Vessel Registration & License Management

Fisheries Act 1996

What provisions in the law govern the granting, denial, revocation and cancellation of fishing licenses?

  • Article 81

    (1) The Minister shall from time to time determine— (a) the portion of the total allowable commercial catch for a quota management stock that may be taken within the exclusive economic zone; and (b) the portion of the total catch limit (if any) for any stock not subject to the quota management system (including any highly migratory stock) that may be taken within the exclusive economic zone; and (c) the foreign allowable catch for a stock in the exclusive economic zone. (2) The foreign allowable catch for any quota management stock shall be the lesser of— (a) the portion of the total allowable commercial catch for the time being determined for the stock under subsection (1)(a): (b) the Crown’s available annual catch entitlement for the stock. (3) For the purposes of subsection (2)(b), the Crown’s available annual catch entitlement for a stock is the Crown’s holding of annual catch entitlement for the stock that— (a) is generated from unencumbered quota held by the Crown; and (b) remains unsold after the Crown has offered the annual catch entitlement for sale to persons entitled to own quota. (4) The foreign allowable catch for any stock not subject to the quota management system shall be the lesser of— (a) the portion of the total catch limit (if any) for the time being determined under subsection (1)(b): (b) a catch that is sustainable after taking into account the total catch limit (if any) for, and the domestic harvesting capacity of, the stock. (5) For the purposes of this section, the term domestic harvesting capacity, in relation to any stock not subject to the quota management system, means the total domestic commercial catch reported as having been taken in the previous fishing year for the stock by New Zealand fishing vessels within New Zealand fisheries waters, with an appropriate adjustment to allow for— (a) any changes in the harvesting capacity of the domestic commercial fishing fleet due to— (i) recent investment in fishing vessels and fishing equipment; and (ii) catch trends; and (b) non-commercial take and scientific take. (6) If the foreign allowable catch for any quota management stock has been determined under subsection (1)(c) in accordance with subsection (2), the Minister shall set aside an amount of the Crown’s holding of annual catch entitlement for the stock that is equivalent to the amount of the foreign allowable catch, and such annual catch entitlement shall not be used for fishing. (7) Nothing in this section applies in relation to any highly migratory species.

  • Article 82

    (1) The Minister may from time to time apportion, among countries other than New Zealand, the foreign allowable catch in respect of any stock (other than any highly migratory species) within the exclusive economic zone. (2) In making an apportionment under subsection (1), the Minister shall have regard to— (a) the degree to which fishing vessels of countries other than New Zealand have engaged in fishing within the exclusive economic zone; and (b) the degree to which such countries have co-operated with New Zealand in fisheries research and in the identification of fish stocks within the exclusive economic zone; and (c) the degree to which such countries have co-operated with New Zealand in the conservation and management of fisheries resources within the exclusive economic zone, and in the enforcement of New Zealand law relating to such resources; and (d) the degree to which such countries have complied with any relevant international obligations; and (e) such other matters as the Minister, after consultation with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, considers to be relevant.

