Crimes Act 1961 No 43 (as at 01 October 2008), Public Act

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Reprint
as at 1 October 2008

Crimes Act 1961

Public Act1961 No 43
Date of assent1 November 1961

Note

Changes authorised by section 17C of the Acts and Regulations Publication Act 1989 have been made in this eprint.

A general outline of these changes is set out in the notes at the end of this eprint, together with other explanatory material about this eprint.

This Act is administered in the Ministry of Justice.


Contents

Title

Death

Imprisonment

Penalties for certain offences involving home invasion

17A Interpretation [Repealed]

Fine

Infancy

Insanity

Compulsion

Ignorance of law

Sentence or process

Arrest

Use of force

Breach of the peace

Defence against assault

Defence of property

Peaceable entry

Powers of discipline

Surgical operations

General provisions

Treason and other crimes against the Queen and the State

Offence of oath to commit offence

Unlawful assemblies, riots, and breaches of the peace

Piracy

Slave dealing

Participation in criminal gang

Smuggling and trafficking in people

Bribery and corruption

Contravention of statute

Misleading justice

Escapes and rescues

Crime against religion

Crimes against morality and decency

Sexual crimes

142 Anal intercourse [Repealed]

Sexual offences outside New Zealand

Crimes against public welfare

147 Brothel-keeping [Repealed]

Duties tending to the preservation of life

Homicide

Murder, manslaughter, etc

Abortion

Assaults and injuries to the person

Female genital mutilation

Bigamy, feigned marriage

Abduction, kidnapping

216 Criminal slander [Repealed]

Intimate visual recordings

Interpretation

Unlawful taking

Burglary

Robbery and blackmail

Crimes involving deceit

Money laundering

Receiving

Crimes involving computers

Forgery and counterfeiting

Coinage

Arson, damage, and waste

Coinage

282 Interpretation [Repealed]

285 Altering coin [Repealed]

286 Impairing coin [Repealed]

287 Defacing coin [Repealed]

288 Melting coin [Repealed]

Criminal damage

294 Arson [Repealed]

295 Attempted arson [Repealed]

298 Wilful damage [Repealed]

301 Wrecking [Repealed]

Interpretation

Applications for interception warrants in relation to organised criminal enterprises

Applications for interception warrants in relation to serious violent offences

General provisions

General power to stop vehicles to exercise statutory search powers

Arrest

Bail

Plea of guilty after committal for trial

Change of venue

Indictments

Evidence

Identification evidence

Filing indictment

Trial and sentence

350 Bench warrant [Repealed]

369 Admissions [Repealed]

Retrials of previously acquitted persons

Appeal on matters arising before trial

Appeal on question of bail

Appeal on question of law

Appeal against conviction or sentence

391 Costs of appeal [Repealed]

General provisions as to appeals

402 Costs [Repealed]


An Act to consolidate and amend the Crimes Act 1908 and certain other enactments of the Parliament of New Zealand relating to crimes and other offences

1 Short Title, commencement, etc
  • (1) This Act may be cited as the Crimes Act 1961.

    (2) This Act shall come into force on the 1st day of January 1962.

    (3) This Act is divided into Parts, as follows:

    Part 1Jurisdiction. (Sections 5 to 12.)
    Part 2Punishments. (Sections 13 to 19F.)
    Part 3Matters of Justification or Excuse. (Sections 20 to 65.)
    Part 4Parties to the Commission of Offences. (Sections 66 to 72.)
    Part 5Crimes Against Public Order. (Sections 73 to 98A.)
    Part 6Crimes Affecting the Administration of Law and Justice. (Sections 99 to 122.)
    Part 7Crimes Against Religion, Morality, and Public Welfare. (Sections 123 to 150.)
    Part 8Crimes Against the Person. (Sections 150A to 210.)
    Part 9Crimes Against Reputation. (Sections 211 to 216.)
    Part 9ACrimes Against Personal Privacy. (Sections 216A to 216E).
    Part 10Crimes against rights of property. (Sections 217 to 272.)
    Part 11Threatening, Conspiring, and Attempting to Commit Offences. (Sections 306 to 312.)
    Part 11AObtaining Evidence by Listening Devices. (Sections 312A to 312Q.)
    Part 12Procedure. (Sections 313 to 378.)
    Part 13Appeals. (Sections 379 to 399.)
    Part 14Miscellaneous Provisions. (Sections 400 to 412.)

    Part 5 was amended, as from 1 January 1998, by section 2 Crimes Amendment Act 1997 (1997 No 88) by inserting section 150A.

    Part 8 was amended, as from 1 January 1998, by section 2 Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 1997 (1997 No 93) by inserting section 98A.

    Part 9A was inserted, as from 6 August 1979, by section 5 Crimes Amendment Act 1979 (1979 No 5) by inserting details of Part 9A.

    Part 10 was substituted, as from 1 October 2003, by section 3 Crimes Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 39).

    Part 11A was inserted, as from 1 August 1987, by section 4 Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 1987 (1987 No 167) by inserting details of Part 11A.

    Section 1 was amended, as from 1 January 1998, by section 2 Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 1997 (1997 No 93) by inserting section 98A in Part 5.

2 Interpretation
  • (1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

    Aerodrome has the same meaning as in the Civil Aviation Act 1990

    Aerodrome: the Civil Aviation Act 1990 has been substituted for the repealed Civil Aviation Act 1964.

    Aircraft has the same meaning as in the Civil Aviation Act 1990; and includes any aircraft for the time being used as an aircraft of any of the armed forces of any country other than New Zealand

    Aircraft: the Civil Aviation Act 1990 has been substituted for the repealed Civil Aviation Act 1964.

    Assault means the act of intentionally applying or attempting to apply force to the person of another, directly or indirectly, or threatening by any act or gesture to apply such force to the person of another, if the person making the threat has, or causes the other to believe on reasonable grounds that he has, present ability to effect his purpose; and to assault has a corresponding meaning

    claim of right, in relation to any act, means a belief that the act is lawful, although that belief may be based on ignorance or mistake of fact or of any matter of law other than the enactment against which the offence is alleged to have been committed.

    claim of right: this definition was inserted, as from 1 October 2003, by section 4(1) Crimes Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 39).

    Colour of right

    [Repealed]

    Colour of right: this definition was repealed, as from 1 October 2003, by section 4(1) Crimes Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 39).

    Commonwealth country means a country that is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations; and includes every territory for whose international relations the Government of any such country is responsible

    Commonwealth ship means a ship registered or required to be registered in any Commonwealth country, or recognised by the law of any Commonwealth country as a ship belonging to that country; and includes any ship for the time being used as a ship of any of the armed forces of any Commonwealth country

    constable has the meaning given in section 4 of the Policing Act 2008

    Crime means an offence for which the offender may be proceeded against by indictment

    crime involving dishonesty means any crime described in Part 10 except the crimes described in sections 267 to 272.

    crime involving dishonesty: this definition was substituted, as from 1 October 2003, by section 4(2) Crimes Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 39).

    Criminally responsible means liable to punishment for an offence

    Day, or daytime, means the interval between 6 o'clock in the morning of any day and 9 o'clock at night of the same day

    Depositions includes written statements admitted in evidence at the preliminary hearing pursuant to section 173A of the Summary Proceedings Act 1957, and statements made under section 175 of that Act and read in evidence at the preliminary hearing

    Depositions: this definition was inserted, as from 1 May 1977, by section 20(2) Summary Proceedings Amendment Act 1976 (1976 No 169).

    Firearm has the same meaning as in the Arms Act 1983

    Firearm: this definition was inserted, as from 28 October 1986, by section 2 Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 1986 (1986 No 71).

    for a material benefit, in relation to doing a thing, means—

    • (a) after having obtained a material benefit for doing the thing; or

    • (b) intending to obtain a material benefit for doing the thing

    for a material benefit: this definition was inserted, as from 20 May 2005, by section 3(1) Crimes Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 41). See sections 12 and 13 of that Act for the transitional provisions.

    Foreign ship means a ship that is not a Commonwealth ship

    genitalia includes a surgically constructed or reconstructed organ analogous to naturally occurring male or female genitalia (whether the person concerned is male, female, or of indeterminate sex)

    genitalia: this definition was inserted, as from 20 May 2005, by section 3(1) Crimes Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 41). See sections 12 and 13 of that Act for the transitional provisions.

    To injure means to cause actual bodily harm

    Is liable means is liable on conviction on indictment

    Judge, in relation to a District Court, or District Court Judge means a Judge who holds a warrant under section 28B of the District Courts Act 1947 to conduct trials on indictment; and in section 399 of this Act includes any other District Court Judge

    Judge: this definition was inserted, as from 1 May 1981, by section 2(1) Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 1980 (1980 No 85).

    Justified, in relation to any person, means not guilty of an offence and not liable to any civil proceeding

    medical practitioner means a health practitioner who is, or is deemed to be, registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand continued by section 114(1)(a) of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 as a practitioner of the profession of medicine.

    medical practitioner: this definition was inserted, as from 18 September 2004, by section 175(1) Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (2003 No 48). See sections 178 to 227 of that Act as to the transitional provisions.

    New Zealand includes all waters within the outer limits of the territorial sea of New Zealand (as defined by section 3 of the Territorial Sea, Contiguous Zone, and Exclusive Economic Zone Act 1977))

    New Zealand: this definition was substituted, as from 1 January 1966, by section 11 Territorial Sea and Fishing Zone Act 1965 (1965 No 11) (since repealed).

    New Zealand: the words Exclusive Economic Zone Act 1977 were substituted for the words Fishing Zone Act 1965, as from 1 October 1977, by section 33(1) Territorial Sea and Exclusive Economic Zone Act 1977 (1977 No 28).

    New Zealand: the words , Contiguous Zone, were inserted, as from 1 August 1996, pursuant to section 5(4) Territorial Sea and Exclusive Economic Zone Amendment Act 1996 (1996 No 74).

    New Zealand aircraft means any aircraft that is registered or required to be registered in New Zealand under the Civil Aviation Act 1990; and includes any aircraft for the time being used as an aircraft of the New Zealand forces

    New Zealand aircraft: the expression the Civil Aviation Act 1990 has been substituted, as from 1 September 1990, for the repealed Civil Aviation Act 1964.

    New Zealand forces means the New Zealand Naval Forces, the New Zealand Army, and the Royal New Zealand Air Force

    New Zealand ship means a ship registered in New Zealand, or recognised by the law of New Zealand as a ship belonging to New Zealand; and includes any ship for the time being used as a ship of the New Zealand forces

    Night, or night-time, means the interval between 9 o'clock at night and 6 o'clock in the following morning

    obtain a material benefit, in relation to doing a thing, means obtain, directly or indirectly, any goods, money, pecuniary advantage, privilege, property, or other valuable consideration of any kind for doing the thing (or taking an action that forms part of doing the thing)

    obtain a material benefit: this definition was inserted, as from 18 June 2002, by section 3 Crimes Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 20).

    Offence means any act or omission for which any one can be punished under this Act or under any other enactment, whether on conviction on indictment or on summary conviction

    penis includes a surgically constructed or reconstructed organ analogous to a naturally occurring penis (whether the person concerned is male. female, or of indeterminate sex)

    penis: this definition was inserted, as from 20 May 2005, by section 3(1) Crimes Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 41). See sections 12 and 13 of that Act for the transitional provisions.

    Person, owner, and other words and expressions of the like kind, include the Crown and any public body or local authority, and any board, society, or company, and any other body of persons, whether incorporated or not, and the inhabitants of the district of any local authority, in relation to such acts and things as it or they are capable of doing or owning

    prison manager means the manager of a prison

    Prison manager: this definition was inserted, as from 1 June 2005, by section 206 Corrections Act 2004 (2004 No 50). See clause 2 Corrections Act Commencement Order 2005 (SR 2005/52).

    Property includes real and personal property, and any estate or interest in any real or personal property, money, electricity, and any debt, and any thing in action, and any other right or interest

    Property: this definition was amended, as from 1 October 2003, by section 4(3) Crimes Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 39) by inserting the words money, electricity, after the words or personal property,.

    Prosecutor means—

    • (a) A Crown Solicitor:

    • (b) In relation to a Crown prosecution, the Attorney-General:

    • (c) In relation to a private prosecution, the private prosecutor:

    Prosecutor: this definition was inserted, as from 1 March 1996, by section 2(1) Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 1995 (1995 No 68). See clause 2 Crimes Amendment Act Commencement Order 1996 (SR 1996/1).

    Protected from criminal responsibility means not liable to any proceedings except a civil proceeding

    Registrar

    • (a) For the purposes of Part 12 of this Act, means any Registrar of the trial Court; and includes any Deputy Registrar of that Court:

    • (b) For any other purpose, means any Registrar of the High Court or of a District Court, as the case may require; and includes any Deputy Registrar:

    Registrar: this definition was substituted, as from 1 May 1981, by section 2(2) Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 1980 (1980 No 85).

    Registrar: this definition was substituted, as from 1 March 1996, by section 2(2) Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 1995 (1995 No 68). See clause 2 Crimes Amendment Act Commencement Order 1996 (SR 1996/1).

    sexual connection means—

    • (a) connection effected by the introduction into the genitalia or anus of one person, otherwise than for genuine medical purposes, of—

      • (i) a part of the body of another person; or

      • (ii) an object held or manipulated by another person; or

    • (b) connection between the mouth or tongue of one person and a part of another person's genitalia or anus; or

    • (c) the continuation of connection of a kind described in paragraph (a) or paragraph (b)

    sexual connection: this definition was inserted, as from 20 May 2005, by section 3(1) Crimes Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 41). See sections 12 and 13 of that Act for the transitional provisions.

    Ship means every description of vessel used in navigation, however propelled; and includes any barge, lighter, dinghy, raft, or like vessel; and also includes any ship belonging to or used as a ship of the armed forces of any country

    Superintendent

    [Repealed]

    Superintendent: this definition was repealed, as from 1 June 2005, by section 206 Corrections Act 2004 (2004 No 50). See clause 2 Corrections Act Commencement Order 2005 (SR 2005/52).

    Supreme Court means the Supreme Court of New Zealand established by section 6 of the Supreme Court Act 2003

    Supreme Court: this definition was inserted, as from 1 January 2004, by section 48(1) Supreme Court Act 2003 (2003 No 53). See sections 50 to 55 of that Act for the transitional and savings provisions.

    Territorial waters, in relation to any country other than New Zealand, means such part of the sea adjacent to the coast of that country as is within the territorial sovereignty of that country; and includes ports, harbours, rivers, and other places in which at the commencement of this Act the Admiralty of England has jurisdiction (whether exclusive or not) in respect of offences of any kind committed on board Commonwealth ships

    Territorial waters: this definition was amended, as from 1 January 1966, by section 11 Territorial Sea and Fishing Zone Act 1965 by inserting the words other than New Zealand.

    Trial Judge means,—

    • (a) If the accused has been committed to the High Court for trial and the case has not been transferred to the District Court for trial pursuant to section 168AA of the Summary Proceedings Act 1957, a High Court Judge:

    • (b) If the accused has been committed to the District Court for trial or the case has been transferred to that Court for trial pursuant to section 168AA of the Summary Proceedings Act 1957, and the Court has jurisdiction in the matter under section 28A of the District Courts Act 1947, a District Court Judge:

    Trial Judge: this definition was inserted, as from 1 March 1996, by section 2(3) Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 1995 (1995 No 68). See clause 2 Crimes Amendment Act Commencement Order 1996 (SR 1996/1).

