Submarine Cables and Pipelines Protection Act 1996

Version as at 28 October 2021

Coat of Arms of New Zealand

Submarine Cables and Pipelines Protection Act 1996

Public Act
 
1996 No 22
Date of assent
 
16 May 1996
Commencement
 
see section 1(2)
Note

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 Transport.

Contents

Title
1Short Title and commencement
Part 1
Preliminary provisions
2Interpretation
Application
3Act to bind the Crown
4Application of Act
5Other Acts not affected
5AAct is maritime Act
Part 2
Protection and enforcement
Liability for damage to submarine cable or pipeline
6Civil liability
7Liability in respect of damage to cable or pipeline
Indemnity for loss of certain equipment
8Indemnity for loss of certain equipment
Submarine cable or pipeline that has ceased to be used
9Owner of submarine cable or pipeline that has ceased to be used to notify Minister
10District Court may order removal of abandoned submarine cable or pipeline
Offence to damage submarine cable or pipeline
11Offence to damage submarine cable or pipeline
Prohibition on certain activities in protected areas
12Protected areas
13Offences in respect of protected areas
14Defences in respect of certain offences
15Penalties in respect of certain offences
Appointment and powers of protection officers, etc
16Protection officers
17Ship may be ordered from protected area
18Seizure of fishing equipment in protected area
19Master to identify ship
Powers of enforcement officers, etc
20Power to obtain documents and information
21Power of seizure
22Persons assisting enforcement officer
23Enforcement officer to produce evidence of authority to act
Provisions relating to seized property
24Custody of property seized
25Release of property by Minister
26Release of property by court
Proceedings for offences, etc
27Consent of Attorney-General required for certain proceedings
28Evidential provisions relating to approved maritime surveillance equipment
29Offence to tamper or interfere with approved maritime surveillance equipment
30Evidence of testing and accuracy of approved maritime surveillance equipment
Forfeiture of property on conviction
31Forfeiture of property on conviction
32Court may grant relief to third party
33Minister’s powers in respect of forfeited property
34Forfeiture of property or redemption payment is in addition to any other penalty
Part 3
Miscellaneous provisions
35Approved maritime surveillance equipment
36Regulations
37Repeals and savings
Schedule
Enactments repealed
Notes

An Act—

(a)

to provide better protection of submarine cables and pipelines; and

(b)

to continue, or enable, the implementation of obligations on New Zealand under various international conventions relating to protection of submarine cables and pipelines; and

(c)

to consolidate and amend the Submarine Cables and Pipelines Protection Act 1966