  • Article 83

    (1) The operator of any foreign fishing vessel who proposes to use that vessel for fishing within the exclusive economic zone may, in the approved form, apply for a licence for that purpose; and— (a) the application shall be made to a place appointed for the purpose by the chief executive by notice in the Gazette; and (b) the application shall be accompanied by the prescribed fee (if any) and shall contain such information as the Minister may from time to time require by notice in the Gazette. (2) The Minister may issue to the operator of any foreign fishing vessel a licence to fish using that vessel within the exclusive economic zone. (2A) In the case of an application to fish for any highly migratory species, the Minister may issue a licence under subsection (2) only if the Minister considers that to do so would be consistent with the optimum utilisation of that species within the exclusive economic zone. (3) Before issuing a licence under this section, the Minister— (a) must have regard to the previous offending history (if any), in relation to fishing or transportation (whether within the national fisheries jurisdiction of New Zealand or another country, or on the high seas), of the vessel’s owner, operator, master, or crew; and (b) may have regard to such other matters as the Minister considers to be relevant. (4) A licence may be issued under this section upon or subject to conditions relating to all or any of the following matters: (a) the areas within the exclusive economic zone in which fishing is author‐ ised: (b) the seasons, times, and particular voyages during which fishing is authorised: (c) the species, size, age, and quantities of fish, aquatic life, or seaweed that may be taken: (d) the methods by which fish, aquatic life, or seaweed may be taken: (e) the types, size, and amount of fishing gear or equipment that may be used or carried and the modes of storage of that gear or equipment when not in use: (f) the use, transfer, transhipment, landing, receiving, and processing of fish, aquatic life, or seaweed taken: (g) procedures or requirements, or both, enabling the verification of fish, aquatic life, or seaweed taken or being taken by the vessel, including procedures or restrictions relating to the species of, quantities of, or areas from which, fish, aquatic life, or seaweed are being or have been taken by the vessel: (h) entry by the vessel to New Zealand ports, whether for the inspection of its catch or for other purposes: (i) the compensation payable to New Zealand citizens or to the Crown in the event of any loss or damage caused by the vessel to other vessels or their gear, equipment or catch, or to pipelines or cables, or to other New Zealand interests: (j) reports and information required to be given to the chief executive by the licence holder, including reports and information relating to— (i) catch and effort: (ii) the positions and activities of the vessel: (k) management controls regarding fishing-related mortality of protected species: (l) the conduct of specified programmes of fisheries research: (m) the display on board the vessel of the licence issued in respect of the vessel: (n) the marking of the vessel and other means for its identification: (o) the placing of observers on the vessel and the payment of any associated prescribed fees and charges by the licence holder: (p) the installation on the vessel and the maintenance of any automatic location communicator or other equipment for the identification and location of the vessel, and of adequate navigational equipment to enable the vessel to fix its position: (q) the carriage on board the vessel of specified charts, publications, and instruments: (r) such other matters as the Minister considers necessary or expedient for the purpose of this Act or any other enactment or otherwise. (5) The Minister may at any time, by notice in writing to the licence holder,— (a) amend or revoke any provision or condition of a licence issued under this section; or (b) add new provisions or conditions to any such licence— with effect on and from a date specified in the notice. (6) In exercising powers under this section, the Minister shall ensure that the total catch authorised to be taken from any stock within the exclusive economic zone by vessels licensed under this section that are vessels of a particular country does not exceed that country’s apportionment for that stock under section 82.

  • Article 84

    (1) No person may take any fish, aquatic life, or seaweed within the exclusive economic zone using a foreign fishing vessel except— (a) under the authority of— (i) a licence issued under section 83; or (ii) if the vessel is used for the purposes of fisheries research or exper‐ imentation (including gear and equipment trials) or recreation, the prior written consent of the Minister; and (b) in accordance with any conditions of that licence or consent. (2) Consent under subsection (1)(a)(ii) may be given unconditionally or upon or subject to such conditions, including the payment of fees, as the Minister thinks fit. (3) Every person commits an offense and is liable to the penalty set out in section 252(2) who contravenes subsection (1)(a). (4) Every person commits an offense and is liable to the penalty set out in section 252(3) who contravenes subsection (1)(b).

  • Article 85

    Every person to whom a licence has been issued under this Part shall pay to the Crown, in such manner as may be prescribed, such fees, royalties, and charges as may be prescribed under section 297 or section 299.

  • Article 86

    (1) If the Minister is satisfied that— (a) an offense against this Act or any other New Zealand law that applies to fishing within New Zealand fisheries waters has been committed by the owner, operator, master, or crew member of a foreign fishing vessel; or (b) any licence holder, master, or crew member of a foreign fishing vessel has failed to pay to the Crown, within the time limit set out in section 88(9), the amount of any penalty imposed on that person under that section by the Minister,—the Minister may suspend the licence for such period as he or she shall specify or may revoke the licence. (2) If the Minister, after consultation with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, considers that it is necessary or expedient to achieve the purpose of this Act or to recognise any international obligation relating to fishing, the Ministry may suspend any licence for such period as he or she shall specify or may revoke any licence. (3) While suspended under this section, a licence does not authorise fishing, but the obligations and conditions imposed by the licence, or imposed by or under this Act in relation to it, shall continue to have effect. (4) Any person may request the Minister to revoke any licence issued to that person, and, upon revocation of that licence under this subsection,— (a) the licence holder shall ensure that the licence and any duplicates are surrendered to the Minister; and (b) the licence shall cease to have any effect for the purpose of this Act. (5) The Minister may revoke any licence if satisfied that any information or evidence supplied with the application was false or misleading in any material particular, and, upon revocation under this subsection,— (a) the licence holder shall ensure that the licence and any duplicates are surrendered to the Minister; and (b) the licence shall cease to have any effect for the purpose of this Act. (6) Any revocation of a licence under subsection (5) shall be deemed to have effect on and from the date of issue of the licence; but nothing in that subsection requires the Minister to remit or refund any fees or charges paid or payable in respect of that licence from the date the licence was issued to the date of revocation.