    Trial Judge: paragraph (b) was amended, as from 22 November 1997, by section 3 Crimes Amendment Act 1997 (1997 No 88) by substituting the words section 28A of the District Courts Act 1947 for the words section 28AA of that Act.

    Valuable security

    [Repealed]

    Valuable security: this definition was repealed, as from 1 October 2003, by section 4(4) Crimes Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 39).

    (1A) For the purposes of paragraph (a) of the definition in subsection (1) of sexual connection, introduction to the slightest degree is enough to effect a connection.

    (1B) For the purposes of this Act, one person does an indecent act on another person whether he or she—

    • (a) does an indecent act with or on the other person; or

    • (b) induces or permits the other person to do an indecent act with or on him or her.

    (2) When it is provided in this Act that any one is liable to any punishment for doing or omitting any act, every person doing or omitting that act is, subject to the provisions of this Act, guilty of a crime.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 ss 2, 4A(1), 207, 237; 1948 No 77 s 8; 1950 No 83 s 2; 1953 No 120 s 2(1); 1954 No 29 s 2

    Section 2(1) constable: substituted, on 1 October 2008, by section 130(1) of the Policing Act 2008 (2008 No 72).

    Subsections (1A) and (1B) were inserted, as from 20 May 2005, by section 3(2) Crimes Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 41). See sections 12 and 13 of that Act for the transitional provisions.

3 Meaning of convicted on indictment
  • For the purposes of this Act, a person shall be deemed to be convicted on indictment if—

    • (a) He pleads guilty on indictment; or

    • (b) He is found guilty on indictment; or

    • (d) After having been committed for trial, he pleads guilty under section 321 of this Act.

    Compare: 1945 No 23 s 2(2)

    Paragraph (c) was amended by section 15(1) Judicature Amendment Act 1977 (1977 No 32) by inserting the words 153A or section.

    In paragraph (d) the words High Court were substituted for the words Supreme Court, as from 1 April 1980, pursuant to section 12 Judicature Amendment Act 1979 (1979 No 124).

    Paragraph (d) was amended, as from 1 May 1981, by section 3 Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 1980 (1980 No 85) by omitting the words to the High Court.

4 Meaning of ordinarily resident in New Zealand
  • For the purposes of this Act, a person shall be deemed to be ordinarily resident in New Zealand if—

    • (a) His home is in New Zealand; or

    • (b) He is residing in New Zealand with the intention of residing therein indefinitely; or

    • (c) Having resided in New Zealand with the intention of establishing his home therein, or with the intention of residing in New Zealand indefinitely, he is outside New Zealand but has an intention to return to establish his home therein or to reside in New Zealand indefinitely.

Part 1
Jurisdiction

5 Application of Act
  • (1) This Act applies to all offences for which the offender may be proceeded against and tried in New Zealand.

    (2) This Act applies to all acts done or omitted in New Zealand.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 3

6 Persons not to be tried in respect of things done outside New Zealand
  • Subject to the provisions of section 7 of this Act, no act done or omitted outside New Zealand is an offence, unless it is an offence by virtue of any provision of this Act or of any other enactment.

7 Place of commission of offence
  • For the purpose of jurisdiction, where any act or omission forming part of any offence, or any event necessary to the completion of any offence, occurs in New Zealand, the offence shall be deemed to be committed in New Zealand, whether the person charged with the offence was in New Zealand or not at the time of the act, omission, or event.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 4

7A Extraterritorial jurisdiction in respect of certain offences with transnational aspects
  • (1) Even if the acts or omissions alleged to constitute the offence occurred wholly outside New Zealand, proceedings may be brought for any offence against this Act committed in the course of carrying out a terrorist act (as defined in section 5(1) of the Terrorism Suppression Act 2002) or an offence against section 98AA, section 98A, section 98C, section 98D, any of sections 100 to 104, section 105(2), section 116, section 117, section 243, section 298A, or section 298B

    • (a) if the person to be charged—

      • (i) is a New Zealand citizen; or

      • (ii) is ordinarily resident in New Zealand; or

      • (iii) has been found in New Zealand and has not been extradited; or

      • (iv) is a body corporate, or a corporation sole, incorporated under the law of New Zealand; or

    • (b) if any of the acts or omissions is alleged to have occurred—

      • (ii) on board a ship used as a ship of the New Zealand Defence Force; or

      • (iii) on board a New Zealand aircraft; or

      • (iv) on board an aircraft that is leased to a lessee whose principal place of business is in New Zealand, or who is a New Zealand citizen or a person ordinarily resident in New Zealand; or

    • (c) if a person in respect of whom the offence is alleged to have been committed—

      • (i) is a New Zealand citizen; or

      • (ii) is ordinarily resident in New Zealand; or

    • (d) in the case of an offence against section 98A, if the group of people in which the person to be charged is alleged to have participated are alleged to have as their objective or one of their objectives the obtaining of material benefits by the commission in New Zealand of offences or conduct referred to in paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of section 98A(2).

    (2) Even if the acts or omissions alleged to constitute the offence occurred wholly outside New Zealand, proceedings may be brought for an offence against section 98C or section 98D,—

    • (a) in the case of an offence against section 98C(1) or section 98D, if the act or omission is alleged to relate to the entry of a person into New Zealand; or

    • (b) in the case of an offence against section 98C(2), if the act or omission is alleged to relate to arranging the bringing of a person to New Zealand.

    (2A) Even if some or all of the acts alleged to constitute the offence occurred wholly outside New Zealand, proceedings may be brought for an offence against section 131B

    • (a) if the person to be charged—

      • (i) is a New Zealand citizen; or

      • (ii) is ordinarily resident in New Zealand; or

      • (iii) has been found in New Zealand and has not been extradited; or

    • (b) if any of the acts is alleged to have occurred—

      • (ii) on board a ship used as a ship of the New Zealand Defence Force; or

      • (iii) on board a New Zealand aircraft; or

      • (iv) on board an aircraft that is leased to a lessee whose principal place of business is in New Zealand, or who is a New Zealand citizen or a person ordinarily resident in New Zealand; or

    • (c) if a person in respect of whom the offence is alleged to have been committed—

      • (i) is a New Zealand citizen; or

      • (ii) is ordinarily resident in New Zealand.

    (3) Neither section 8 nor section 400 applies to an offence referred to in subsection (1).

    (4) Nothing in subsections (1) to (3) limits or affects—

    • (a) the application of section 7 to the occurrence in New Zealand of—

      • (i) an act or omission forming part of an offence; or

      • (ii) an event necessary to the completion of an offence; or

    • (b) the application of section 8A.

    Sections 7A and 7B were inserted, as from 18 June 2002, by section 4 Crimes Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 20).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 17 November 2003, by section 3(a) Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 2003 (2003 No 105) by inserting the words any offence against this Act committed in the course of carrying out a terrorist act (as defined in section 5(1) of the Terrorism Suppression Act 2002) or after the words proceedings may be brought for. See clause 3 Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 2003 Commencement Order 2003 (SR 2003/316).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 17 November 2003, by section 3(b) Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 2003 (2003 No 105) by substituting the words section 257A, section 298A, or section 298B for the words or section 257A. See clause 3 Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 2003 Commencement Order 2003 (SR 2003/316).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 20 May 2005, by section 4(1)(a) Crimes Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 41) by inserting the expression section 98AA, before the expression section 98A. See sections 12 and 13 of that Act for the transitional provisions.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 20 May 2005, by section 4(1)(b) Crimes Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 41) by substituting the expression section 243 for the expression section 257A. See sections 12 and 13 of that Act for the transitional provisions.

    Subsection (2A) was inserted, as from 20 May 2005, by section 4(2) Crimes Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 41). See sections 12 and 13 of that Act for the transitional provisions.

7B Attorney-General's consent required where jurisdiction claimed under section 7A
  • (1) Proceedings for an offence against section 98AA, section 98A, section 116, section 117, section 243, section 298A, or section 298B cannot be brought in a New Zealand court against a person without the Attorney-General's consent, if jurisdiction over the person is claimed by virtue of section 7A.

    (2) A person over whom jurisdiction is claimed by virtue of section 7A may be arrested for an offence against section 98AA, section 98A, section 116, section 117, or section 243, or a warrant for the person's arrest for the offence may be issued and executed, and the person may be remanded in custody or on bail, even though the Attorney-General's consent to the bringing of proceedings against the person has not been obtained.

    (3) Proceedings for an offence against this Act committed in the course of carrying out a terrorist act (as defined in section 5(1) of the Terrorism Suppression Act 2002) cannot be brought in a New Zealand court against a person without the Attorney-General's consent, if jurisdiction over the person is claimed solely by virtue of section 7A.

    Sections 7A and 7B were inserted, as from 18 June 2002, by section 4 Crimes Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 20).

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 17 November 2003, by section 4(1) Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 2003 (2003 No 105) by substituting the words section 257A, section 298A, or section 298B for the words or section 257A. See clause 3 Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 2003 Commencement Order 2003 (SR 2003/316).

    Subsections (1) and (2) were amended, as from 20 May 2005, by section 4(1)(a) Crimes Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 41) by inserting the expression section 98AA, before the expression section 98A. See sections 12 and 13 of that Act for the transitional provisions.

    Subsections (1) and (2) were amended, as from 20 May 2005, by section 4(1)(b) Crimes Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 41) by substituting the expression section 243 for the expression section 257A. See sections 12 and 13 of that Act for the transitional provisions.

    Subsection (3) was inserted, as from 17 November 2003, by section 4(2) Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 2003 (2003 No 105). See clause 3 Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 2003 Commencement Order 2003 (SR 2003/316).

8 Jurisdiction in respect of crimes on ships or aircraft beyond New Zealand
  • (1) This section applies to any act done or omitted beyond New Zealand by any person—

    • (a) On board any Commonwealth ship; or

    • (b) On board any New Zealand aircraft; or

    • (c) On board any ship or aircraft, if that person arrives in New Zealand on that ship or aircraft in the course or at the end of a journey during which the act was done or omitted; or

    • (d) Being a British subject, on board any foreign ship (not being a ship to which he belongs) on the high seas, or on board any such ship within the territorial waters of any Commonwealth country; or

    • (e) Being a New Zealand citizen or a person ordinarily resident in New Zealand, on board any aircraft:

      Provided that paragraph (c) of this subsection shall not apply where the act was done or omitted by a person, not being a British subject, on any ship or aircraft for the time being used as a ship or aircraft of any of the armed forces of a country that is not a Commonwealth country.

    (2) Where any person does or omits any act to which this section applies, and that act or omission would, if it occurred within New Zealand, be a crime under this Act or under any other enactment (whether that enactment was passed before or after the commencement of this Act), then, subject to the provisions of this Act and of that other enactment, he shall be liable on conviction on indictment or, in the case of a crime to which Part 1 of the Summary Proceedings Act 1957 applies, either on conviction on indictment or on summary conviction under that Part, as if the act or omission had occurred in New Zealand:

    Provided that where any proceedings are taken by virtue of the jurisdiction conferred by this section it shall be a defence to prove that the act or omission would not have been an offence under the law of the country of which the person charged was a national or citizen at the time of the act or omission, if it had occurred in that country.

    (3) Where at any place beyond New Zealand any person who belongs, or within 3 months previously has belonged, to any Commonwealth ship does or omits any act, whether on shore or afloat, not being an act or omission to which subsection (1) of this section applies, and that act or omission would, if it occurred within New Zealand, be a crime, then this section shall apply in respect of that act or omission in the same manner in all respects as if it had occurred on board a Commonwealth ship.

    (4) The provisions of this section shall have the same operation in relation to the Republic of Ireland and to the citizens thereof, and to ships registered therein or belonging thereto, and to persons who belong or have belonged to those ships, and to all other persons on board those ships, as if the Republic of Ireland were a Commonwealth country and as if the citizens thereof were British subjects.

    (5) This section shall be read subject to the provisions of section 400 of this Act.

    (6) In this section, the expression British subject includes a British protected person within the meaning of the British Nationality and Citizenship Act 1948.

    (7) Nothing in this section shall apply with respect to any crime against the Maritime Transport Act 1994 or Part 5A of the Civil Aviation Act 1990.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 4A(2); 1948 No 77 s 8; 1953 No 120 ss 2, 3, 4, 6; Criminal Code (1954, as amended 1959), s 5A (Canada)

    The reference to the Maritime Transport Act 1994 in subsection (7) was substituted for a reference to the Shipping and Seamen Act 1952, as from 1 February 1995, pursuant to section 202(1) Maritime Transport Act 1994 (1994 No 104). See clause 2 Maritime Transport Act Commencement Order 1994 (SR 1994/272).

    Subsection (7) was amended, as from 1 June 2004, by section 41(3) Civil Aviation Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 8) by inserting the words or Part 5A of the Civil Aviation Act 1990 after the expression 1994.

8A Jurisdiction in respect of certain persons with diplomatic or consular immunity
  • (1) This section applies to every person who is—

    • (c) A New Zealand citizen ordinarily resident in New Zealand and who is—

      • (i) A member of the family of a person described in paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of this subsection; or

      • (ii) A member of the staff of a New Zealand overseas post or a New Zealand overseas mission, whether or not an officer or employee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade or a person employed under section 10 of the Foreign Affairs Act 1988; or

      • (iii) An officer or employee of the State services (as defined in section 2(1) of the State Sector Act 1988), or of the New Zealand Trade Development Board (as established by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (as established by the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Act 2003), who is serving in a New Zealand overseas post or a New Zealand overseas mission.

    (2) Where—

    • (a) Any person to whom this section applies does, or omits to do, any act outside New Zealand (whether or not the act or omission concerned constitutes an offence under the laws in force in the place where it took place) that, if done or omitted within New Zealand would constitute an offence punishable by imprisonment for one year or more; and

    • (b) That person has immunity from criminal jurisdiction in the place where that act or omission took place; and

    • (c) That immunity has not been waived (otherwise than to any extent necessary to enable the extradition of that person),—

    that act or omission shall be deemed to have taken place within New Zealand.

    (3) No information shall be laid against any person over whom jurisdiction is claimed by virtue of subsection (2) of this section without the leave of the Attorney-General.

    (4) Subsection (5) of this section applies to any offence to the laying of an information in respect of which the consent of the Attorney-General is required by subsection (3) of this section.

    (5) Where any person is alleged to have committed an offence to which this subsection applies,—

    • (a) He may be arrested; or

    • (b) A warrant for his arrest may be issued and executed,—

    and he may be remanded in custody or on bail, notwithstanding that the consent of the Attorney-General has not been obtained to the laying of an information in respect of that offence; but no further proceedings shall be taken until that consent has been obtained.

    Section 8A was inserted, as from 16 December 1983, by section 30 Foreign Affairs and Overseas Service Act 1983 (1983 No 128).

    Subsection (1) was substituted, as from 1 December 1988, by section 14(1) External Relations Act 1988 (1988 No 159).

    Subsection (1)(c)(ii) was amended, as from 1 July 1993, by section 6(1) Foreign Affairs Amendment Act 1993 (1993 No 48) by substituting the words Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade for the words Ministry of External Relations and Trade.

    Subsection (1)(c)(iii) was amended, as from 1 July 2003, by section 84 New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Act 2003 (2003 No 27) by substituting the words New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (as established by the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Act 2003) for the words the New Zealand Trade Development Board (as established by the New Zealand Trade Development Board Act 1988).

