaced, on 1 March 2017, by section 261 of the District Court Act 2016 (2016 No 49).

4 Extent of admiralty jurisdiction

(1)

The court shall have jurisdiction in respect of the following questions or claims:

(a)

any claim to the possession or ownership of a ship or to the ownership of any share therein:

(b)

any question arising between the co-owners of a ship as to possession, employment, or earnings of that ship:

(c)

any claim in respect of a mortgage of or charge on a ship or any share therein:

(d)

any claim for damage done by a ship:

(e)

any claim for damage received by a ship:

(f)

any claim for loss of life or personal injury sustained in consequence of any defect in a ship or in her apparel or equipment, or of the wrongful act, neglect, or default of the owners, charterers, or persons in possession or control of a ship or of the master or crew thereof or of any other person for whose wrongful acts, neglects, or defaults the owners, charterers, or persons in possession or control of a ship are responsible, being an act, neglect, or default in the navigation or management of the ship, in the loading, carriage, or discharge of goods on, in, or from the ship or in the embarkation, carriage, or disembarkation of persons on, in, or from the ship:

(g)

any claim for loss of or damage to goods carried in a ship:

(h)

any claim arising out of any agreement relating to the carriage of goods in a ship or to the use or hire of a ship:

(i)

any claim in the nature of salvage (including claims for services rendered in saving life from a ship or an aircraft or in preserving its cargo, apparel, or wreck pursuant to the provisions of Part 17 of the Maritime Transport Act 1994 or any maritime rules made in relation to salvage):

(j)

any claim in the nature of towage in respect of a ship or an aircraft:

(k)

any claim in the nature of pilotage in respect of a ship or an aircraft:

(l)

any claim in respect of goods, materials, or services (including stevedoring and lighterage services) supplied or to be supplied to a ship in its operation or maintenance:

(m)

any claim in respect of the construction, repair, or equipment of a ship or for dock or port or harbour charges or dues:

(n)

[Repealed]

(o)

any claim by a master or member of the crew of a ship for wages, and any claim by or in respect of a master or member of the crew of a ship for any money or property which, under any of the provisions of the Maritime Transport Act 1994, is recoverable as wages or in the court and in the manner in which wages may be recovered:

(p)

any claim by a master, shipper, charterer, or agent in respect of disbursements made on account of a ship:

(q)

any claim arising out of an act which is or is claimed to be a general average act:

(r)

any claim arising out of bottomry:

(s)

any claim for the forfeiture or condemnation of a ship or of goods which are being or have been carried, or have been attempted to be carried, in a ship, or for the restoration of a ship or any such goods after seizure, or for droits of admiralty.

(2)

In addition to the jurisdiction specified in subsection (1), the High Court shall continue to have any other admiralty jurisdiction which was vested in it immediately before the commencement of this Act, and when exercising its admiralty jurisdiction shall also have any other jurisdiction connected with ships or aircraft which is vested in the court under any other Act.

(3)

The jurisdiction of the court under paragraph (b) of subsection (1) includes power to settle any account outstanding and unsettled between the parties in relation to the ship, and to direct that the ship, or any share thereof, shall be sold, and to make such other order as the court thinks fit.

(4)

The provisions of this section apply—

(a)

in relation to all ships or aircraft, whether New Zealand ships or aircraft or not, and whether registered or not, and whatever the nationality or residence or domicile of their owners may be:

(b)

in relation to all claims, wheresoever arising (including, in the case of cargo or wreck salvage, claims in respect of cargo or wreck found on land):

(c)

so far as they relate to mortgages and charges, to all mortgages or charges, whether registered or not, and whether legal or equitable, and whether fixed or floating, including mortgages and charges created under the law of any other country:

provided that nothing in this subsection shall be construed as extending the cases in which money or property is recoverable under any of the provisions of the Maritime Transport Act 1994.

Section 4(1)(i): amended, on 9 June 1999, by section 39 of the Maritime Transport Amendment Act 1999 (1999 No 68).

