www.statusin.org

Organization : Ministry for Primary Industries
Facility : Paying Your Fine
Country : New Zealand
Website : http://mpi.govt.nz/law-and-policy/paying-your-fine/

MPI Paying Your Fine

MPI’s infringement notices are commonly called instant fines. Find out how to pay your fine.

Related : MPI Afforestation Grant Scheme New Zealand : www.statusin.org/11212.html

Types Of Fines

You may be issued with an MPI infringement notice and have to pay a fine if you :
** fail to declare biosecurity risk goods when you arrive in New Zealand
** commit an offence under the Fisheries Act like catching more fish than you’re allowed
** break animal welfare laws. The reasons for your fine will be on the notice along with your rights.

All notices attract a fine and are strict liability offences – like speeding or parking tickets. That means you may have committed an offence even though you had no intention of doing so. But a notice doesn’t give you a criminal conviction.

How To Pay

Biosecurity fines issued at the border : (an air or sea port)
When you’re given an instant fine for failing to declare risk goods on arrival to New Zealand.

Payment Options

You can either :
** pay immediately, or
** within 14 days.

Making Immediate Payments :
If you’re paying immediately, your payment will be processed at the MPI infringement desk at the airport where you arrived.
You can pay by :
** cash (New Zealand dollars)
** major credit or travel card
** using a New Zealand EFT-POS card
** New Zealand cheque.

Paying later – within 14 days :
If you choose to pay your fine later, you have 14 days from the date the notice was issued. You can make payment :
** online with a credit card
** through internet banking
** by cheque
** at MPI offices at some international airports
** by telephone if paying by credit card
** at a Westpac bank.

Online :
Use our online system to pay with a Visa or MasterCard credit card. Go to our online secure payment system
Internet banking :
Deposit your payment to MPI’s bank account – 03 0049 0001709 22. For the ‘reference’ field, use the 6-digit infringement notice number in the top right hand corner of the notice. Put your name (the one on the notice) in the ‘particulars’ field.

Cheque by post :
Send a New Zealand cheque for NZD$400 payable to the Ministry for Primary Industries. Detach and include the remittance advice at the bottom of the infringement notice and mail both to Infringement Processing Centre, PO Box 53137, Auckland 2150.

MPI airport offices :
Pay the fine at an MPI office at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Queenstown, or Dunedin international airports.
By phone :
Call +64 9 9098517 between 8.30am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday to pay by Visa or MasterCard.
Westpac bank by cheque or cash. Go to any Westpac bank to pay. Take your infringement notice with you.

Requesting a Fines Waiver

If you have a good excuse, you can ask for your fine to be waived. But we won’t waive your fine for simply forgetting, being tired from travelling, or not knowing the rules. Applications for a fine waiver must be made in writing within 14 days of when the notice was issued. To make a request email fines [AT] mpi.govt.nz

Or post your submission letter to :
Ministry for Primary Industries
Infringement Processing Centre
PO Box 53137
Auckland 2150
New Zealand.

Make sure you include :
** supporting evidence – for example, a doctor’s note
** your name as shown on the notice
** the infringement notice number (found on the top right of the notice)
** your passport number.

After we’ve considered your request, we’ll let you know the outcome. If your fine isn’t waived, you can either pay the fine or request a defended or non-defended court hearing.

Requesting a Court Hearing

There are 2 types of court hearings :
** Defended – if you believe there is enough doubt an offence has been committed. You will need to appear in court to put your case. You can be represented by a lawyer. If the Court finds you guilty, costs will be added to the initial infringement fee.

** Non-defended – when you admit liability but request special consideration (for example, a reduced fine because of financial hardship). A judge considers written submissions from you and MPI before making a decision.

To request either type of hearing you must write to MPI within 14 days. Include in your request :
** what type of hearing you want – defended or non-defended
** your name as shown on the infringement notice
** the infringement notice number (found on the top right of the notice)
** your passport number.
To make a request email fines [AT] mpi.govt.nz

Or post your request to :
Ministry for Primary Industries
Infringement Processing Centre
PO Box 53137
Auckland 2150
New Zealand.
We will forward your request to the courts. The court will then contact you directly.

Recreational fishing offences :
When you’re issued an infringement notice by a fishery officer.
Animal welfare fines :
When you are issued an infringement notice under the Animal Welfare Act.

If You Ignore Your Fine

If you choose to do nothing, your infringement notice will be filed at a district court. Demand for payment will then be made by the Department of Courts and you may have to pay extra charges such as court costs.