    References to the Foreign Affairs Act 1988 in subsection (1)(a) and (b) were substituted, as from 1 July 1993, for references to the External Relations Act 1988 pursuant to section 2(3) Foreign Affairs Amendment Act 1993 No 48).

9 Offences not to be punishable except under New Zealand Acts
  • No one shall be convicted of any offence at common law, or of any offence against any Act of the Parliament of England or the Parliament of Great Britain or the Parliament of the United Kingdom:

    Provided that—

    • (a) Nothing in this section shall limit or affect the power or authority of the House of Representatives or of any Court to punish for contempt:

    • (b) Nothing in this section shall limit or affect the jurisdiction or powers of any Court Martial, or of any officer in any of the New Zealand forces.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 5; Criminal Code (1954), s 8 (Canada)

10 Offence under more than one enactment
  • (1) Where an act or omission constitutes an offence under this Act and under any other Act, the offender may be prosecuted and punished either under this Act or under that other Act.

    (2) Where an Act or omission constitutes an offence under 2 or more Acts other than this Act, the offender may be prosecuted and punished under any one of those Acts.

    (3) Where an act or omission constitutes an offence under 2 or more provisions of this Act or of any other Act, the offender may be prosecuted and punished under any one of those provisions.

    (4) No one shall be liable, whether on conviction on indictment or on summary conviction, to be punished twice in respect of the same offence.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 6; 1924 No 11 s 25(i)

10A Criminal enactments not to have retrospective effect
  • Notwithstanding any other enactment or rule of law to the contrary, no person shall be liable in any criminal proceedings in respect of an act or omission by him if, at the time of the act or omission, the act or omission by him did not constitute an offence.

    Compare: 1954 No 50 s 43B; 1980 No 21 s 22

    Sections 10A and 10B were inserted, as from 1 October 1985, by section 2 Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 1985 (1985 No 121).

10B Period of limitation
  • (1) Except with the prior consent of the Attorney-General, no proceedings in respect of an offence to which this section applies, or, where such proceedings have been commenced, no further steps in the proceedings (other than steps subsequent to the trial or hearing) shall be taken after the expiration of 10 years from the date of the commission of the offence.

    (2) This section shall apply to the following offences:

    • (a) An offence punishable by a fine only, where the maximum fine that may be imposed in respect of that offence is less than $2,000:

    • (b) An offence punishable by imprisonment, where the maximum term of imprisonment that may be imposed in respect of that offence is less than 3 years.

    (3) This section shall apply with respect to offences committed before or after the commencement of this section and, in the case of an offence committed before the commencement of this section, whether or not proceedings in respect of the offence have been commenced before the commencement of this section or are in progress at the commencement of this section.

    (4) Nothing in this section shall derogate from the provisions of any other Act fixing a period of limitation of less than 10 years for the commencement of proceedings in respect of an offence.

    Compare: 1954 No 50 s 40A; 1966 No 99 s 5

    Sections 10A and 10B were inserted, as from 1 October 1985, by section 2 Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 1985 (1985 No 121).

11 Construction of other Acts
  • (1) Every Act shall be read and construed as if any offence therein mentioned for which the offender may be prosecuted by indictment (however the offence may be therein described or referred to) were described or referred to as a crime; and all provisions of this Act relating to crimes generally shall apply to every such offence.

    (2) Every commission, Proclamation, warrant, or other document relating to criminal procedure in which offences that are crimes as defined by this Act are described or referred to by any names whatever shall be read and construed as if those offences were therein described and referred to as crimes.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 357

12 Summary jurisdiction
  • Nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit or affect in any way any provision made by any other Act for the trial and punishment of indictable offences in a summary way.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 7(5)

Part 2
Punishments

13 Powers of Courts under other Acts not affected
  • Nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit or affect in any way any provision of any other Act conferring on any Court any power to pass a sentence or impose a punishment or make an order in addition to or instead of a sentence or punishment prescribed by this Act, or otherwise to deal with any offender.

Death

14 Form of sentence in capital cases
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 14 to 16 were repealed, as from 26 December 1989, by section 3(1)(a) Abolition of the Death Penalty Act 1989 (1989 No 119).

15 Sentence of death not to be passed on pregnant woman
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 14 to 16 were repealed, as from 26 December 1989, by section 3(1)(a) Abolition of the Death Penalty Act 1989 (1989 No 119).

16 Sentence of death not to be passed on person under 18 years of age
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 14 to 16 were repealed, as from 26 December 1989, by section 3(1)(a) Abolition of the Death Penalty Act 1989 (1989 No 119).

Imprisonment

17 No sentence of solitary confinement to be passed
  • (1) No offender shall be sentenced to solitary confinement.

    (2) Every reference in any enactment to solitary confinement, or to imprisonment in solitary confinement, shall hereafter be construed as a reference to imprisonment.

    (3) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or affect any of the provisions of the Corrections Act 2004, or of any regulations thereunder, in respect of offences against discipline.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 24(2)

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 1 June 2005, by section 206 Corrections Act 2004 (2004 No 50) by substituting the expression Corrections Act 2004 for the expression Penal Institutions Act 1954. See clause 2 Corrections Act Commencement Order 2005 (SR 2005/52).

Penalties for certain offences involving home invasion

  • This heading was inserted, as from 2 July 1999, by section 2 Crimes (Home Invasion) Amendment Act 1999 (1999 No 75).

17A Interpretation
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 17A to 17E were inserted, as from 2 July 1999, by section 2 Crimes (Home Invasion) Amendment Act 1999 (1999 No 75).

    Sections 17A to 17E were repealed, as from 30 June 2002, by section 164(a) Sentencing Act 2002 (2002 No 9). See sections 148 to 160 Sentencing Act 2002 for the savings and transitional provisions. See clause 2 Sentencing Act Commencement Order 2002 (SR 2002/176).

17B Maximum terms of imprisonment for offences involving home invasion: offences otherwise carrying maximum term of 5, 7, or 10 years imprisonment
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 17A to 17E were inserted, as from 2 July 1999, by section 2 Crimes (Home Invasion) Amendment Act 1999 (1999 No 75).

    Sections 17A to 17E were repealed, as from 30 June 2002, by section 164(a) Sentencing Act 2002 (2002 No 9). See sections 148 to 160 Sentencing Act 2002 for the savings and transitional provisions. See clause 2 Sentencing Act Commencement Order 2002 (SR 2002/176).

17C Maximum terms of imprisonment for offences involving home invasion: offences otherwise carrying maximum term of 14 or 20 years imprisonment
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 17A to 17E were inserted, as from 2 July 1999, by section 2 Crimes (Home Invasion) Amendment Act 1999 (1999 No 75).

    Sections 17A to 17E were repealed, as from 30 June 2002, by section 164(a) Sentencing Act 2002 (2002 No 9). See sections 148 to 160 Sentencing Act 2002 for the savings and transitional provisions. See clause 2 Sentencing Act Commencement Order 2002 (SR 2002/176).

17D Parties, attempts, and accessories
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 17A to 17E were inserted, as from 2 July 1999, by section 2 Crimes (Home Invasion) Amendment Act 1999 (1999 No 75).

    Sections 17A to 17E were repealed, as from 30 June 2002, by section 164(a) Sentencing Act 2002 (2002 No 9). See sections 148 to 160 Sentencing Act 2002 for the savings and transitional provisions. See clause 2 Sentencing Act Commencement Order 2002 (SR 2002/176).

17E Maximum penalties for offences involving home invasion do not affect jurisdiction of trial court
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 17A to 17E were inserted, as from 2 July 1999, by section 2 Crimes (Home Invasion) Amendment Act 1999 (1999 No 75).

    Sections 17A to 17E were repealed, as from 30 June 2002, by section 164(a) Sentencing Act 2002 (2002 No 9). See sections 148 to 160 Sentencing Act 2002 for the savings and transitional provisions. See clause 2 Sentencing Act Commencement Order 2002 (SR 2002/176).

18 Putting under bond
  • [Repealed]

    Section 18 and the preceding heading were repealed, as from 1 October 1985, by section 3 Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 1985 (1985 No 121).

Fine

19 Payment of fine, etc
  • (1) Where the Court sentences an offender on conviction on indictment to pay a fine, or orders him to pay any other sum of money, it may do all or any of the following things—

    • (a) Allow time for payment:

    • (b) Direct payment to be made by instalments:

    • (c) Direct payment to be made to such person or persons and in such place or places as the Court may specify.

    (2) Where a sum is directed to be paid by instalments and default is made in the payment of any one instalment, the same proceedings may be taken as if default had been made in the payment of all instalments then remaining unpaid.

    Section 19 was substituted, as from 1 January 1967, by section 2 Crimes Amendment Act 1966 (1966 No 98).

19A Supervision of offender when time for payment is allowed
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 19A to 19F were inserted, as from 1 January 1967, by section 2 Crimes Amendment Act 1966 (1966 No 98).

    Section 19A was repealed, as from 1 October 1985, by section 4 Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 1985 (1985 No 121).

19B Immediate execution
  • If the Court which sentences an offender to pay a fine or which orders an offender to pay any other sum of money is of opinion—

    • (a) That the offender has sufficient means to pay the fine or other sum of money forthwith; or

    • (b) That the offender has no fixed place of residence; or

    • (c) That for any other reason, having reference to the gravity of the offence, the character of the offender, or other special circumstances, execution should issue without delay—

    the Court may direct that a writ of sale be issued against the personal property of an offender, without waiting for the expiration of the period mentioned in the rules of Court made under this Act, or it may impose on the offender a period of imprisonment in default of payment of the fine or other sum of money (not exceeding the appropriate maximum period prescribed in section 19E of this Act).

    Sections 19A to 19F were inserted, as from 1 January 1967, by section 2 Crimes Amendment Act 1966 (1966 No 98).

19C Warrant to collect fine or other sum of money ordered to be paid
  • (1) Where any fine imposed on conviction on indictment or any other sum of money which an offender has been ordered to pay is not paid within 14 days thereafter, or within such further time as may be allowed or fixed for the payment thereof, any Registrar may issue a warrant in the form prescribed in the rules of Court made under this Act to collect the sum or so much of it as remains unpaid.

    (2) Where a warrant has been issued under this section, the constable or bailiff executing it shall demand payment from the offender if he can be found and shall, unless the fine or other sum of money, or so much of it as remains unpaid, and the fee for the issue of the warrant are sooner paid, make a report as to the means of the offender so far as he has been able to ascertain them, or, as the case may be, a report that after reasonable inquiry the offender could not be found.

    (3) In this section and section 19D, bailiff means a bailiff of a District Court; and includes any deputy bailiff and any person acting as bailiff under section 15 of the District Courts Act 1947.

    Sections 19A to 19F were inserted, as from 1 January 1967, by section 2 Crimes Amendment Act 1966 (1966 No 98).

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 10 April 2006, by section 4(1) Crimes Amendment Act 2006 (2006 No 6) by inserting the words or bailiff after the word constable.

    Subsection (3) was inserted, as from 10 April 2006, by section 4(2) Crimes Amendment Act 2006 (2006 No 6).

19D Execution
  • Where a constable or bailiff makes a report as mentioned in section 19C of this Act, the Judge who sentenced the offender to pay the fine or who ordered the offender to pay the other sum of money or, if that Judge is not available, any other Judge, shall consider the report and may make such order as he thinks fit including an order for the remission of either the whole or part of the fine or other sum of money, an order for the issue of a writ of sale or an order for the immediate imprisonment of the offender, or an order allowing time for payment or allowing payment by instalments.

    Sections 19A to 19F were inserted, as from 1 January 1967, by section 2 Crimes Amendment Act 1966 (1966 No 98).

    Section 19D was amended, as from 10 April 2006, by section 5 Crimes Amendment Act 2006 (2006 No 6) by inserting the words or bailiff after the word constable.

19DA Community work, community detention, and home detention for non-payment of fine
  • (1) In any case where, under section 19D of this Act, an order may be made for the imprisonment of any person in respect of the non-payment of any fine or other sum of money, the Judge may issue a summons to that person, or, whether or not a summons has been issued or served, may issue a warrant to arrest that person and bring him before the High Court.

    (2) On the appearance of that person before the Court, the Court may, in its discretion, after considering the report referred to in section 19D, and after taking into account any other fines and any amount of reparation owing by that person, sentence that person to community work, community detention, or home detention in accordance with the relevant provisions of Part 2 of the Sentencing Act 2002.

    (3) A sentence of community work, community detention, or home detention may be imposed under this section, even though none of the offences in respect of which the fines were imposed was punishable by imprisonment.

    (4) If any person is sentenced to community work, community detention, or home detention under this section for the non-payment of the whole or any part of a fine or other sum of money, that fine or part of a fine or other sum of money is deemed to be remitted.

    (5) If the Court sentences any person to community work, community detention, or home detention under this section, that person has the same right of appeal to the Court of Appeal against the sentence as the person would have had if the sentence had been imposed by the High Court after his or her conviction in the High Court.

    (6) If the Court of Appeal quashes the sentence of community work, community detention, or home detention on appeal, it must, at the same time, direct that the case be remitted to the High Court to be dealt with under section 19D.

    (7) If, on appeal from the Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court quashes the sentence of community work, community detention, or home detention, it must, at the same time, direct that the case be remitted to the High Court to be dealt with under section 19D.

    Section 19DA was inserted, as from 1 October 1985, by section 5 Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 1985 (1985 No 121).

    Section 19DA heading: amended, on 1 October 2007, by section 58 of the Sentencing Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 27).

    The heading was amended, as from 30 June 2002, by section 186 Sentencing Act 2002 (2002 No 9) by substituting Community work for Community service or periodic detention. See sections 148 to 160 Sentencing Act 2002 (2002 No 9) for the savings and transitional provisions. See clause 2 Sentencing Act Commencement Order 2002 (SR 2002/176).

    Section 19DA(2): amended, on 1 October 2007, by section 58 of the Sentencing Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 27).

    Section 19DA(3): amended, on 1 October 2007, by section 58 of the Sentencing Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 27).

    Section 19DA(4): amended, on 1 October 2007, by section 58 of the Sentencing Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 27).

    Section 19DA(5): amended, on 1 October 2007, by section 58 of the Sentencing Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 27).

    Section 19DA(6): amended, on 1 October 2007, by section 58 of the Sentencing Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 27).

    Subsections (2) to (6) were substituted, as from 30 June 2002, by section 186 Sentencing Act 2002 (2002 No 9). See sections 148 to 160 Sentencing Act 2002 (2002 No 9) for the savings and transitional provisions. See clause 2 Sentencing Act Commencement Order 2002 (SR 2002/176).

    Subsection (7) was inserted, as from 1 January 2004, by section 48(1) Supreme Court Act 2003 (2003 No 53). See sections 50 to 55 of that Act for the transitional and savings provisions.

    Section 19DA(7): amended, on 1 October 2007, by section 58 of the Sentencing Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 27).

19E Period of imprisonment for non-payment of money
  • (1) The period of imprisonment imposed under this Act in respect of the non-payment of any fine or other sum of money shall not exceed the maximum term of imprisonment to which the offender was liable on the conviction or 2 years, whichever is the less.

    (2) Where a person is imprisoned for non-payment of any fine or other sum of money, he may pay or cause to be paid to the prison manager of the prison in which he is imprisoned the sum payable and the prison manager shall thereupon discharge that person, unless he is in custody for some other matter.