  • Article 86

    (1) If the Minister is satisfied that— (a) an offense against this Act or any other New Zealand law that applies to fishing within New Zealand fisheries waters has been committed by the owner, operator, master, or crew member of a foreign fishing vessel; or (b) any licence holder, master, or crew member of a foreign fishing vessel has failed to pay to the Crown, within the time limit set out in section 88(9), the amount of any penalty imposed on that person under that section by the Minister,— the Minister may suspend the licence for such period as he or she shall specify or may revoke the licence. (2) If the Minister, after consultation with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, considers that it is necessary or expedient to achieve the purpose of this Act or to recognise any international obligation relating to fishing, the Ministry may suspend any licence for such period as he or she shall specify or may revoke any licence. (3) While suspended under this section, a licence does not authorise fishing, but the obligations and conditions imposed by the licence, or imposed by or under this Act in relation to it, shall continue to have effect. (4) Any person may request the Minister to revoke any licence issued to that person, and, upon revocation of that licence under this subsection,— (a) the licence holder shall ensure that the licence and any duplicates are surrendered to the Minister; and (b) the licence shall cease to have any effect for the purpose of this Act. (5) The Minister may revoke any licence if satisfied that any information or evidence supplied with the application was false or misleading in any material particular, and, upon revocation under this subsection,— (a) the licence holder shall ensure that the licence and any duplicates are surrendered to the Minister; and (b) the licence shall cease to have any effect for the purpose of this Act. (6) Any revocation of a licence under subsection (5) shall be deemed to have effect on and from the date of issue of the licence; but nothing in that subsection requires the Minister to remit or refund any fees or charges paid or payable in respect of that licence from the date the licence was issued to the date of revocation.