Section 4(1)(i): amended, on 1 February 1995, by section 203 of the Maritime Transport Act 1994 (1994 No 104).

Section 4(1)(l): replaced, on 1 February 1995, by section 203 of the Maritime Transport Act 1994 (1994 No 104).

Section 4(1)(n): repealed, on 1 February 1995, by section 203 of the Maritime Transport Act 1994 (1994 No 104).

Section 4(1)(o): amended, on 1 February 1995, by section 203 of the Maritime Transport Act 1994 (1994 No 104).

Section 4(2): amended, on 1 April 1980, pursuant to section 12 of the Judicature Amendment Act 1979 (1979 No 124).

Section 4(4) proviso: amended, on 1 February 1995, by section 203 of the Maritime Transport Act 1994 (1994 No 104).

5 Actions in rem

(1)

In any case in which there is a maritime lien or other charge on any ship, aircraft, or other property for the amount claimed, the admiralty jurisdiction of the High Court may be invoked by an action in rem against that ship, aircraft, or property.

(2)

In addition to the rights conferred by subsection (1), the admiralty jurisdiction of the High Court may be invoked by an action in rem in respect of all questions and claims specified in subsection (1) of section 4:

provided that—

(a)

in questions and claims specified in paragraphs (a), (b), (c), and (s) of subsection (1) of section 4 the admiralty jurisdiction in rem may be invoked against only the particular ship or property in respect of which the questions or claims arose:

(b)

in questions and claims specified in paragraphs (d) to (r) of subsection (1) of section 4 arising in connection with a ship where the person who would be liable on the claim in an action in personam was, when the cause of action arose, the owner or charterer of, or in possession or in control of, the ship, the jurisdiction of the High Court may (whether the claim gives rise to a maritime lien on the ship or not) be invoked by an action in rem against—

(i)

that ship if, at the time when the action is brought, it is beneficially owned as respects all the shares therein by, or is on charter by demise to, that person; or

(ii)

any other ship which, at the time when the action is brought, is beneficially owned or on charter by demise as aforesaid.

(3)

Where in the exercise of its admiralty jurisdiction the court orders any ship or other property to be sold, the court shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine any question arising as to the title to the proceeds of sale.

Section 5(1): amended, on 1 April 1980, pursuant to section 12 of the Judicature Amendment Act 1979 (1979 No 124).

Section 5(2): amended, on 1 February 1995, by section 203 of the Maritime Transport Act 1994 (1994 No 104).

Section 5(2): amended, on 1 April 1980, pursuant to section 12 of the Judicature Amendment Act 1979 (1979 No 124).

Section 5(2) proviso paragraph (b): amended, on 1 February 1995, by section 203 of the Maritime Transport Act 1994 (1994 No 104).

Section 5(2) proviso paragraph (b): amended, on 1 April 1980, pursuant to section 12 of the Judicature Amendment Act 1979 (1979 No 124).

6 Restrictions on proceedings

(1)

No claim in personam in respect of damage, loss of life, or personal injury arising out of—

(a)

a collision between ships; or

(b)

a manoeuvre or omission to carry out a manoeuvre by any ship to avoid a collision; or

(c)

non-compliance with the Collision Regulations,—

shall lie unless—

(d)

the defendant ordinarily resides in New Zealand or has a place of business within New Zealand; or

(e)

the cause of action arose within New Zealand territorial waters; or

(f)

an action arising out of the same incident or series of incidents is proceeding in or has been heard and determined in the court.

(2)

No action in personam shall be brought in any court in New Zealand until any proceedings previously brought by the plaintiff against the defendant in any court outside New Zealand in respect of the same incident or series of incidents have been discontinued or otherwise come to an end.

(3)

This section shall not apply where the defendant submits or has agreed to submit to the jurisdiction of the court.

7 Actions for wages

Nothing in this Act shall be construed as limiting the jurisdiction of the court to refuse to entertain an action for wages by the master or a member of the crew of a ship, not being a New Zealand ship.