    (3) Where any person who is imprisoned for non-payment of any fine or other sum of money pays or causes to be paid to any person authorised or entitled to receive the same any sum in partial satisfaction of the total amount (including costs and charges) for which he is liable, the term of his imprisonment shall be reduced by a number of days bearing as nearly as possible the same proportion to the total number of days for which he has been committed as the sum so paid bears to the total amount (including costs and charges) for which he is liable, and the prison manager of the prison in which he is imprisoned shall, upon the expiration of the term so reduced, discharge that person unless he is in custody for some other matter.

    Sections 19A to 19F were inserted, as from 1 January 1967, by section 2 Crimes Amendment Act 1966 (1966 No 98).

    Subsections (2) and (3) were amended, as from 1 June 2005, by section 206 Corrections Act 2004 (2004 No 50) by substituting the words prison manager for the word Superintendent wherever it appears. See clause 2 Corrections Act Commencement Order 2005 (SR 2005/52).

19F Stay of execution on appeal
  • The Court may at any time, in the case of any appeal or application for leave to appeal, or in any case if it thinks fit, suspend any order made under sections 19, 19A, 19B, or 19D of this Act or any warrant issued under section 19C of this Act.

    Sections 19A to 19F were inserted, as from 1 January 1967, by section 2 Crimes Amendment Act 1966 (1966 No 98).

Part 3
Matters of justification or excuse

20 General rule as to justifications
  • (1) All rules and principles of the common law which render any circumstances a justification or excuse for any act or omission, or a defence to any charge, shall remain in force and apply in respect of a charge of any offence, whether under this Act or under any other enactment, except so far as they are altered by or are inconsistent with this Act or any other enactment.

    (2) The matters provided for in this Part of this Act are hereby declared to be justifications or excuses in the case of all charges to which they are applicable.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 40

Infancy

21 Children under 10
  • (1) No person shall be convicted of an offence by reason of any act done or omitted by him when under the age of 10 years.

    (2) The fact that by virtue of this section any person has not been or is not liable to be convicted of an offence shall not affect the question whether any other person who is alleged to be a party to that offence is guilty of that offence.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 41

22 Children between 10 and 14
  • (1) No person shall be convicted of an offence by reason of any act done or omitted by him when of the age of 10 but under the age of 14 years, unless he knew either that the act or omission was wrong or that it was contrary to law.

    (2) The fact that by virtue of this section any person has not been or is not liable to be convicted of an offence shall not affect the question whether any other person who is alleged to be a party to that offence is guilty of that offence.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 42

Insanity

23 Insanity
  • (1) Every one shall be presumed to be sane at the time of doing or omitting any act until the contrary is proved.

    (2) No person shall be convicted of an offence by reason of an act done or omitted by him when labouring under natural imbecility or disease of the mind to such an extent as to render him incapable—

    • (a) Of understanding the nature and quality of the act or omission; or

    • (b) Of knowing that the act or omission was morally wrong, having regard to the commonly accepted standards of right and wrong.

    (3) Insanity before or after the time when he did or omitted the act, and insane delusions, though only partial, may be evidence that the offender was, at the time when he did or omitted the act, in such a condition of mind as to render him irresponsible for the act or omission.

    (4) The fact that by virtue of this section any person has not been or is not liable to be convicted of an offence shall not affect the question whether any other person who is alleged to be a party to that offence is guilty of that offence.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 43

Compulsion

24 Compulsion
  • (1) Subject to the provisions of this section, a person who commits an offence under compulsion by threats of immediate death or grievous bodily harm from a person who is present when the offence is committed is protected from criminal responsibility if he believes that the threats will be carried out and if he is not a party to any association or conspiracy whereby he is subject to compulsion.

    (2) Nothing in subsection (1) of this section shall apply where the offence committed is an offence specified in any of the following provisions of this Act, namely:

    • (a) Section 73 (treason) or section 78 (communicating secrets):

    • (b) Section 79 (sabotage):

    • (c) Section 92 (piracy):

    • (d) Section 93 (piratical acts):

    • (e) Sections 167 and 168 (murder):

    • (f) Section 173 (attempt to murder):

    • (g) Section 188 (wounding with intent):

    • (h) Subsection (1) of section 189 (injuring with intent to cause grievous bodily harm):

    • (i) Section 208 (abduction):

    • (j) Section 209 (kidnapping):

    • (k) section 234 (robbery):

    • (ka) [Repealed]

    • (l) section 235 (aggravated robbery):

    • (m) section 267 (arson).

    (3) Where a woman who is married or in a civil union commits an offence, the fact that her husband or civil union partner was present at the commission of the offence does not of itself raise a presumption of compulsion.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 44

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 February 1986, by section 7(1) Crimes Amendment Act (No 3) 1985 (1985 No 160) by omitting the words is aiding or abetting rape, or.

    Subsection (2)(k) was substituted, as from 1 October 2003, by section 5 Crimes Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 39).

    Subsection (2)(ka) was inserted, as from 1 January 1974, by section 2 Crimes Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 118).

    Subsection (2)(ka) was repealed, as from 1 October 2003, by section 5 Crimes Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 39).

    Subsection (2)(l) was substituted, as from 1 October 2003, by section 5 Crimes Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 39).

    Subsection (2)(m) was inserted, as from 1 October 2003, by section 5 Crimes Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 39).

    Subsection (3) was substituted, as from 26 April 2005, by section 7 Relationships (Statutory References) Act 2005 (2005 No 3).

Ignorance of law

25 Ignorance of law
  • The fact that an offender is ignorant of the law is not an excuse for any offence committed by him.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 45

Sentence or process

26 Execution of sentence, process, or warrant
  • (1) Every ministerial officer of any Court authorised to execute a lawful sentence, and every prison manager of any prison, and every person lawfully assisting any such ministerial officer or prison manager, is justified in executing the sentence.

    (2) Every ministerial officer of any Court duly authorised to execute any lawful process of the Court, whether of a civil or a criminal nature, and every person lawfully assisting him, is justified in executing it; and every prison manager required under the process to receive and detain any person is justified in receiving and detaining him.

    (3) Every one duly authorised to execute a lawful warrant issued by any Court or Justice or Community Magistrate or other person having jurisdiction to issue the warrant, and every person lawfully assisting him, is justified in executing the warrant; and every prison manager required under the warrant to receive and detain any person is justified in receiving and detaining him.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 46

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 June 2005, by section 206 Corrections Act 2004 (2004 No 50) by substituting the word prison for the words penal institution. See clause 2 Corrections Act Commencement Order 2005 (SR 2005/52).

    Subsections (1) to (3) were amended, as from 1 June 2005, by section 206 Corrections Act 2004 (2004 No 50) by substituting the words prison manager for the word Superintendent wherever it appeared. See clause 2 Corrections Act Commencement Order 2005 (SR 2005/52).

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 30 June 1998, by section 2 Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 1998 (1998 No 79) by inserting the words or Community Magistrate.

27 Execution of erroneous sentence or process
  • If a sentence is passed or a process is issued by a Court having jurisdiction under any circumstances to pass such a sentence or issue such a process, or if a warrant is issued by a Court or person having jurisdiction under any circumstances to issue such a warrant, the sentence passed or process or warrant issued shall be sufficient to justify the execution of it by every officer, prison manager, or other person authorised to execute it, and by every person lawfully assisting him, notwithstanding that—

    • (a) The Court passing the sentence or issuing the process had no authority to pass that sentence or issue that process in the particular case; or

    • (b) The Court or other person issuing the warrant had no jurisdiction to issue it, or exceeded its or his jurisdiction in issuing it, in the particular case.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 47

    Section 27 was amended, as from 1 June 2005, by section 206 Corrections Act 2004 (2004 No 50) by substituting the words prison manager for the word Superintendent. See clause 2 Corrections Act Commencement Order 2005 (SR 2005/52).

28 Sentence or process without jurisdiction
  • (1) Every officer, prison manager, or person executing any sentence, process, or warrant, and every person lawfully assisting him, shall be protected from criminal responsibility if—

    • (a) He acts in good faith under the belief that the sentence or process was that of a Court having jurisdiction, or, as the case may be, that the warrant was that of a Court, Justice, Community Magistrate, or other person having authority to issue warrants; and

    • (b) It is proved that the person passing the sentence or issuing the process acted as such a Court under colour of having some appointment or commission lawfully authorising him to act as such a Court, or, as the case may require, that the person issuing the warrant acted as a Justice, Community Magistrate, or other person having authority to do so.

    (2) This section shall apply notwithstanding that, in fact,—

    • (a) Any such appointment or commission as aforesaid did not exist or had expired; or

    • (b) The Court or the person passing the sentence or issuing the process was not the Court or the person authorised by the appointment or commission to act; or

    • (c) The person issuing the warrant was not duly authorised to issue it.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 48

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 June 2005, by section 206 Corrections Act 2004 (2004 No 50) by substituting the words prison manager for the word Superintendent. See clause 2 Corrections Act Commencement Order 2005 (SR 2005/52).

    Subsection (1)(a) was amended, as from 30 June 1998, by section 2 Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 1998 (1998 No 79) by inserting the words Community Magistrate,.

    Subsection (1)(b) was amended, as from 30 June 1998, by section 2 Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 1998 (1998 No 79) by inserting the words , Community Magistrate,.

29 Irregular warrant or process
  • (1) Every one acting under a warrant or process that is bad in law on account of some defect in substance or in form, apparent on the face of it, shall be protected from criminal responsibility to the same extent and subject to the same provisions as if the warrant or process were good in law if in good faith and without culpable ignorance or negligence he believed that the warrant or process was good in law; and ignorance of the law shall in this case be an excuse.

    (2) It is a question of law whether the facts of which there is evidence do or do not constitute culpable ignorance or negligence in his so believing the warrant or process to be good in law.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 50

Arrest

30 Arresting the wrong person
  • (1) Every one duly authorised to execute a warrant to arrest who thereupon arrests a person, believing in good faith and on reasonable and probable grounds that he is the person named in the warrant, shall be protected from criminal responsibility to the same extent and subject to the same provisions as if the person arrested had been the person named in the warrant.

    (2) Every one called on to assist the person making such arrest, and believing that the person in whose arrest he is called on to assist is the person for whose arrest the warrant is issued, and every prison manager who is required to receive and detain the person arrested, shall be protected from criminal responsibility to the same extent and subject to the same provisions as if the person arrested had been the person named in the warrant.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 49

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 June 2005, by section 206 Corrections Act 2004 (2004 No 50) by substituting the words prison manager for the word Superintendent. See clause 2 Corrections Act Commencement Order 2005 (SR 2005/52).

31 Arrest by constable pursuant to statutory powers
  • Every constable is justified in arresting any person without warrant in accordance with the provisions of section 315 of this Act or in accordance with any other enactment conferring on him a power so to arrest.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 ss 56, 57(2)

32 Arrest by constable of person believed to have committed offence
  • Where under any enactment any constable has power to arrest without warrant any person who has committed an offence, the constable is justified in arresting without warrant any person whom he believes, on reasonable and probable grounds, to have committed that offence, whether or not the offence has in fact been committed, and whether or not the arrested person committed it.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 51

33 Arrest by other officers or persons pursuant to statutory powers
  • Every officer or other person, not being a constable, who is authorised by any enactment to arrest any person without warrant is justified in so arresting any person in accordance with the provisions of that enactment.

34 Persons assisting constable or officer in arrest
  • (1) Every one called upon by a constable to assist him in the arrest of any person believed or suspected to have committed any offence is justified in assisting unless he knows that there is no reasonable ground for the belief or suspicion.

    (2) Where by any enactment it is provided that any officer or person, not being a constable, may call upon any other person to assist him in arresting without warrant any one who has committed or is found committing any offence, every person so called upon is justified in assisting unless he knows that there is no reasonable ground for believing that the person to be arrested has committed the offence.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 52

35 Arrest of persons found committing certain crimes
  • Every one is justified in arresting without warrant—

    • (a) Any person whom he finds committing any offence against this Act for which the maximum punishment is not less than 3 years' imprisonment:

    • (b) Any person whom he finds by night committing any offence against this Act.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 ss 53, 57(1)

    Section 35(a): amended, on 27 March 2008, by section 4 of the Crimes Amendment Act 2008 (2008 No 8).

36 Arrest of person believed to be committing crime by night
  • Every one is protected from criminal responsibility for arresting without warrant any person whom he finds by night in circumstances affording reasonable and probable grounds for believing that that person is committing an offence against this Act.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 55

37 Arrest after commission of certain crimes
  • Where any offence against this Act has been committed, every one who believes, on reasonable and probable grounds, that any person has committed that offence is protected from criminal responsibility for arresting that person without warrant, whether or not that person committed the offence.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 54

38 Arrest during flight
  • (1) Every one is protected from criminal responsibility for arresting without warrant any person whom he believes, on reasonable and probable grounds, to have committed an offence against this Act, and to be escaping from and to be freshly pursued by any one whom he believes, on reasonable and probable grounds, to have lawful authority to arrest that person for the offence.

    (2) This section shall apply whether or not the offence has in fact been committed, and whether or not the arrested person committed it.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 58

Use of force

39 Force used in executing process or in arrest
  • Where any person is justified, or protected from criminal responsibility, in executing or assisting to execute any sentence, warrant, or process, or in making or assisting to make any arrest, that justification or protection shall extend and apply to the use by him of such force as may be necessary to overcome any force used in resisting such execution or arrest, unless the sentence, warrant, or process can be executed or the arrest made by reasonable means in a less violent manner:

    Provided that, except in the case of a constable or a person called upon by a constable to assist him, this section shall not apply where the force used is intended or likely to cause death or grievous bodily harm.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 60

40 Preventing escape or rescue
  • (1) Where any person is lawfully authorised to arrest or to assist in arresting any other person, or is justified in or protected from criminal responsibility for arresting or assisting to arrest any other person, that authority, justification, or protection, as the case may be, shall extend and apply to the use of such force as may be necessary—

    • (a) To prevent the escape of that other person if he takes to flight in order to avoid arrest; or

    • (b) To prevent the escape or rescue of that other person after his arrest—

    unless in any such case the escape or rescue can be prevented by reasonable means in a less violent manner:

    Provided that, except in the case of a constable or a person called upon by a constable to assist him, this subsection shall not apply where the force used is intended or likely to cause death or grievous bodily harm.

    (2) Where any prisoner of a prison is attempting to escape from lawful custody, or is fleeing after having escaped therefrom, every constable, and every person called upon by a constable to assist him, is justified in using such force as may be necessary to prevent the escape of or to recapture the prisoner, unless in any case the escape can be prevented or the recapture effected by reasonable means in a less violent manner.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 ss 62, 63, 64, 65

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 June 2005, by section 206 Corrections Act 2004 (2004 No 50) by substituting the word prison for the words penal institution. See clause 2 Corrections Act Commencement Order 2005 (SR 2005/52).

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 1 June 2005, by section 206 Corrections Act 2004 (2004 No 50) by substituting the word prisoner for the word inmate in both places where it appeared. See clause 2 Corrections Act Commencement Order 2005 (SR 2005/52).

41 Prevention of suicide or certain offences
  • Every one is justified in using such force as may be reasonably necessary in order to prevent the commission of suicide, or the commission of an offence which would be likely to cause immediate and serious injury to the person or property of any one, or in order to prevent any act being done which he believes, on reasonable grounds, would, if committed, amount to suicide or to any such offence.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 72

Breach of the peace

42 Preventing breach of the peace
  • (1) Every one who witnesses a breach of the peace is justified in interfering to prevent its continuance or renewal, and may detain any person committing it, in order to give him into the custody of a constable:

    Provided that the person interfering shall use no more force than is reasonably necessary for preventing the continuance or renewal of the breach of the peace, or than is reasonably proportionate to the danger to be apprehended from its continuance or renewal.