  • Article 89

    (1) No person shall take any fish, aquatic life, or seaweed by any method unless the person does so under the authority of and in accordance with a current fishing permit. (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to the taking of— (a) fish, aquatic life, or seaweed by any natural person otherwise than for the purpose of sale and in accordance with any amateur fishing regulations made under, and any other requirements imposed by, this Act; or (b) fish, aquatic life, or seaweed by any natural person otherwise than for the purpose of sale and in accordance with any Maori customary noncommercial fishing regulations made under, and any other requirements imposed by, this Act; or (c) any seabirds or protected species; or (d) any whitebait, sports fish, ornamental fish, or unwanted aquatic life; or (e) fish, aquatic life, or seaweed by any person in accordance with an authorisation given under the Marine Reserves Act 1971; or (f) seaweed of the class Rhodophyceae while it is unattached and cast ashore; or (g) samples of fish, aquatic life, or seaweed under the authority of sections 304 and 312 of the Food Act 2014 by a food safety officer as defined in that Act or by a person assisting such an officer; or (h) samples of fish, aquatic life, or seaweed under the authority of section 6 of the Meat Act 1981 by an inspector as defined in that Act or by a person assisting such an inspector; or (ha) samples of fish, aquatic life, or seaweed under the authority of Part 7 of the Animal Products Act 1999 by an animal product officer or official assessor as defined in that Act, or by a person assisting such an officer or assessor; or (i) fish, aquatic life, or seaweed under the authority of a foreign fishing vessel licence issued under section 83; or (j) fish, aquatic life, or seaweed in accordance with a freshwater fish farming licence issued under the Freshwater Fish Farming Regulations 1983 or a marine farming permit or spat catching permit issued or granted under the Fisheries Act 1983 or this Act. (2A) Despite subsection (1), a person may take fish, aquatic life, or seaweed of a stock or species listed in Schedule 4C if it is taken as the inevitable consequence of the taking of other fish, aquatic life, or seaweed under the authority of and in accordance with a current fishing permit. (2B) [Repealed] (3) For the purposes of subsection (1), no person shall take any fish, aquatic life, or seaweed under the authority of a fishing permit unless that person is— (a) the holder of that fishing permit; or (b) a person who is an employee or agent of the holder of that fishing permit; or (c) the master or a member of the crew of a fishing vessel that is registered in the name of the holder of that fishing permit. (4) For the purposes of subsection (1), no person shall take,— (a) in the case of a fishing permit that authorises the taking of freshwater eels, any freshwater eel; or (b) if the fishing occurs otherwise than from a vessel, any fish, aquatic life, or seaweed— under the authority of a fishing permit unless that person is the holder of that permit or belongs to the class of persons referred to in paragraph (b) or paragraph (c) of subsection (3) and is named in an agreement approved by the chief executive under subsection (5) before the taking occurred. (5) The chief executive may approve an agreement for the purpose of subsection (4) if— (a) the agreement is submitted to the chief executive in the approved form and is accompanied by the prescribed fee (if any); and (b) the agreement is signed by all persons for whom authority to take under the fishing permit is being sought, and by the holder of the fishing permit; and (c) the number of persons for whom authority to take under the fishing permit is being sought does not exceed the total number of persons (if any) permitted in accordance with subsection (8). (6) The chief executive may approve a variation of an agreement approved under subsection (5) that adds or deletes the name of any person to or from the agreement, if— (a) the variation is submitted to the chief executive in the approved form and is accompanied by the prescribed fee (if any); and (b) the variation is signed by the persons for whom new authority to take under the fishing permit is being sought, and the holder of the fishing permit; and (c) the number of persons who will have authority to take under the fishing permit will not exceed the total number of persons (if any) permitted in accordance with subsection (8). (7) Agreements under subsection (5) and variations under subsection (6) shall not take effect until approved by the chief executive. (8) The chief executive may impose a condition on a fishing permit under section 92(1) that authorises the taking of freshwater eels limiting the total number of persons who may be named in any agreement under subsection (5). (8A) Subsections (4) to (8) do not apply to the taking of freshwater eels that are subject to the quota management system. (9) No person shall at any time hold more than 1 fishing permit. (10) No fishing permit holder may transfer that permit to any other person. (11) [Repealed] (12) Every person commits an offense and is liable to the penalty set out in section 252(3) who takes any fish, aquatic life, or seaweed in contravention of subsection (1), or contravenes subsection (9) or subsection (10).

  • Article 91

    (1) Subject to subsections (2) to (6) and to sections 93 and 93A, the chief executive must issue to every person who applies for a fishing permit under this Act an appropriate fishing permit in the approved form for a period not exceeding 5 years. (2) A fishing permit may, but is not required to, be issued to any person who owes the Crown any levy payable under Part 14. (3) A fishing permit authorises the taking of— (a) any stocks that are subject to the quota management system; and (b) any stocks or species that are neither subject to the quota management system nor listed in Schedule 4C; and (c) any stocks or species listed in Schedule 4C that are listed on a fishing permit held by the commercial fisher. (4) Despite section 93 but subject to section 306 of the Ngāi Tahu Claims Settlement Act 1998, the chief executive may issue a fishing permit under this section for any beach cast seaweed, except seaweed to which section 89(2)(f) applies. (5) Before issuing a fishing permit to an applicant, the chief executive may require the applicant to provide a suitable third party guarantee, or bond, in an amount specified by the chief executive. (6) No fishing permit may be issued to any person who— (a) is a person who has unpaid deemed value amounts in excess of $1,000 that are overdue, or is a person who is treated by section 79(5) as included with that person; or (b) is a person whose fishing permit is suspended under section 79A; or (c) the chief executive believes, on reasonable grounds, is a person whose fishing permit, if they had one, would be suspended under section 79A(1).

