171Entry on land

### 171 Entry on land > > (1)  A person employed by the Department for the purposes of any geological, geophysical or other scientific investigation may – > > > > > > (a) enter on land, with or without assistants, vehicles or drilling machinery; and > > > > > > > (b) open fences and gates; and > > > > > > > (c) dig or drill holes; and > > > > > > > (d) let off explosives; and > > > > > > > (e) do anything else necessary for those purposes. > > > (2)  Before exercising any power under [subsection (1)](#GS171@Gs1@EN) , a person must – > > > > > > (a) obtain the written authorisation of the Director; and > > > > > > > (b) give the occupier reasonable notice of the intention to do so. > > > (3)  The Crown must compensate the owner or occupier for any damage caused in the exercise of any power under [subsection (1)](#GS171@Gs1@EN) for an amount – > > > > > > (a) agreed between it and the owner or occupier; or > > > > > > > (b) if there is no agreement, determined as a disputed claim for compensation under the [Land Acquisition Act 1993](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1993-023) .