    (2) Every constable who witnesses a breach of the peace, and every person lawfully assisting him, is justified in arresting any one whom he finds committing it.

    (3) Every constable is justified in receiving into custody any person given into his charge, as having been a party to a breach of the peace, by one who has witnessed it or whom the constable believes on reasonable and probable grounds to have witnessed it.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 66

43 Suppression of riot
  • Every one is justified in using such force as is necessary to suppress a riot, if the force used is not disproportionate to the danger to be apprehended from the continuance of the riot.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 67

44 Suppression of riot by Police
  • The senior member of the Police for the time being acting at the place of any riot is justified in using and ordering to be used, and every constable is justified in using, such force as he believes, in good faith and on reasonable and probable grounds, to be necessary to suppress the riot, not being disproportionate to the danger which he believes, on reasonable and probable grounds, is to be apprehended from the continuance of the riot.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 68

45 Suppression of riot by persons acting under lawful orders
  • (1) Every one, whether a member of the New Zealand forces or not, acting in good faith in obedience to orders for the suppression of any riot given by the senior member of the Police for the time being acting at the place of the riot is justified in obeying the orders so given, unless those orders are manifestly unlawful; and is protected from criminal responsibility for using such force as he believes, on reasonable and probable grounds, to be necessary for carrying those orders into effect.

    (2) It is a question of law whether any particular order is manifestly unlawful or not.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 69

46 Suppression of riot by persons without orders
  • Every one, whether a member of the New Zealand forces or not, who believes, in good faith and on reasonable and probable grounds, that serious mischief will arise from the riot before there is time to procure the intervention of the Police, is justified in using such force as he believes, in good faith and on reasonable and probable grounds, to be necessary to suppress the riot, not being disproportionate to the danger which he believes, on reasonable grounds, is to be apprehended from the continuance of the riot.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 70

47 Protection of members of New Zealand forces
  • (1) Every one bound as a member of the New Zealand forces to obey the lawful command of his superior officer is justified in obeying any command given him by any such officer for the suppression of a riot, unless the command is manifestly unlawful.

    (2) It is a question of law whether any particular command is manifestly unlawful or not.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 71

Defence against assault

48 Self-defence and defence of another
  • Every one is justified in using, in the defence of himself or another, such force as, in the circumstances as he believes them to be, it is reasonable to use.

    Section 48 was substituted, as from 1 January 1981, by section 2(1) Crimes Amendment Act 1980 (1980 No 63).

49 Self-defence against provoked assault
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 49 to 51 were repealed, as from 1 January 1981, by section 2(1) Crimes Amendment Act 1980 (1980 No 63).

50 Provocation defined
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 49 to 51 were repealed, as from 1 January 1981, by section 2(1) Crimes Amendment Act 1980 (1980 No 63).

51 Defence of person under protection
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 49 to 51 were repealed, as from 1 January 1981, by section 2(1) Crimes Amendment Act 1980 (1980 No 63).

Defence of property

52 Defence of movable property against trespasser
  • (1) Every one in peaceable possession of any movable thing, and every one lawfully assisting him, is justified in using reasonable force to resist the taking of the thing by any trespasser or to retake it from any trespasser, if in either case he does not strike or do bodily harm to the trespasser.

    (2) [Repealed]

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 77

    Subsection (2) was repealed, as from 1 January 1981, by section 2(2) Crimes Amendment Act 1980 (1980 No 63).

53 Defence of movable property with claim of right
  • (1) Every one in peaceable possession of any movable thing under a claim of right, and every one acting under his authority, is protected from criminal responsibility for defending his possession by the use of reasonable force, even against a person entitled by law to possession, if he does not strike or do bodily harm to the other person.

    (2) [Repealed]

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 78

    Subsection (2) was repealed, as from 1 January 1981, by section 2(2) Crimes Amendment Act 1980 (1980 No 63).

54 Defence of movable property without claim of right
  • (1) Every one in peaceable possession of any movable thing, but neither claiming right thereto nor acting under the authority of a person claiming right thereto, is neither justified in nor protected from criminal responsibility for defending his possession against a person entitled by law to possession.

    (2) [Repealed]

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 79

    Subsection (2) was repealed, as from 1 January 1981, by section 2(2) Crimes Amendment Act 1980 (1980 No 63).

55 Defence of dwellinghouse
  • Every one in peaceable possession of a dwellinghouse, and every one lawfully assisting him or acting by his authority, is justified in using such force as is necessary to prevent the forcible breaking and entering of the dwellinghouse by any person if he believes, on reasonable and probable grounds, that there is no lawful justification for the breaking and entering.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 ss 80, 81; Criminal Code (1954), s 40 (Canada)

56 Defence of land or building
  • (1) Every one in peaceable possession of any land or building, and every one lawfully assisting him or acting by his authority, is justified in using reasonable force to prevent any person from trespassing on the land or building or to remove him therefrom, if he does not strike or do bodily harm to that person.

    (2) [Repealed]

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 82

    Subsection (2) was repealed, as from 1 January 1981, by section 2(2) Crimes Amendment Act 1980 (1980 No 63).

Peaceable entry

57 Assertion of right to land or building
  • (1) Every one is justified in peaceably entering in the daytime on any land or building to the possession of which he, or some person under whose authority he acts, is lawfully entitled, for the purpose of taking possession thereof.

    (2) [Repealed]

    (3) [Repealed]

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 83

    Subsections (2) and (3) were repealed, as from 1 January 1981, by section 2(2) Crimes Amendment Act 1980 (1980 No 63).

58 Exercise of right of way, etc
  • Every one lawfully entitled to enter on any land for the exercise of any right of way or other easement or profit is justified in peaceably entering on the land for the purpose of exercising that right of way, easement, or profit:

    Provided that if any one so entering has notice that his right to use that way or easement, or to take that profit, is disputed by the person in possession of the land, an assault committed by that person, or by any person acting under his authority, for the purpose of making the person entering desist from entry, shall be deemed to be provoked by the person entering.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 84

Powers of discipline

59 Parental control
  • (1) Every parent of a child and every person in the place of a parent of the child is justified in using force if the force used is reasonable in the circumstances and is for the purpose of—

    • (a) preventing or minimising harm to the child or another person; or

    • (b) preventing the child from engaging or continuing to engage in conduct that amounts to a criminal offence; or

    • (c) preventing the child from engaging or continuing to engage in offensive or disruptive behaviour; or

    • (d) performing the normal daily tasks that are incidental to good care and parenting.

    (2) Nothing in subsection (1) or in any rule of common law justifies the use of force for the purpose of correction.

    (3) Subsection (2) prevails over subsection (1).

    (4) To avoid doubt, it is affirmed that the Police have the discretion not to prosecute complaints against a parent of a child or person in the place of a parent of a child in relation to an offence involving the use of force against a child, where the offence is considered to be so inconsequential that there is no public interest in proceeding with a prosecution.

    Subsection (1) was substituted, as from 23 July 1990, by section 28(2) Education Amendment Act 1990 (1990 No 60).

    Subsection (3) was inserted, as from 23 July 1990, by section 28(3) Education Amendment Act 1990 (1990 No 60).

    Section 59 was substituted, as from 21 June 2007, by section 5 Crimes (Substituted Section 59) Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 18).

60 Discipline on ship or aircraft
  • (1) The master or officer in command of a ship on a voyage or the pilot in command of an aircraft on a flight is justified in using and ordering the use of force for the purpose of maintaining good order and discipline on board his ship or aircraft if he believes on reasonable grounds that the use of force is necessary, and if the force used is reasonable in the circumstances.

    (2) Every one acting in good faith is justified in using force in obedience to any order given by the master or officer or pilot in command for the purpose aforesaid, if the force used is reasonable in the circumstances.

    (3) The reasonableness of the grounds of which the use of force was believed to be necessary, and the reasonableness of the force used, are questions of fact.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 85(2), (3)

Surgical operations

61 Surgical operations
  • Every one is protected from criminal responsibility for performing with reasonable care and skill any surgical operation upon any person for his benefit, if the performance of the operation was reasonable, having regard to the patient's state at the time and to all the circumstances of the case.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 86(1)

61A Further provisions relating to surgical operations
  • (1) Every one is protected from criminal responsibility for performing with reasonable care and skill any surgical operation upon any person if the operation is performed with the consent of that person, or of any person lawfully entitled to consent on his behalf to the operation, and for a lawful purpose.

    (2) Without limiting the term lawful purpose in subsection (1) of this section, a surgical operation that is performed for the purpose of rendering the patient sterile is performed for a lawful purpose.

    Section 61A was inserted, as from 16 December 1977, by section 2 Crimes Amendment Act 1977 (1977 No 113).

General provisions

62 Excess of force
  • Every one authorised by law to use force is criminally responsible for any excess, according to the nature and quality of the act that constitutes the excess.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 86(2)

63 Consent to death
  • No one has a right to consent to the infliction of death upon himself; and, if any person is killed, the fact that he gave any such consent shall not affect the criminal responsibility of any person who is a party to the killing.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 87

64 Obedience to de facto law
  • Every one is protected from criminal responsibility for any act done in obedience to the laws for the time being made and enforced by those in possession de facto of the sovereign power in and over the place where the act is done.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 88

65 Other enactments not affected
  • Nothing in this Act shall take away or diminish any authority given by any other enactment to arrest, detain, or put any restraint on any person.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 59

Part 4
Parties to the commission of offences

66 Parties to offences
  • (1) Every one is a party to and guilty of an offence who—

    • (a) Actually commits the offence; or

    • (b) Does or omits an act for the purpose of aiding any person to commit the offence; or

    • (c) Abets any person in the commission of the offence; or

    • (d) Incites, counsels, or procures any person to commit the offence.

    (2) Where 2 or more persons form a common intention to prosecute any unlawful purpose, and to assist each other therein, each of them is a party to every offence committed by any one of them in the prosecution of the common purpose if the commission of that offence was known to be a probable consequence of the prosecution of the common purpose.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 90

67 Conspiracy between spouses or civil union partners
  • A person is capable of conspiring with his or her spouse or civil union partner or with his or her spouse or civil union partner and any other person.

    Section 67 was substituted, as from 26 April 2005, by section 7 Relationships (Statutory References) Act 2005 (2005 No 3).

68 Party to murder outside New Zealand
  • (1) Except as hereinafter provided, every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years who, in New Zealand, aids, incites, counsels, or procures the doing or omission of an act outside New Zealand which, if done or omitted in New Zealand, would be murder.

    (2) Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years who, in New Zealand, incites, counsels, or attempts to procure the doing or omission of an act outside New Zealand which, if done or omitted in New Zealand, would be murder, when no such act is in fact done or omitted.

    (3) It is a defence to a charge under this section to prove that the doing or omission of the act was not an offence under the law of the place where it was, or was to be, done or omitted.

    (4) Nothing in this section limits or affects sections 9 to 11 of the International Crimes and International Criminal Court Act 2000.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 189(b)

    Subsection (4) was inserted, as from 1 October 2000, by section 181(1) International Crimes and International Criminal Court Act 2000 (2000 No 26).

69 Party to any other crime outside New Zealand
  • (1) Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years who, in New Zealand, aids, incites, counsels, or procures the doing or omission outside New Zealand, by any person not owing allegiance to Her Majesty the Queen in right of New Zealand, of any act which, if done or omitted outside New Zealand by a person owing such allegiance, would be any of the crimes of treason, inciting to mutiny, or espionage, as specified in sections 73, 77, and 78 of this Act.

    (2) Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years who, in New Zealand, incites, counsels, or attempts to procure the doing or omission outside New Zealand of any act which, if done or omitted in New Zealand, would be any such crime as aforesaid, when that act is not in fact done or omitted.

    (3) Every one who, in New Zealand, aids, incites, counsels, or procures the doing or omission outside New Zealand of any act (not being an act to which the foregoing provisions of this section apply) which, if done or omitted in New Zealand, would be a crime other than murder, is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding that prescribed for the crime, or 7 years, whichever is the less:

    Provided that it shall be a defence to a charge under this subsection to prove that the doing or omission of the act to which the charge relates was not an offence under the law of the place where it was, or was to be, done or omitted.

    (4) Except as otherwise provided in this Act, no one shall be convicted of inciting, counselling, or attempting to procure in New Zealand the doing or omission of an act outside New Zealand when that act is not in fact done or omitted.

    (5) Nothing in this section limits or affects sections 9 to 11 of the International Crimes and International Criminal Court Act 2000.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 July 1983, by section 2(2) Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 1982 (1982 No 157) by substituting the word espionage for the words communicating secrets.

    Subsection (5) was inserted, as from 1 October 2000, by section 181(2) International Crimes and International Criminal Court Act 2000 (2000 No 26).

70 Offence committed other than offence intended
  • (1) Every one who incites, counsels, or procures another to be a party to an offence of which that other is afterwards guilty is a party to that offence, although it may be committed in a way different from that which was incited, counselled, or suggested.

    (2) Every one who incites, counsels, or procures another to be a party to an offence is a party to every offence which that other commits in consequence of such inciting, counselling, or procuring, and which the first-mentioned person knew to be likely to be committed in consequence thereof.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 91

71 Accessory after the fact
  • (1) An accessory after the fact to an offence is one who, knowing any person to have been a party to the offence, receives, comforts, or assists that person or tampers with or actively suppresses any evidence against him, in order to enable him to escape after arrest or to avoid arrest or conviction.

    (2) No person whose spouse or civil union partner has been a party to an offence becomes an accessory after the fact to that offence by doing any act to which this section applies in order to enable the spouse or civil union partner, or the spouse, civil union partner, and any other person who has been a party to the offence, to escape after arrest or to avoid arrest or conviction.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 92; Criminal Code (1954), s 23 (Canada)

    Subsection (2) was substituted, as from 26 April 2005, by section 7 Relationships (Statutory References) Act 2005 (2005 No 3).

72 Attempts
  • (1) Every one who, having an intent to commit an offence, does or omits an act for the purpose of accomplishing his object, is guilty of an attempt to commit the offence intended, whether in the circumstances it was possible to commit the offence or not.

    (2) The question whether an act done or omitted with intent to commit an offence is or is not only preparation for the commission of that offence, and too remote to constitute an attempt to commit it, is a question of law.

    (3) An act done or omitted with intent to commit an offence may constitute an attempt if it is immediately or proximately connected with the intended offence, whether or not there was any act unequivocally showing the intent to commit that offence.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 93

Part 5
Crimes against public order

Treason and other crimes against the Queen and the State

73 Treason
  • Every one owing allegiance to Her Majesty the Queen in right of New Zealand commits treason who, within or outside New Zealand,—

    • (a) Kills or wounds or does grievous bodily harm to Her Majesty the Queen, or imprisons or restrains her; or

    • (b) Levies war against New Zealand; or

    • (c) Assists an enemy at war with New Zealand, or any armed forces against which New Zealand forces are engaged in hostilities, whether or not a state of war exists between New Zealand and any other country; or

    • (d) Incites or assists any person with force to invade New Zealand; or

    • (e) Uses force for the purpose of overthrowing the Government of New Zealand; or

    • (f) Conspires with any person to do anything mentioned in this section.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 94; Criminal Code (1954), s 46 (Canada)

74 Punishment for treason or attempted treason
  • (1) Except as otherwise provided in this Act, every one who commits treason within the meaning of any of the provisions of paragraphs (a) to (e) of section 73 of this Act shall upon conviction be sentenced to imprisonment for life.