  • Article 92

    (1) A fishing permit must— (a) state that it authorises the taking of— (i) stocks that are subject to the quota management system; and (ii) stocks or species that are neither subject to the quota management system nor listed in Schedule 4C; and (b) list those stocks or species listed in Schedule 4C that the fishing permit holder, following application by that permit holder, is authorised to take. (1A) A fishing permit may be subject to any conditions that the chief executive considers appropriate, including— (a) conditions relating to— (i) areas or methods: (ii) the use or non-use of vessels, and the specific vessel (if any) that may be used: (iii) types and amounts of fishing gear: (iv) the taking or handling of fish, aquatic life, or seaweed: (v) places where fish, aquatic life, or seaweed may be landed: (vi) periods of time within which the permit holder may take fish, aquatic life, or seaweed: (b) conditions that the chief executive may impose under section 78(6) as conditions of an approval to take fish, aquatic life, or seaweed despite a commercial fisher’s catch having exceeded an over-fishing threshold or tolerance level. (2) The chief executive may from time to time, by written notice to a fishing permit holder, amend, add, or revoke any conditions of the permit, to take effect from a date specified in the notice. (3) The conditions that may be imposed on fishing permits under this section may be more restrictive or more onerous than the conditions imposed on fishing by any regulations or notice. (4) The chief executive may, if the chief executive considers it expedient to do so, require the holder of a fishing permit to surrender the permit and may replace that fishing permit with a new fishing permit containing the new conditions. (5) The conditions referred to in this section shall be substantially the same for all fishing permits in respect of the same stock, unless the chief executive is satisfied, on stated grounds, that different conditions are reasonable. (6) Every person commits an offense and is liable to the penalty set out in section 252(5) who contravenes any condition placed on any fishing permit by the chief executive under this section.

  • Article 93

    (1) Subject to section 93A, no fishing permit authorising the taking of fish, aquatic life, or seaweed of a stock or species listed in Schedule 4C shall be issued to any person unless either— (a) all of the following apply: (i) on 30 September 1992, that person held a current fishing permit under section 63 of the Fisheries Act 1983 in respect of stocks not subject to a quota management system under that Act; and (ii) during the period commencing on 1 October 1990 and ending with the close of 30 September 1992, that person lawfully took fish, aquatic life, or seaweed under the authority of the fishing permit held by that person; and (iii) the chief executive is satisfied that the fish, aquatic life, or sea‐ weed taken by that person, during that period were— (A) 1 or more of the stocks named in the fishing permit held by that person; and (B) caught as a target stock (other than bycatch); or (b) a fishing permit was issued to that person under section 2(2) of the Fisheries Amendment Act 1994. (2) A fishing permit issued under subsection (1) shall not authorise a person to take a stock or species listed in Schedule 4C, unless either— (a) the stock— (i) is of the same species as 1 or more of the stocks referred to in subsection (1)(a)(iii)(A) that were caught as a target stock (other than bycatch) during the period referred to in subsection (1)(a)(ii); and (ii) was named in the fishing permit held by that person on 30 September 1992; or (b) in the case of a fishing permit issued to a person referred to in subsection (1)(b), the stock was named on the permit issued to that person under section 2(2) of the Fisheries Amendment Act 1994. (3) In satisfying himself or herself on any matter under this section, the chief executive shall only have regard to information from fishing records or returns duly completed and provided before 15 October 1992 in the prescribed manner or in accordance with requirements made under section 66(3) of the Fisheries Act 1983. (4) This section does not apply to tuna.

  • Article 96

    (1) If the chief executive revokes a fishing permit under section 305A,— (a) the fishing permit must be immediately cancelled; and (b) the holder must ensure that the fishing permit and any duplicates are forthwith surrendered to the chief executive; and (c) no fish, aquatic life, or seaweed taken after the date of the supply of the false or misleading information may be regarded as eligible catch for the purposes of section 34; and (d) no individual catch entitlement under the permit entitles the holder to an allocation of any quota. (2) A person may request the chief executive to revoke any fishing permit issued to that person, and shall enclose the fishing permit and any duplicates with the request; and, upon revocation, the fishing permit shall cease to have any effect for the purpose of this Act. (3) Nothing in this section shall require the chief executive to remit or refund any fees, charges, or levies paid or payable by the fishing permit holder for the period from the date of issue of the permit to the date of revocation.