Section 7: amended, on 1 February 1995, by section 203 of the Maritime Transport Act 1994 (1994 No 104).

8 Jurisdiction of High Court in prize

(1)

The High Court shall be a permanent Prize Court within the meaning of the Acts of the United Kingdom known as the Prize Acts 1864 to 1939, and those Acts shall continue in force as part of the law of New Zealand.

(2)

In the enactments mentioned in subsection (1) and in any rules or Orders in Council made thereunder, references to “the Admiralty” and “the Treasury” shall be read as references to the “Minister of Transport” and “the Minister of Finance”, respectively.

(3)

All droits of the Crown and forfeitures when condemned by the High Court in the exercise of its jurisdiction under this section shall be dealt with or disposed of in such manner as the Minister of Finance directs.

Section 8 heading: amended, on 1 April 1980, pursuant to section 12 of the Judicature Amendment Act 1979 (1979 No 124).

Section 8(1): amended, on 1 April 1980, pursuant to section 12 of the Judicature Amendment Act 1979 (1979 No 124).

Section 8(3): amended, on 1 April 1980, pursuant to section 12 of the Judicature Amendment Act 1979 (1979 No 124).

9 Functions and powers of Registrar

(1)

Every Registrar of the High Court shall have and exercise the functions and powers of the Admiralty Registrar and Marshal for the purpose of this Act and any rules made hereunder.

(2)

The Registrar shall execute, by himself or by his appointed officers or agents, all instruments issued from the court which are addressed to him, and shall make returns thereof.

Section 9(1): amended, on 1 April 1980, pursuant to section 12 of the Judicature Amendment Act 1979 (1979 No 124).

10 Act to bind the Crown

Subject to section 28 of the Crown Proceedings Act 1950, relating to the exclusion of actions in rem against the Crown, this Act shall bind the Crown.

11 Rules of procedure and regulations as to fees

(1)

Rules for the practice and procedure of the High Court in its admiralty jurisdiction may be made in the same manner as is provided in the Senior Courts Act 2016 for the making of rules for practice and procedure in the High Court.

(2)

Rules for the practice and procedure of the District Court in its admiralty jurisdiction may be made by the Governor-General from time to time, by Order in Council, under section 228 of the District Court Act 2016.

(3)

Without derogating from the provisions of subsections (1) and (2), rules may be made pursuant to those subsections for consolidation of actions, the appointment of court experts, or the giving of bail or other security to prevent the arrest of a ship or other res, or to obtain the release of the same after arrest.

(4)

The Governor-General may from time to time, by Order in Council, prescribe all fees payable under this Act.

(5)

An order under subsection (4) is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).

Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section
Publication	PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette	LA19 s 69(1)(c)
Presentation	The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives	LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a)
Disallowance	It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives	LA19 ss 115, 116
This note is not part of the Act.

Section 11(1): amended, on 1 March 2017, by section 183(b) of the Senior Courts Act 2016 (2016 No 48).

Section 11(1): amended, on 1 April 1980, pursuant to section 12 of the Judicature Amendment Act 1979 (1979 No 124).

Section 11(2): replaced, on 1 March 2017, by section 261 of the District Court Act 2016 (2016 No 49).

Section 11(5): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).

12 Transfer of proceedings from or to admiralty jurisdiction

The court may, of its own motion or upon application, at any stage order that any proceedings be transferred from or to the court in its admiralty jurisdiction.

13 Appeals

(1)

A party to proceedings in the District Court in its admiralty jurisdiction may appeal to the High Court against any decision of the District Court.

(1A)

The High Court Rules 2016 and sections 125 to 130 of the District Court Act 2016, with all necessary modifications, apply to an appeal under this section as if it were an appeal under section 124 of that Act.

(2)

The provisions of the Senior Courts Act 2016 relating to appeals to the Court of Appeal against a decision of the High Court of New Zealand shall apply with respect to a decision of the High Court of New Zealand in its admiralty jurisdiction.