    (2) Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years who commits treason within the meaning of paragraph (f) of the said section 73.

    (3) Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years who, owing allegiance to Her Majesty the Queen in right of New Zealand, attempts to commit treason within or outside New Zealand.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 ss 95, 99

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 26 December 1969, by section 3(2) Abolition of the Death Penalty Act 1989 (1989 No 119) by substituting the words imprisonment for life for the word death.

75 Evidence of treason
  • (1) No one shall be convicted of treason on the evidence of one witness only, unless the evidence of that witness is corroborated in some material particular by evidence implicating the accused.

    (2) Nothing in subsection (1) of this section shall apply to treason within the meaning of paragraph (a) of section 73 of this Act.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 96(1); Criminal Code (1954), s 47(2) (Canada)

76 Punishment for being party to treason
  • Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years who—

    • (a) Becomes an accessory after the fact to treason; or

    • (b) Knowing that a person is about to commit treason, fails without reasonable excuse to inform a constable as soon as possible or to use other reasonable efforts to prevent its commission.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 98

77 Inciting to mutiny
  • Every one owing allegiance to Her Majesty the Queen in right of New Zealand is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years who, within or outside New Zealand, for any traitorous or mutinous purpose,—

    • (a) Endeavours at any time to seduce any person serving in the New Zealand forces from his duty; or

    • (b) During any war or state of hostilities in which New Zealand forces are engaged, endeavours to seduce any person serving in any allied armed force, whether a Commonwealth force or not, from his duty.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 100; 1954 No 29 s 3

78 Espionage
  • Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years who, being a person who owes allegiance to the Queen in right of New Zealand, within or outside New Zealand,—

    • (a) With intent to prejudice the security or defence of New Zealand, communicates information or delivers any object to a country or organisation outside New Zealand or to a person acting on behalf of any such country or organisation; or

    • (b) With intent to prejudice the security or defence of New Zealand and with the intention of communicating information or delivering any object to a country or organisation outside New Zealand or to a person acting on behalf of any such country or organisation,—

      • (i) Collects or records any information; or

      • (ii) Copies any document; or

      • (iii) Obtains any object; or

      • (iv) Makes any sketch, plan, model, or note; or

      • (v) Takes any photograph; or

      • (vi) Records any sound or image; or

      • (vii) Delivers any object to any person,—

    if the communication or delivery or intended communication or intended delivery under paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of this section is likely to prejudice the security or defence of New Zealand.

    Section 78 was substituted, as from 1 July 1983, by section 2(1) Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 1982 (1982 No 157).

78A Wrongful communication, retention, or copying of official information
  • (1) Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years who, being a person who owes allegiance to the Queen in right of New Zealand, within or outside New Zealand,—

    • (a) Knowingly or recklessly, and with knowledge that he is acting without proper authority, communicates any official information or delivers any object to any other person knowing that such communication or delivery is likely to prejudice the security or defence of New Zealand; or

    • (b) With intent to prejudice the security or defence of New Zealand, retains or copies any official document—

      • (i) Which he knows he does not have proper authority to retain or copy; and

      • (ii) Which he knows relates to the security or defence of New Zealand; and

      • (iii) Which would, by its unauthorised disclosure, be likely to prejudice the security or defence of New Zealand; or

    • (c) Knowingly fails to comply with any directions issued by a lawful authority for the return of an official document—

      • (i) Which is in his possession or under his control; and

      • (ii) Which he knows relates to the security or defence of New Zealand; and

      • (iii) Which would, by its unauthorised disclosure, be likely to prejudice seriously the security or defence of New Zealand.

    (2) In this section,—

    Department means a Government Department named in Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the Ombudsmen Act 1975

    Object means any object which—

    • (a) A Department; or

    • (b) A Minister of the Crown in his official capacity; or

    • (c) An organisation; or

    • (d) An officer or employee of any Department or organisation in his capacity as such an officer or employee or in his capacity as a statutory officer; or

    • (e) An independent contractor engaged by any Department or Minister of the Crown or organisation in his capacity as such contractor; or

    • (f) A branch or post, outside New Zealand, of a Department or organisation; or

    • (g) An unincorporated body (being a board, council, committee, subcommittee, or other body)—

      • (i) Which is established for the purpose of assisting or advising, or performing functions connected with, any Department or Minister of the Crown or organisation; and

      • (ii) Which is so established in accordance with the provisions of any enactment or by any Department or Minister of the Crown or organisation,—

      is entitled to have in its or his possession by virtue of its or his rights as the owner, hirer, lessee, bailee, or custodian of that object:

    Official information

    • (a) Means any information held by—

      • (i) A Department; or

      • (ii) A Minister of the Crown in his official capacity; or

      • (iii) An organisation; or

      • (iv) An officer or employee of any Department or organisation in his capacity as such an officer or employee or in his capacity as a statutory officer; or

      • (v) An independent contractor engaged by any Department or Minister of the Crown or organisation in his capacity as such contractor; and

    • (b) Includes any information held outside New Zealand by any branch or post of—

      • (i) A Department; or

      • (ii) An organisation; and

    • (c) Includes any information held by an unincorporated body (being a board, council, committee, subcommittee, or other body)—

      • (i) Which is established for the purpose of assisting or advising, or performing functions connected with, any Department or Minister of the Crown or organisation; and

      • (ii) Which is so established in accordance with the provisions of any enactment or by any Department or Minister of the Crown or organisation:

    Organisation means—

    Statutory officer means a person—

    • (a) Holding or performing the duties of an office established by an enactment; or

    • (b) Performing duties expressly conferred on him by virtue of his office by an enactment.

    Sections 78A to 78D were inserted, as from 1 July 1983, by section 2(1) Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 1982 (1982 No 157).

78B Consent of Attorney-General to proceedings in relation to espionage or wrongful communication, retention, or copying of official information
  • (1) No information shall be laid against any person for—

    • (a) An offence against section 78 or 78A(1) of this Act; or

    • (b) The offence of conspiring to commit an offence against section 78 or section 78A(1) of this Act; or

    • (c) The offence of attempting to commit an offence against section 78 or section 78A(1) of this Act,—

    except with the consent of the Attorney-General:

    Provided that a person alleged to have committed any offence mentioned in this subsection may be arrested, or a warrant for his arrest may be issued and executed, and any such person may be remanded in custody or on bail, notwithstanding that the consent of the Attorney-General to the laying of an information for the offence has not been obtained, but no further or other proceedings shall be taken until that consent has been obtained.

    (2) The Attorney-General may, before deciding whether or not to give his consent under subsection (1) of this section, make such inquiries as he thinks fit.

    Sections 78A to 78D were inserted, as from 1 July 1983, by section 2(1) Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 1982 (1982 No 157).

78C Questions of law in relation to espionage or wrongful communication of information
  • (1) It is a question of law, in the case of—

    • (a) An offence against section 78 or section 78A(1)(a) of this Act; or

    • (b) The offence of conspiring to commit an offence against section 78 or section 78A(1)(a) of this Act; or

    • (c) The offence of attempting to commit an offence against section 78 or section 78A(1)(a) of this Act,—

    whether the communication or delivery or intended communication or intended delivery was or would have been, at the time of the alleged offence, likely to have prejudiced the security or defence of New Zealand.

    (2) It is a question of law, in the case of,—

    • (a) An offence against section 78A(1)(b) or (c) of this Act; or

    • (b) The offence of conspiring to commit an offence against section 78A(1)(b) or (c) of this Act; or

    • (c) The offence of attempting to commit an offence against section 78A(1)(b) or (c) of this Act,—

    whether the document would, by its unauthorised disclosure at the time of the alleged offence, have been likely to have prejudiced or to have prejudiced seriously, as the case may require, the security or defence of New Zealand.

    (3) Where the decision on any question of law to which this section applies depends on any questions of fact, the prosecutor or the accused may adduce, and the Judge may hear, in addition to the evidence heard by the jury, any evidence relevant to those questions of fact.

    Sections 78A to 78D were inserted, as from 1 July 1983, by section 2(1) Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 1982 (1982 No 157).

78D Search without warrant
  • (1) Where a commissioned officer of the Police is satisfied that there is reasonable ground for believing—

    • (a) That there is in any building, aircraft, ship, hovercraft, carriage, vehicle, box, receptacle, premises, or place—

      • (i) Any thing upon or in respect of which an offence against section 78 of this Act has been or is suspected of having been committed; or

      • (ii) Any thing which there is reasonable ground to believe will be evidence as to the commission of any such offence; or

      • (iii) Any thing which there is reasonable ground to believe is intended to be used for the purpose of committing any such offence; and

    • (b) That the case is one of great emergency and that immediate action is necessary,—

    he may by a written order signed by him give to any member of the Police the like authority that may be given by a search warrant issued under section 198 of the Summary Proceedings Act 1957, and the provisions of that section shall apply accordingly with all necessary modifications.

    (2) Every member of the Police exercising the authority conferred by an order made under subsection (1) of this section shall identify himself to any person in or on the building, aircraft, ship, hovercraft, carriage, vehicle, premises, or place who questions his right to enter and search it, and shall also tell such person that the search is being made pursuant to that subsection. He shall also, if not in uniform and if so required, produce evidence that he is a member of the Police.

    (3) Any commissioned officer of Police who exercises the power conferred by subsection (1) of this section shall, within 3 days after the day on which he exercises the power, furnish to the Commissioner of Police a written report on the exercise of the power and the circumstances in which it came to be exercised.

    Sections 78A to 78D were inserted, as from 1 July 1983, by section 2(1) Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 1982 (1982 No 157).

79 Sabotage
  • (1) Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years who, with intent to prejudice the safety, security, or defence of New Zealand or the safety or security of the armed forces of any other country, lawfully present in New Zealand,—

    • (a) Impairs the efficiency or impedes the working of any ship, vehicle, aircraft, arms, munitions, equipment, machinery, apparatus, or atomic or nuclear plant; or

    • (b) Damages or destroys any property which it is necessary to keep intact for the safety or health of the public.

    (2) No person shall be convicted of an offence against this section by reason only of the fact that he takes part in any strike or lockout.

    Compare: Criminal Code (1954), s 52 (Canada)

Offence of oath to commit offence

  • Heading: substituted, on 1 January 2008, by section 4 of the Crimes (Repeal of Seditious Offences) Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 96).

80 Oath to commit offence
  • (1) Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years who—

    • (a) Administers or is present at and consenting to the administration of any oath or engagement purporting to bind the person taking the same to commit any offence; or

    • (b) Attempts to induce or compel any person to take any such oath or engagement; or

    • (c) Takes any such oath or engagement.

    (2) No one who has been acquitted or convicted of any offence against this section is liable to be afterwards tried for treason, or for being accessory after the fact to treason, in respect of the same matter.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 ss 115, 116

81 Seditious offences defined
  • [Repealed]

    Section 81: repealed, on 1 January 2008, by section 5 of the Crimes (Repeal of Seditious Offences) Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 96).

82 Seditious conspiracy
  • [Repealed]

    Section 82: repealed, on 1 January 2008, by section 5 of the Crimes (Repeal of Seditious Offences) Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 96).

83 Seditious statements
  • [Repealed]

    Section 83: repealed, on 1 January 2008, by section 5 of the Crimes (Repeal of Seditious Offences) Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 96).

84 Publication of seditious documents
  • [Repealed]

    Section 84: repealed, on 1 January 2008, by section 5 of the Crimes (Repeal of Seditious Offences) Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 96).

85 Use of apparatus for making seditious documents or statements
  • [Repealed]

    Section 85: repealed, on 1 January 2008, by section 5 of the Crimes (Repeal of Seditious Offences) Amendment Act 2007 (2007 No 96).

Unlawful assemblies, riots, and breaches of the peace

86 Unlawful assembly
  • (1) An unlawful assembly is an assembly of 3 or more persons who, with intent to carry out any common purpose, assemble in such a manner, or so conduct themselves when assembled, as to cause persons in the neighbourhood of the assembly to fear, on reasonable grounds, that the persons so assembled—

    • (a) Will use violence against persons or property in that neighbourhood or elsewhere; or

    • (b) Will, by that assembly, needlessly and without reasonable cause provoke other persons to use violence against persons or property in that neighbourhood:

      Provided that no one shall be deemed to provoke other persons needlessly and without reasonable cause by doing or saying anything that he is lawfully entitled to do or say.

    (2) Persons lawfully assembled may become an unlawful assembly if, with a common purpose, they conduct themselves in such a manner that their assembling would have been unlawful if they had assembled in that manner for that purpose.

    (3) An assembly of 3 or more persons for the purpose of protecting the house of any one of their number against persons threatening to break and enter that house in order to commit a crime therein is not unlawful.

    (4) Every member of an unlawful assembly is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 101

    Subsection (1) was substituted, as from 1 January 1974, by section 3 Crimes Amendment Act 1973 (1973 No 118).

87 Riot
  • (1) A riot is a group of 6 or more persons who, acting together, are using violence against persons or property to the alarm of persons in the neighbourhood of that group.

    (2) Every member of a riot is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 102

    Section 87 was substituted, as from 12 March 1987, by section 2 Crimes Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 1).

88 Reading the Riot Act
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 88 and 89 were repealed, as from 12 March 1987, by section 3 Crimes Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 1).

89 Failure of rioters to disperse
  • [Repealed]

    Sections 88 and 89 were repealed, as from 12 March 1987, by section 3 Crimes Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 1).

90 Riotous damage
  • Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years who, being a member of a riot, unlawfully damages any property.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 ss 106, 107(1)

    Section 90 was substituted, as from 12 March 1987, by section 4 Crimes Amendment Act 1987 (1987 No 1).

91 Forcible entry and detainer
  • (1) Every one commits forcible entry when, by force or in a manner that causes or is likely to cause a breach of the peace or reasonable apprehension of a breach of the peace, he enters on land that is in the actual and peaceable possession of another for the purpose of taking possession, whether or not he is entitled to enter.

    (2) Every one commits forcible detainer when, being in actual possession of land without claim of right, he detains it, in a manner that causes or is likely to cause a breach of the peace or reasonable apprehension of a breach of the peace, against another who is entitled by law to possession of the land.

    (3) Whether there was actual possession, or claim of right, is a question of fact.

    (4) Every one who commits forcible entry or forcible detainer is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 111

    Subsections (2) and (3) were amended, as from 1 October 2003, by section 6 Crimes Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 39) by substituting the words claim of right for the words colour of right.

Piracy

92 Piracy
  • (1) Every one who does any act amounting to piracy by the law of nations, whether that act is done within or outside New Zealand,—

    • (a) Shall upon conviction thereof be sentenced to imprisonment for life if, in committing piracy, he murders, attempts to murder, or does any act likely to endanger the life of any person:

    • (b) Is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years in any other case.

