Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000

What is a reasonable time to stay on a place a police officer enters to investigate a matter, make an inquiry or serve a document must be decided according to the particular circumstances.

If the entry is for investigating a matter or making an inquiry, a reasonable time for a police officer to stay on a place is the time reasonably necessary for the police officer to do the following for deciding whether any other action is necessary to fulfil a function of the police service—

ask questions of anyone present at the place;

make any reasonable investigation or observation.

If the entry is for serving a document, a reasonable time for a police officer to stay on a place is the time reasonably necessary for the police officer to ask questions for serving the document and to serve the document according to law.