  • Article 103

    (1) A person must not use a fishing vessel, or any tender of that fishing vessel, to take fish, aquatic life, or seaweed for sale, in New Zealand fisheries waters, unless— (a) the vessel is a New Zealand ship or has been exempted under section 103A(1) from that requirement; and (b) the vessel is registered under this section in the Fishing Vessel Register as a fishing vessel; and (c) that person complies with all conditions of registration. (2) An application to register a fishing vessel must— (a) be made by the operator of that fishing vessel; and (b) be made to the chief executive in the approved form and be accompanied by the prescribed fee (if any); and (c) be supported by evidence of the vessel’s registration as a New Zealand ship or its exemption under section 103A(1), and any other evidence that may be specified in the approved form. (3) Consent under section 103A(4) is required before a foreign-owned vessel (other than a vessel owned or operated by an overseas person who has obtained consent under the overseas investment fishing provisions or is exempt from the requirement for that consent) may be registered as a fishing vessel. (4) If the chief executive, having received an application made in accordance with this section, is satisfied that the vessel is registered as a New Zealand ship or has been exempted under section 103A(1) from that requirement, and is otherwise eligible to be registered under this section, he or she must, as soon as practicable,— (a) register the fishing vessel,— (i) in the case of a New Zealand ship, for a period not exceeding 5 years; or (ii) in the case of a vessel exempted from the requirement to be a New Zealand ship, for the relevant period under section 103A(3): (b) issue to the operator a certificate of registration in respect of that vessel. (5) All conditions of the chief executive’s consent to the registration of a vessel in the Fishing Vessel Register are deemed for all purposes to be conditions of the registration of the vessel. (6) This section does not require that a vessel be registered as a fishing vessel merely because it is used to take fish, aquatic life, or seaweed produced as part of a lawful fish farming operation. (7) A person commits an offense and is liable to the penalty set out in section 252(5) if the person contravenes subsection (1).