    (2) Any act that by the law of nations would amount to piracy if it had been done on the high seas on board or in relation to a ship shall be piracy for the purposes of this section if it is done on board or in relation to an aircraft, whether the aircraft is on or above the sea or is on or above the land.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 121

93 Piratical acts
  • (1) Every one commits a piratical act who—

    • (a) Within New Zealand, or, being a New Zealand citizen or a person ordinarily resident in New Zealand, outside New Zealand, under pretence of any commission from any State other than New Zealand (whether or not that State is at war with New Zealand) or under pretence of authority from any person whatever, commits an act of hostility or robbery:

    • (b) Within or outside New Zealand, enters into any New Zealand ship and throws overboard or destroys any goods on board the ship:

    • (c) Within or outside New Zealand, on board any New Zealand ship—

      • (i) Turns enemy or rebel and piratically runs away with the ship or any boat, weapons, ammunition, or goods; or

      • (ii) Voluntarily yields up the ship or any boat, weapons, ammunition, or goods to any pirate; or

      • (iii) Counsels or procures any person to yield up or run away with any ship, goods, or merchandise, or to turn pirate or go over to pirates; or

      • (iv) Assaults the master or commander of any ship in order to prevent him from fighting in defence of his ship and goods; or

      • (v) Imprisons or restrains the master or commander of any ship; or

      • (vi) Makes or endeavours to make a revolt in the ship.

    (2) Subsection (1) of this section shall extend and apply to aircraft as it applies to ships; and for the purposes of this subsection any reference in subsection (1) of this section to the master or commander of any ship shall be read as a reference to the pilot in command of an aircraft.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 122

94 Punishment of piratical acts
  • Every one who commits any piratical act—

    • (a) Shall upon conviction thereof be sentenced to imprisonment for life if, in committing that act, he murders, attempts to murder, or does any act likely to endanger the life of any person:

    • (b) Is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years in any other case.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 ss 122, 123

95 Attempts to commit piracy
  • Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years who, within or outside New Zealand, attempts to do any act amounting to piracy by the law of nations.

96 Conspiring to commit piracy
  • Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years who, within or outside New Zealand, conspires with any other person to do any act amounting to piracy by the law of nations.

97 Accessory after the fact to piracy
  • Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years who, within or outside New Zealand, is accessory after the fact to any act amounting to piracy by the law of nations.

Slave dealing

98 Dealing in slaves
  • (1) Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years who, within or outside New Zealand,—

    • (a) Sells, purchases, transfers, barters, lets, hires, or in any way whatsoever deals with any person as a slave; or

    • (b) Employs or uses any person as a slave, or permits any person to be so employed or used; or

    • (c) Detains, confines, imprisons, carries away, removes, receives, transports, imports, or brings into any place whatsoever any person as a slave or to be dealt with as a slave; or

    • (d) Induces any person to sell, let, or give himself, or any other person dependent on him or in his charge, as a slave; or

    • (e) in any case not covered by paragraph (d), induces any person to sell, let, or give any other person into debt-bondage or serfdom; or

    • (f) builds, fits out, sells, purchases, transfers, lets, hires, uses, provides with personnel, navigates, or serves on board any ship or aircraft for any of the purposes in paragraphs (a) to (e); or

    • (g) For gain or reward gives in marriage or transfers any woman to another person without her consent; or

    • (h) Is a party to the inheritance by any person of a woman on the death of her husband; or

    • (i) Being a parent or guardian of any child under the age of 18 years, delivers that child to another person with intent that the child or his labour shall be exploited; or

    • (j) Agrees or offers to do any of the acts mentioned in this subsection.

    (2) For the purposes of this section—

    Debt-bondage means the status or condition arising from a pledge by a debtor of his personal services, or of the personal services of any person under his control, as security for a debt, if the value of those services, as reasonably assessed, is not applied towards the liquidation of the debt or if the length and nature of those services are not limited and defined

    Serfdom means the status or condition of a tenant who is by any law, custom, or agreement bound to live and labour on land belonging to another person and to render some determinate service to that other person, whether for reward or not, and who is not free to change that status or condition.

    slave includes, without limitation, a person subject to debt-bondage or serfdom.

    Compare: Slave Trade Act 1824, ss 2, 3, 10 (UK); Slave Trade Act 1843, s 1 (UK)

    Subsection (1)(e) and (f) were substituted, as from 4 April 2001, by section 3(1) Crimes Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 9).

    Slave: this definition was inserted, as from 4 April 2001, by section 3(2) Crimes Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 9).

98AA Dealing in people under 18 for sexual exploitation, removal of body parts, or engagement in forced labour
  • (1) Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years who—

    • (a) sells, buys, transfers, barters, rents, hires, or in any other way enters into a dealing involving a person under the age of 18 years for the purpose of—

      • (i) the sexual exploitation of the person; or

      • (ii) the removal of body parts from the person; or

      • (iii) the engagement of the person in forced labour; or

    • (b) engages a person under the age of 18 years in forced labour; or

    • (c) permits a person under the age of 18 years to be engaged in forced labour; or

    • (d) detains, confines, imprisons, or carries away a person under the age of 18 years for the purpose of—

      • (i) the sexual exploitation of the person; or

      • (ii) the removal of body parts from the person; or

      • (iii) the engagement of the person in forced labour; or

    • (e) removes, receives, transports, imports, or brings into any place a person under the age of 18 years for the purpose of—

      • (i) the sexual exploitation of the person; or

      • (ii) the removal of body parts from the person for a material benefit; or

      • (iii) the engagement of the person in forced labour; or

    • (f) induces a person under the age of 18 years to sell, rent, or give himself or herself for the purpose of—

      • (i) the sexual exploitation of the person; or

      • (ii) the removal of body parts from the person for a material benefit; or

      • (iii) the engagement of the person in forced labour; or

    • (g) induces a person to sell, rent, or give another person (being a person who is under the age of 18 years and who is dependent on him or her or in his or her charge) for the purpose of—

      • (i) the sexual exploitation of the other person; or

      • (ii) the removal of body parts from the other person; or

      • (iii) the engagement of the other person in forced labour; or

    • (h) builds, fits out, sells, buys, transfers, rents, hires, uses, provides with personnel, navigates, or serves on board a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle for the purpose of doing an act stated in any of paragraphs (a) to (g); or

    • (i) agrees or offers to do an act stated in any of paragraphs (a) to (h).

    (2) It is a defence to a charge under this section if the person charged proves that he or she believed on reasonable grounds that the person under the age of 18 years concerned was of or over the age of 18 years.

    (3) For the purposes of subsection (1), sexual exploitation, in relation to a person, includes the following acts:

    • (a) the taking by any means, or transmission by any means, of still or moving images of the person engaged in explicit sexual activities (whether real or simulated):

    • (b) the taking by any means or transmission by any means, for a material benefit, of still or moving images of the person's genitalia, anus, or breasts (not being an act described in subsection (4) or subsection (5)):

    • (c) the person's participation in a performance or display (not being an act described in subsection (4)) that—

      • (i) is undertaken for a material benefit; and

      • (ii) involves the exposure of the person's genitalia, anus, or breasts:

    • (d) the person's undertaking of an activity (for example, employment in a restaurant) that—

      • (i) is undertaken for a material benefit; and

      • (ii) involves the exposure of the person's genitalia, anus, or breasts.

    (4) For the purposes of paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (3), sexual exploitation, in relation to a person, does not include the recording or transmission of an artistic or cultural performance or display honestly undertaken primarily for purposes other than the exposure of body parts for the sexual gratification of viewers.

    (5) For the purposes of subsection (3)(b), sexual exploitation, in relation to a person, does not include the taking or transmission of images of the person's genitalia, anus, or breasts for the purpose of depicting a medical condition, or a surgical or medical technique, for the instruction or information of health professionals.

    (6) For the purposes of subsection (3)(b), sexual exploitation, in relation to a person, does not include the taking or transmission of images of the person's genitalia, anus, or breasts if the images are honestly intended—

    • (a) to provide medical or health education; or

    • (b) to provide information relating to medical or health matters; or

    • (c) to advertise a product, instrument, or service intended to be used for medical or health purposes.

    (7) The person under the age of 18 years in respect of whom an offence against this section was committed cannot be charged as a party to the offence.

    (8) This section does not limit or affect the generality of section 98.

    Section 98AA was inserted, as from 14 June 2006, by section 6 Crimes Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 41). See clause 3 Crimes Amendment Act Commencement Order 2006 (SR 2006/121).

Participation in criminal gang

  • This heading was inserted, as from 1 January 1998, by section 2 Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 1997 (1997 No 93).

98A Participation in organised criminal group
  • (1) Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years who participates (whether as a member or an associate member or prospective member) in an organised criminal group, knowing that it is an organised criminal group, and—

    • (a) knowing that his or her participation contributes to the occurrence of criminal activity; or

    • (b) reckless as to whether his or her participation may contribute to the occurrence of criminal activity.

    (2) For the purposes of this Act, a group is an organised criminal group if it is a group of 3 or more people who have as their objective or one of their objectives—

    • (a) obtaining material benefits from the commission of offences that are punishable by imprisonment for a term of 4 years or more; or

    • (b) obtaining material benefits from conduct outside New Zealand that, if it occurred in New Zealand, would constitute the commission of offences that are punishable by imprisonment for a term of 4 years or more; or

    • (c) the commission of serious violent offences (within the meaning of section 312A(1)) that are punishable by imprisonment for a term of 10 years or more; or

    • (d) conduct outside New Zealand that, if it occurred in New Zealand, would constitute the commission of serious violent offences (within the meaning of section 312A(1)) that are punishable by imprisonment for a term of 10 years or more.

    (3) A group of people is capable of being an organised criminal group for the purposes of this Act whether or not—

    • (a) some of them are subordinates or employees of others; or

    • (b) only some of the people involved in it at a particular time are involved in the planning, arrangement, or execution at that time of any particular action, activity, or transaction; or

    • (c) its membership changes from time to time.

    Section 98A was inserted, as from 1 January 1998, by section 2 Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 1997 (1997 No 93).

    Section 98A was substituted, as from 18 June 2002, by section 5 Crimes Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 20).

Smuggling and trafficking in people

  • The heading Smuggling and trafficking in people was inserted, as from 18 June 2002, by section 5 Crimes Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 20).

98B Terms used in sections 98C to 98F
  • In sections 98C to 98F, unless the context otherwise requires,—

    act of coercion against the person includes—

    • (a) abducting the person:

    • (b) using force in respect of the person:

    • (c) harming the person:

    • (d) threatening the person (expressly or by implication) with the use of force in respect of, or the harming of, the person or some other person

    act of deception includes fraudulent action

    arranges for an unauthorised migrant to be brought to a state includes—

    • (a) organises or procures the bringing to a state:

    • (b) recruits for bringing to a state:

    • (c) carries to a state

    arranges for an unauthorised migrant to enter a state includes—

    • (a) organises or procures the entry into a state:

    • (b) recruits for entry into a state:

    • (c) carries into a state

    document includes a thing that is or is intended to be—

    • (a) attached to a document; or

    • (b) stamped or otherwise signified on a document

    for a material benefit

    [Repealed]

    for a material benefit: this definition was repealed, as from 20 May 2005, by section 3(3) Crimes Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 41). See sections 12 and 13 of that Act for the transitional provisions.

    harming of a person means causing harm of any kind to the person; and (in particular) includes—

    • (a) causing physical, psychological, or financial harm to the person:

    • (b) sexually mistreating the person:

    • (c) causing harm to the person's reputation, status, or prospects

    unauthorised migrant, in relation to a state, means a person who is neither a citizen of the state nor in possession of all the documents required by or under the law of the state for the person's lawful entry into the state.

    Sections 98B to 98F were inserted, as from 18 June 2002, by section 5 Crimes Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 20).

98C Smuggling migrants
  • (1) Every one is liable to the penalty stated in subsection (3) who arranges for an unauthorised migrant to enter New Zealand or any other state, if he or she—

    • (a) does so for a material benefit; and

    • (b) either knows that the person is, or is reckless as to whether the person is, an unauthorised migrant.

    (2) Every one is liable to the penalty stated in subsection (3) who arranges for an unauthorised migrant to be brought to New Zealand or any other state, if he or she—

    • (a) does so for a material benefit; and

    • (b) either knows that the person is, or is reckless as to whether the person is, an unauthorised migrant; and

    • (c) either—

      • (i) knows that the person intends to try to enter the state; or

      • (ii) is reckless as to whether the person intends to try to enter the state.

    (3) The penalty is imprisonment for a term not exceeding 20 years, a fine not exceeding $500,000, or both.

    (4) Proceedings may be brought under subsection (1) even if the unauthorised migrant did not in fact enter the state concerned.

    (5) Proceedings may be brought under subsection (2) even if the unauthorised migrant was not in fact brought to the state concerned.

    Sections 98B to 98F were inserted, as from 18 June 2002, by section 5 Crimes Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 20).

98D Trafficking in people by means of coercion or deception
  • (1) Every one is liable to the penalty stated in subsection (2) who—

    • (a) arranges the entry of a person into New Zealand or any other state by one or more acts of coercion against the person, one or more acts of deception of the person, or both; or

    • (b) arranges, organises, or procures the reception, concealment, or harbouring in New Zealand or any other state of a person, knowing that the person's entry into New Zealand or that state was arranged by one or more acts of coercion against the person, one or more acts of deception of the person, or both.

    (2) The penalty is imprisonment for a term not exceeding 20 years, a fine not exceeding $500,000, or both.

    (3) Proceedings may be brought under this section even if the person coerced or deceived—

    • (a) did not in fact enter the state concerned; or (as the case may be)

    • (b) was not in fact received, concealed, or harboured in the state concerned.

    (4) Proceedings may be brought under this section even if parts of the process by which the person coerced or deceived was brought or came to or towards the state concerned were accomplished without an act of coercion or deception.

    Sections 98B to 98F were inserted, as from 18 June 2002, by section 5 Crimes Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 20).

98E Aggravating factors
  • (1) When determining the sentence to be imposed on, or other way of dealing with, a person convicted of an offence against section 98C or section 98D, a court must take into account—

    • (a) whether bodily harm or death (whether to or of a person in respect of whom the offence was committed or some other person) occurred during the commission of the offence:

    • (b) whether the offence was committed for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with, an organised criminal group (within the meaning of section 98A(2)):

    • (c) whether a person in respect of whom the offence was committed was subjected to inhuman or degrading treatment as a result of the commission of the offence:

    • (d) if during the proceedings concerned the person was convicted of the same offence in respect of 2 or more people, the number of people in respect of whom the offence was committed.

    (2) When determining the sentence to be imposed on, or other way of dealing with, a person convicted of an offence against section 98D, a court must also take into account—

    • (a) whether a person in respect of whom the offence was committed was subjected to exploitation (for example, sexual exploitation, a requirement to undertake forced labour, or the removal of organs) as a result of the commission of the offence:

    • (b) the age of the person in respect of whom the offence was committed and, in particular, whether the person was under the age of 18 years:

    • (c) whether the person convicted committed the offence, or took actions that were part of it, for a material benefit.

    (3) The examples in paragraph (a) of subsection (2) do not limit the generality of that paragraph.

    (4) This section does not limit the matters that a court may take into account when determining the sentence to be imposed on, or other way of dealing with, a person convicted of an offence against section 98C or section 98D.

    Sections 98B to 98F were inserted, as from 18 June 2002, by section 5 Crimes Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 20).

98F Attorney-General's consent to prosecutions required
  • (1) Proceedings for an offence against section 98C or section 98D cannot be brought in a New Zealand court without the Attorney-General's consent.

    (2) A person alleged to have committed an offence against section 98C or section 98D may be arrested, or a warrant for the person's arrest may be issued and executed, and the person be remanded in custody or on bail, even though the Attorney-General's consent to the bringing of proceedings against the person has not been obtained.

    Sections 98B to 98F were inserted, as from 18 June 2002, by section 5 Crimes Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 20).

