Role

In this section:

Legislation

Wildlife Act 1953

Parts of the Act

Part I - Protection of Wildlife

The Act sets out in a series of schedules the levels of protection for different wildlife, listing those birds and animals which fall into each category.

Yellowhead fledgling, Eglinton Valley,
Fiordland National Park

The categories are:

Absolutely protected wildlife throughout New Zealand;
Wildlife declared to be game - potentially this wildlife can be hunted within specified seasons, eg Canada goose, black swan, pukeko, mallard duck;
Partially protected wildlife - if wildlife identified in this schedule causes damage or injury to land or to property on land (eg stock), the occupier, subject to the relevant regulations, can kill it. Includes black shag, harrier hawk and little owl;
Wildlife able to be hunted - from time to time at the discretion of the Minister, eg black swan, mutton bird, pukeko, little shag, South Island weka;
Wildlife not protected - although the Minister has the discretion to declare wildlife in this category must not be hunted. Currently there is no wildlife listed in the schedule;
Noxious animals - animals subject to the provisions in the Wild Animal Control Act 1977, eg deer, goat, possum;
Terrestrial and freshwater invertebrates - declared to be animals and therefore subject to the provisions in the Act, eg weta, salmon, scarab beetles;
Farming certain unprotected animals - no-one can "farm, breed, or sell, or capture or convey or keep in captivity for the purposes of farming, breeding, or selling", ferret, polecat, stoat or weasel, without the permission of the Minister.

Part I also sets out the provisions relating to the following categories of land:

Wildlife Sanctuaries

Areas of land set aside for the protection of wildlife and subject to any prohibition or restriction imposed by proclamation. All wildlife in wildlife sanctuaries are deemed to be absolutely protected wildlife with some exceptions. Public access is restricted.

Wildlife Refuges

Areas of land set aside to protect wildlife and game birds and subject to any prohibition or restriction imposed by proclamation or notice.

Wildlife Management Reserves

Areas managed to benefit wildlife and subject to any prohibition or restriction imposed by proclamation.

Wildlife Districts

Areas mainly set aside for purposes of the Wildlife Act. Either the department or a fish and game council will control the wildlife district.

Part II - Game

Outlines provisions relating to the management of game bird hunting such as setting open seasons, restrictions on take and licences.

Part III - Administration

Deals with such administrative matters as establishing wildlife districts, making provision for rangers, setting out powers of the Minister of Conservation and Director-General of Conservation, and specifying the functions of the New Zealand game bird habitat trust board.

Part IV - Injurious Birds

Local authorities can apply to destroy species of birds that, by their habits or their excessive increase, have become or threaten to become injurious. Provisions include submission of plans, appointment of inspectors, concerted action and obstruction of inspectors.

Part V - General Provisions

Covers a range of provisions such as authorising the keeping of specimens in museums, ownership of animals, homing pigeons, liberations or export of animal or birds, authorisation to take or kill wildlife for certain purposes, and control of dogs.