  • Article 103A

    (1) The chief executive may, on application, exempt a vessel from the requirement to be a New Zealand ship if satisfied that— (a) the vessel will be used only for carrying out fisheries-related research commissioned or approved by the chief executive; and (b) the operator of the vessel or, if the operator is an overseas person, the authorised agent has made reasonable efforts to find a replacement vessel that is a New Zealand ship but was unsuccessful; and (c) the exemption will be in New Zealand’s interests; and (d) there will be sufficient New Zealand control of the operations of the vessel during the period for which it is exempted. (2) An application under subsection (1) must— (a) be made by the operator of the vessel or, if the operator is an overseas person, by the authorised agent; and (b) be made in the approved form; and (c) be accompanied by the prescribed fee and the evidence specified in the approved form. (3) An exemption may be granted for the period specified in the special permit issued for the purposes of the fisheries-related research. (4) For the purposes of section 103(3), the chief executive may— (a) grant consent, either generally or particularly, to the registration of 1 or more foreign-owned vessels operated by any person; and (b) grant consent under this section subject to any conditions that the chief executive thinks fit to impose (and such conditions may include, but are not limited to, conditions that relate to fisheries management, employment, vessel safety, or compliance with maritime rules relating to pollution and the discharge of waste material from vessels). (5) The chief executive must have regard to the following matters before deciding whether or not to grant consent under this section: (a) any risk associated with fisheries management, employment, vessel safety, or compliance with maritime rules relating to pollution and the discharge of waste material from vessels that the chief executive considers would be likely to result if the vessel were to be registered; and (b) the previous offending history (if any), in relation to fishing or transportation (whether within the national fisheries jurisdiction of New Zealand or another country, or on the high seas), of the vessel’s owner, operator, foreign charter party, notified user, master, or crew; and (c) the nature of the charter or other agreement with the operator (if any); and (d) any other matters that the chief executive considers relevant. (6) The chief executive may, from time to time, by written notice to the operator of a vessel with effect from the date specified in the notice amend, add to, or revoke any conditions of the consent to the registration of the vessel. (7) If the chief executive grants an exemption under subsection (1) from the requirement to be a New Zealand ship, or if a vessel is owned or operated by an overseas person who has obtained consent under the overseas investment fishing provisions or is exempt from the requirement for that consent, the following provisions apply while the vessel is in New Zealand fisheries waters: (a) for the purposes of the Minimum Wage Act 1983, the Wages Protection Act 1983, and any provisions of any other enactments that are necessary to give full effect to those Acts, a person engaged or employed to do work on the vessel who holds a temporary entry class visa with conditions that allow the person to work under the Immigration Act 2009 is deemed to be an employee: (b) for the purposes of the Minimum Wage Act 1983, the Wages Protection Act 1983, and any provisions of any other enactments that are necessary to give full effect to those Acts, the employer of a person referred to in paragraph (a) is deemed to be,— (i) if the operator of the vessel is the employer or contractor of those persons, the operator: (ii) in any other case, the person from whom the operator has, by virtue of a lease, a sublease, a charter, a subcharter, or otherwise, for the time being obtained possession and control of the vessel: (c) for the purpose of determining whether the payment to any person engaged or employed to do work on any such vessel meets the requirements of the Minimum Wage Act 1983, the hours of work of, the payments received by, and the entitlements to payment of that person must be assessed in relation to the whole of each period of such engagement or employment in New Zealand fisheries waters: (d) Labour Inspectors within the meaning of the Employment Relations Act 2000 may exercise their powers under that Act and under the enactments referred to in paragraph (a) within New Zealand fisheries waters in respect of any person deemed to be an employee or employer by virtue of paragraph (a) or (b): (e) if the operator of any vessel is not the employer by virtue of paragraph (b), then, despite any responsibility that may rest with the employer, the authorised agent referred to in subsection (2) is responsible under the enactments referred to in paragraph (a) for providing any information and records to any Labour Inspector exercising powers under those Acts: (f) the authorised agent referred to in subsection (2) may be served with any documents requiring service under any of the enactments referred to in paragraph (a), and such service is deemed to be service on the employer: (g) the Employment Relations Authority and the Employment Court may exercise jurisdiction in respect of any employment relationship that arises by virtue of paragraph (a) or (b) as if it were a lawful employment relationship subject to New Zealand law.

  • Article 104

    (1) Every application to become a notified user in relation to a fishing vessel shall— (a) be made jointly by the operator in whose name the fishing vessel is registered and the person who is to be the notified user in relation to the vessel; and (b) be made to the chief executive in the approved form and be accompanied by the prescribed fee (if any). (2) Upon receipt of an application made in accordance with subsection (1), the chief executive shall, as soon as practicable,— (a) note the name of the notified user on the Fishing Vessel Register; and (b) issue to the operator and the notified user a certificate of notification in respect of the notified user. (3) No person may be a notified user in relation to a foreign-owned New Zealand fishing vessel. (4) No overseas person shall be a notified user in relation to a fishing vessel.