(3)

[Repealed]

Section 13(1): replaced, on 24 November 2003, by section 4 of the District Courts Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 63).

Section 13(1): amended, on 1 March 2017, by section 261 of the District Court Act 2016 (2016 No 49).

Section 13(1A): replaced, on 1 March 2017, by section 261 of the District Court Act 2016 (2016 No 49).

Section 13(2): amended, on 1 March 2017, by section 183(b) of the Senior Courts Act 2016 (2016 No 48).

Section 13(2): amended, on 1 April 1980, pursuant to section 12 of the Judicature Amendment Act 1979 (1979 No 124).

Section 13(3): repealed, on 1 January 2004, by section 48(2) of the Supreme Court Act 2003 (2003 No 53).

14 Repeals and amendments

(1)

As from the commencement of this Act, the Acts of the Parliament of England or of the United Kingdom specified in the Schedule shall cease to have effect as part of the law of New Zealand.

(2)

The provisions of sections 20 and 21 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1924 shall apply with respect to the Acts specified in the Schedule as if they were Acts of the Parliament of New Zealand that had been repealed by this Act.

(3)

Amendment(s) incorporated in the Act(s).

(4)

[Repealed]

Section 14(2): amended, on 1 January 1987, pursuant to section 29(2) of the Constitution Act 1986 (1986 No 114).

Section 14(4): repealed, on 11 June 1985, by section 2(2) of the Legislature Amendment Act 1985 (1985 No 91).

Schedule Enactments of the Parliament of England or of the United Kingdom ceasing to have effect as part of the law of New Zealand

s 14

13 Ric 2, stat 1, c 5	Admiralty jurisdiction
15 Ric 2, c 3	Admiralty jurisdiction
8 Geo 1, c 24	Piracy Act 1721
9 Geo 4, c 83	Australian Courts Act 1828
3 & 4 Vict, c 65	Admiralty Court Act 1840
13 & 14 Vict, c 26	Piracy Act 1850: sections 2 and 3
24 & 25 Vict, c 10	Admiralty Court Act 1861
39 & 40 Vict, c 59	Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876: section 23
53 & 54 Vict, c 27	Colonial Courts of Admiralty Act 1890

Notes

1 General

This is a consolidation of the Admiralty Act 1973 that incorporates the amendments made to the legislation so that it shows the law as at its stated date.

2 Legal status

A consolidation is taken to correctly state, as at its stated date, the law enacted or made by the legislation consolidated and by the amendments. This presumption applies unless the contrary is shown.

Section 78 of the Legislation Act 2019 provides that this consolidation, published as an electronic version, is an official version. A printed version of legislation that is produced directly from this official electronic version is also an official version.

3 Editorial and format changes

The Parliamentary Counsel Office makes editorial and format changes to consolidations using the powers under subpart 2 of Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019. See also PCO editorial conventions for consolidations.

4 Amendments incorporated in this consolidation

Civil Aviation Act 2023 (2023 No 10): section 486

Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7): section 3

District Court Act 2016 (2016 No 49): section 261

Senior Courts Act 2016 (2016 No 48): section 183(b), (c)

Supreme Court Act 2003 (2003 No 53): section 48(2)

District Courts Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 63): section 4

Maritime Transport Amendment Act 1999 (1999 No 68): section 39

Territorial Sea and Exclusive Economic Zone Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 74): section 5(4)

Maritime Transport Act 1994 (1994 No 104): section 203

Civil Aviation Act 1990 (1990 No 98): section 101(1)

Constitution Act 1986 (1986 No 114): section 29(2)

Legislature Amendment Act 1985 (1985 No 91): section 2(2)

Judicature Amendment Act 1979 (1979 No 124): section 12

Territorial Sea, Contiguous Zone, and Exclusive Economic Zone Act 1977 (1977 No 28): section 33(2)(a)

Admiralty Act Commencement Order 1976 (SR 1976/194)

Admiralty Amendment Act 1975 (1975 No 57)

Admiralty Act 1973