  • Article 105

    (1) No person shall use any vessel for the transportation of fish, aquatic life, or seaweed taken for sale within New Zealand fisheries waters unless— (a) the vessel is registered in the Fishing Vessel Register as either a fish carrier or a fishing vessel, and— (i) that person is named in that register as an operator or notified user of that vessel; and (ii) that person complies with all conditions of registration (if any) and the conditions of any consent given by the chief executive under subsection (4); or (b) the fish, aquatic life, or seaweed was lawfully landed in New Zealand and then lawfully purchased or acquired by a licensed fish receiver prior to transportation; or (c) the fish, aquatic life, or seaweed was produced as part of a lawful fish farming operation; or (d) the fish, aquatic life, or seaweed was lawfully taken and landed in New Zealand, and the person is transporting that fish, aquatic life, or seaweed as the agent of the commercial fisher who took the fish, aquatic life, or seaweed. (2) Every application to register a fish carrier (other than a vessel that is registered as a fishing vessel under this Act) shall— (a) be made by the operator of that fish carrier; and (b) be made to the chief executive in the approved form and be accompanied by the prescribed fee (if any); and (c) in the case of an operator who is an overseas person, specify the name and address of a person (other than an overseas person) to be the authorised agent of that person for the purpose of this Act; and (d) be supported by such evidence as may be specified in the form. (3) If the chief executive, having received an application made in accordance with this section, is satisfied that the vessel is eligible to be registered, he or she shall, as soon as practicable,— (a) register the fish carrier for a specified period not exceeding 5 years; and (b) issue to the operator a certificate of registration in respect of that vessel. (4) No vessel shall be registered under this section unless the chief executive has consented, either generally or particularly, to registration of the vessel or vessels operated by that person; and any consent under this subsection may be granted subject to such conditions as the chief executive thinks fit to impose. (5) In considering whether to consent to the registration of a vessel under subsection (4), the chief executive shall have regard to— (a) the previous offending history (if any), in relation to fishing or transportation (whether within the national fisheries jurisdiction of New Zealand or another country, or on the high seas), of the vessel’s owner, operator, foreign charterparty, notified user, master, or crew; and (b) the nature of the charter or other agreement with the operator (if any); and (c) such other matters as the chief executive considers relevant. (6) Every person commits an offense and is liable to the penalty set out in section 252(5) who contravenes subsection (1). (7) In proceedings for an offense relating to a contravention of subsection (1),— (a) the prosecutor need not assert in the charging document that the exceptions set out in paragraphs (b) to (d) do not apply; and (b) the burden of proving that any of the exceptions set out in paragraphs (b) to (d) applies lies on the defendant.

  • Article 106

    (1) Nothing in section 103 or section 105 applies to any foreign fishing vessel licensed under Part 5 to engage in fishing within the exclusive economic zone. (2) Nothing in section 103 or section 105, or in any entry in the Fishing Vessel Register, confers, takes away, or in any way affects the title to, or any interest in, any vessel.

  • Article 107

    (1) [Repealed] (2) [Repealed] (3) A person may request the chief executive to cancel the registration of any vessel registered in that person’s name and shall enclose the certificate of registration and any duplicates with the request; and, upon cancellation, the registration shall cease to have any effect for the purpose of this Act. (4) If a vessel is lost or destroyed, the operator shall immediately notify the chief executive of that occurrence and the chief executive shall immediately cancel the registration of that vessel. (5) If,— (a) in the case of an operator who is an individual, the operator dies; or (b) in the case of an operator who is an incorporated company, the operator is dissolved,— the operator’s successors, representatives, or assigns shall, as soon as practic‐ able, notify the chief executive of that occurrence and the chief executive shall immediately cancel the registration of that vessel. (6) The chief executive must, as soon as practicable, ensure that the registration of a vessel is cancelled if— (a) the vessel is forfeit to the Crown; or (b) the chief executive has decided, on reasonable grounds and after receipt of advice from the Secretary of Labour, that a breach of any statutory provision referred to in section 103(5) has occurred. (7) For the purposes of subsection (6), reasonable grounds for a belief that a breach has occurred includes— (a) advice from the Secretary of Labour that a decision or order of the Employment Relations Authority or Employment Court has been made to that effect: (b) advice from the Secretary of Labour to the effect that any information or records requested, whether from an authorised agent in accordance with section 103(5)(d) or from the employer, have not been provided. (8) If the ownership of any vessel registered under this Act changes to such an extent that the consent of the chief executive under section 103 or section 105 would be required to register that vessel, the operator shall immediately notify the chief executive of that occurrence and the chief executive shall immediately cancel the registration of the vessel. (9) Every person commits an offense and is liable to the penalty set out in section 252(5) who contravenes any requirement to notify the chief executive of any matter under subsection (4) or subsection (5) or subsection (8).

Ship Registration Act 1992

What qualifications does the law/regulation give for a vessel to qualify as a local vessel?

  • Article 3

    (1) For the purposes of registration in Part A or Part B of the Register, a ship is deemed to be New Zealand-owned if— (a) it is owned by a New Zealand national or New Zealand nationals, and no other person; or (b) it is owned by 3 or more persons as joint owners (otherwise than as described in paragraph (c)), and the majority of those persons are New Zealand nationals; or (c) it is owned by 2 or more persons as owners in common, and more than half of the shares in the ship are owned by 1 or more New Zealand nationals.