Part 6
Crimes affecting the administration of law and justice

Bribery and corruption

99 Interpretation
  • In this part of this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

    Bribe means any money, valuable consideration, office, or employment, or any benefit, whether direct or indirect

    Judicial officer means a Judge of any Court, or a District Court Judge, Coroner, Justice of the Peace, or Community Magistrate, or any other person holding any judicial office, or any person who is a member of any tribunal authorised by law to take evidence on oath

    Judicial officer: the words District Court Judge have been substituted for the word Magistrate, as from 1 April 1980, pursuant to section 18 District Courts Amendment Act 1979 (1979 No 125).

    Judicial officer: this definition was amended, as from 30 June 1998, by section 4 Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 1998 (1998 No 79) by substituting the words Justice of the Peace, or Community Magistrate for the words or Justice of the Peace.

    Law enforcement officer means any constable, or any person employed in the detection or prosecution or punishment of offenders

    Official means any person in the service of Her Majesty in right of New Zealand (whether that service is honorary or not, and whether it is within or outside New Zealand), or any member or employee of any local authority or public body, or any person employed in the Education service within the meaning of the State Sector Act 1988.

    Official: the words Government Superannuation Fund Act 1956 were substituted for the words Superannuation Act 1956, as from 1 November 1976, pursuant to section 3(3) Government Superannuation Fund Amendment Act 1976.

    Official: this definition was amended, as from 3 May 1997, by section 4 State Sector Amendment Act 1997 (1997 No 8) by substituting the words State Sector Act 1988 for the words Government Superannuation Fund Act 1965.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 ss 126, 127

100 Judicial corruption
  • (1) Every judicial officer is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years who corruptly accepts or obtains, or agrees or offers to accept or attempts to obtain, any bribe for himself or any other person in respect of any act done or omitted, or to be done or omitted, by him in his judicial capacity.

    (2) Every judicial officer, and every Registrar or Deputy Registrar of any Court, is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years who corruptly accepts or obtains, or agrees or offers to accept or attempts to obtain, any bribe for himself or any other person in respect of any act done or omitted, or to be done or omitted, by him in his official capacity, not being an act or omission to which subsection (1) of this section applies.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 ss 126(a), 127(a)

101 Bribery of judicial officer, etc
  • (1) Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years who corruptly gives or offers or agrees to give any bribe to any person with intent to influence any judicial officer in respect of any act or omission by him in his judicial capacity.

    (2) Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years who corruptly gives or offers or agrees to give any bribe to any person with intent to influence any judicial officer or any Registrar or Deputy Registrar of any Court in respect of any act or omission by him in his official capacity, not being an act or omission to which subsection (1) of this section applies.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 ss 126(b), 127(b)

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 3 May 2001, by section 4 Crimes (Bribery of Foreign Public Officials) Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 28) by substituting the expression 7 years for the expression 5 years.

102 Corruption and bribery of Minister of the Crown
  • (1) Every Minister of the Crown or member of the Executive Council is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years who corruptly accepts or obtains, or agrees or offers to accept or attempts to obtain, any bribe for himself or any other person in respect of any act done or omitted, or to be done or omitted, by him in his capacity as a Minister or member of the Executive Council.

    (2) Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years who corruptly gives or offers or agrees to give any bribe to any person with intent to influence any Minister of the Crown or member of the Executive Council in respect of any act or omission by him in his capacity as a Minister or member of the Executive Council.

    (3) No one shall be prosecuted for an offence against this section without the leave of a Judge of the High Court. Notice of the intention to apply for such leave shall be given to the person whom it is intended to prosecute, and he shall have an opportunity of being heard against the application.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 ss 128, 362; Criminal Code (1954), s 100 (Canada)

    Section 102 was amended, as from 1 April 1980, pursuant to section 12 Judicature Amendment Act 1979 (1979 No 124) by substituting the words High Court for the words Supreme Court.

103 Corruption and bribery of member of Parliament
  • (1) Every member of Parliament is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years who corruptly accepts or obtains, or agrees or offers to accept or attempts to obtain, any bribe for himself or any other person in respect of any act done or omitted, or to be done or omitted, by him in his capacity as a member of Parliament.

    (2) Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years who corruptly gives or offers or agrees to give any bribe to any person with intent to influence any member of Parliament in respect of any act or omission by him in his capacity as a member of Parliament.

    (3) No one shall be prosecuted for an offence against this section without the leave of a Judge of the High Court. Notice of the intention to apply for such leave shall be given to the person whom it is intended to prosecute, and he shall have an opportunity of being heard against the application.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 ss 128, 362; Criminal Code (1954), s 100 (Canada)

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 3 May 2001, by section 5 Crimes (Bribery of Foreign Public Officials) Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 28) by substituting the expression 7 years for the expression 3 years.

    Subsection (3) was amended, as from 1 April 1980, pursuant to section 12 Judicature Amendment Act 1979 (1979 No 124) by substituting the words High Court for the words Supreme Court.

104 Corruption and bribery of law enforcement officer
  • (1) Every law enforcement officer is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years who corruptly accepts or obtains, or agrees or offers to accept or attempts to obtain, any bribe for himself or any other person in respect of any act done or omitted, or to be done or omitted, by him in his official capacity.

    (2) Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years who corruptly gives or offers or agrees to give any bribe to any person with intent to influence any law enforcement officer in respect of any act or omission by him in his official capacity.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 127

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 3 May 2001, by section 6 Crimes (Bribery of Foreign Public Officials) Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 28) by substituting the expression 7 years for the expression 3 years.

105 Corruption and bribery of official
  • (1) Every official is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years who, whether within New Zealand or elsewhere, corruptly accepts or obtains, or agrees or offers to accept or attempts to obtain, any bribe for himself or any other person in respect of any act done or omitted, or to be done or omitted, by him in his official capacity.

    (2) Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years who corruptly gives or offers or agrees to give any bribe to any person with intent to influence any official in respect of any act or omission by him in his official capacity.

    Compare: Criminal Code (1954), s 102 (Canada)

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 3 May 2001, by section 7 Crimes (Bribery of Foreign Public Officials) Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 28) by substituting the expression 7 years for the expression 3 years.

105A Corrupt use of official information
  • Every official is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years who, whether within New Zealand or elsewhere, corruptly uses or discloses any information, acquired by him in his official capacity, to obtain, directly or indirectly, an advantage or a pecuniary gain for himself or any other person.

    Section 105A was inserted, as from 1 July 1983, by section 3(1) Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 1982 (1982 No 157).

    Section 105A was amended, as from 1 July 1993, by section 2 Crimes Amendment Act 1993 (1993 No 33) by inserting the words or discloses.

105B Use or disclosure of personal information disclosed in breach of section 105A
  • (1) Every person is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years who,—

    • (a) Having received personal information (being information that comes into that person's possession as a result of the commission of an offence against section 105A of this Act); and

    • (b) Knowing that the information has been disclosed in contravention of that section,—

    uses or discloses that information to obtain, directly or indirectly, an advantage or pecuniary gain for that person or any other person.

    (2) It is a defence to a charge under this section if the person charged proves that the person was legally authorised to use or disclose the information.

    (3) In this section, the term personal information means any information about an identifiable natural person, including a deceased natural person.

    Section 105B was inserted, as from 1 July 1993, by section 3(1) Crimes Amendment Act 1993 (1993 No 33).

105C Bribery of foreign public official
  • (1) In this section and in sections 105D and 105E,—

    benefit means any money, valuable consideration, office, or employment, or any benefit, whether direct or indirect

    foreign country includes—

    • (a) a territory for whose international relations the government of a foreign country is responsible; and

    • (b) an organised foreign area or entity including an autonomous territory or a separate customs territory

    foreign government includes all levels and subdivisions of government, such as local, regional, and national government

    foreign public agency means any person or body, wherever situated, that carries out a public function under the laws of a foreign country

    foreign public enterprise means—

    • (a) a company, wherever incorporated, that—

      • (i) a foreign government is able to control or dominate (whether by reason of its ownership of shares in the company, its voting powers in the company, or its ability to appoint 1 or more directors (however described), or by reason that the directors (however described) are accustomed or under an obligation to act in accordance with the directions of that government, or otherwise); and

      • (ii) enjoys subsidies or other privileges that are enjoyed only by companies, persons, or bodies to which subparagraph (i) or paragraph (b)(i) apply; or

    • (b) a person or body (other than a company), wherever situated, that—

      • (i) a foreign government is able to control or dominate (whether by reason of its ability to appoint the person or 1 or more members of the body, or by reason that the person or members of the body are accustomed or under an obligation to act in accordance with the directions of that government, or otherwise); and

      • (ii) enjoys subsidies or other privileges that are enjoyed only by companies, persons, or bodies to which subparagraph (i) or paragraph (a)(i) apply

    foreign public official includes any of the following

    • (a) a member or officer of the executive, judiciary, or legislature of a foreign country:

    • (b) a person who is employed by a foreign government, foreign public agency, foreign public enterprise, or public international organisation:

    • (c) a person, while acting in the service of or purporting to act in the service of a foreign government, foreign public agency, foreign public enterprise, or public international organisation

    public international organisation means any of the following organisations, wherever situated

    • (a) an organisation of which 2 or more countries or 2 or more governments are members, or represented on the organisation:

    • (b) an organisation constituted by an organisation to which paragraph (a) applies or by persons representing 2 or more such organisations:

    • (c) an organisation constituted by persons representing 2 or more countries or 2 or more governments:

    • (d) an organisation that is part of an organisation referred to in any of paragraphs (a) to (c)

    routine government action, in relation to the performance of any action by a foreign public official, does not include—

    • (a) any decision about—

      • (i) whether to award new business; or

      • (ii) whether to continue existing business with any particular person or body; or

      • (iii) the terms of new business or existing business; or

    • (b) any action that is outside the scope of the ordinary duties of that official.

    (2) Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years who corruptly gives or offers or agrees to give a bribe to a person with intent to influence a foreign public official in respect of any act or omission by that official in his or her official capacity (whether or not the act or omission is within the scope of the official's authority) in order to—

    • (a) obtain or retain business; or

    • (b) obtain any improper advantage in the conduct of business.

    (3) This section does not apply if—

    • (a) the act that is alleged to constitute the offence was committed for the sole or primary purpose of ensuring or expediting the performance by a foreign public official of a routine government action; and

    • (b) the value of the benefit is small.

    (4) This section is subject to section 105E.

    Sections 105C to 105E were inserted, as from 3 May 2001, by section 8 Crimes (Bribery of Foreign Public Officials) Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 28).

105D Bribery outside New Zealand of foreign public official
  • (1) Every one commits an offence who, being a person described in subsection (2), does, outside New Zealand, any act that would, if done in New Zealand, constitute an offence against section 105C.

    (2) Subsection (1) applies to a person who is—

    • (a) a New Zealand citizen; or

    • (b) ordinarily resident in New Zealand; or

    • (c) a body corporate incorporated in New Zealand; or

    • (d) a corporation sole incorporated in New Zealand.

    (3) Every one who commits an offence against this section is liable to the same penalty to which the person would have been liable if the person had been convicted of an offence against section 105C.

    (4) This section is subject to section 105E.

    Sections 105C to 105E were inserted, as from 3 May 2001, by section 8 Crimes (Bribery of Foreign Public Officials) Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 28).

105E Exception for acts lawful in country of foreign public official
  • (1) Sections 105C and 105D do not apply if the act that is alleged to constitute an offence under either of those sections—

    • (a) was done outside New Zealand; and

    • (b) was not, at the time of its commission, an offence under the laws of the foreign country in which the principal office of the person, organisation, or other body for whom the foreign public official is employed or otherwise provides services, is situated.

    (2) If a person is charged with an offence under section 105C or section 105D, it is to be presumed, unless the person charged puts the matter at issue, that the act was an offence under the laws of the foreign country referred to in subsection (1)(b).

    Sections 105C to 105E were inserted, as from 3 May 2001, by section 8 Crimes (Bribery of Foreign Public Officials) Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 28).

106 Restrictions on prosecution
  • (1) No one shall be prosecuted for an offence against any of the provisions of sections 100, 101, 104, 105105A, 105B, 105C, and 105D,, without the leave of the Attorney-General, who before giving leave may make such inquiries as he thinks fit.

    (2) No Judge who holds his office subject to a power of removal by Her Majesty on an address of the House of Representatives shall be prosecuted for any such offence except by the Attorney-General in pursuance of a resolution of that House.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 361

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 July 1983, by section 3(2) Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 1982 (1982 No 157) by substituting the words 105, and 105A for the words and 105.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 1 July 1993, by section 3(2) Crimes Amendment Act 1993 (1993 No 33) by substituting the words 105A, and 105B for the words and 105A.

    Subsection (1) was amended, as from 3 May 2001, by section 9 Crimes (Bribery of Foreign Public Officials) Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 28) by substituting the expression 105B, 105C, and 105D for the expression and 105B of this Act.

Contravention of statute

107 Contravention of statute
  • (1) Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year who, without lawful excuse, contravenes any enactment by wilfully doing any act which it forbids, or by wilfully omitting to do any act which it requires to be done, unless—

    • (a) Some penalty or punishment is expressly provided by law in respect of such contravention as aforesaid; or

    • (b) In the case of any such contravention in respect of which no penalty or punishment is so provided, the act forbidden or required to be done is solely of an administrative or a ministerial or procedural nature, or it is otherwise inconsistent with the intent and object of the enactment, or with its context, that the contravention should be regarded as an offence.

    (2) Nothing in subsection (1) of this section applies to any contravention of any Imperial enactment or Imperial subordinate legislation that is part of the laws of New Zealand, or to any omission to do any act which any such Imperial enactment or Imperial subordinate legislation requires to be done.

    (3) In subsection (2) of this section, the terms Imperial enactment and Imperial subordinate legislation have the meanings given to them by section 2 of the Imperial Laws Application Act 1988.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 129

    Subsections (2) and (3) were inserted, as from 1 January 1989, by section 2 Crimes Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 114).

Misleading justice

108 Perjury defined
  • (1) Perjury is an assertion as to a matter of fact, opinion, belief, or knowledge made by a witness in a judicial proceeding as part of his evidence on oath, whether the evidence is given in open Court or by affidavit or otherwise, that assertion being known to the witness to be false and being intended by him to mislead the tribunal holding the proceeding.

    (2) In this section the term oath includes an affirmation, and also includes a declaration made under section 13 of the Oaths and Declarations Act 1957.

    (3) Every person is a witness within the meaning of this section who actually gives evidence, whether he is competent to be a witness or not, and whether his evidence is admissible or not.

    (4) Every proceeding is judicial within the meaning of this section if it is held before any of the following tribunals, namely:

    • (a) Any Court of justice:

    • (b) The House of Representatives or any Committee of that House:

    • (c) Any arbitrator or umpire, or any person or body of persons authorised by law to make an inquiry and take evidence therein upon oath:

    • (d) Any legal tribunal by which any legal right or liability can be established:

    • (e) Any person acting as a Court or tribunal having power to hold a judicial proceeding:

    (5) Every such proceeding is judicial within the meaning of this section whether the tribunal was duly constituted or appointed or not, and whether the proceeding was duly instituted or not, and whether the proceeding was invalid or not.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 130

    Subsection (4)(f) was inserted, as from 1 December 1983, by section 208(1) Armed Forces Discipline Act 1971 (1971 No 53).

109 Punishment of perjury
  • (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years who commits perjury.

    (2) If perjury is committed in order to procure the conviction of a person for any offence for which the maximum punishment is not less than 3 years' imprisonment, the punishment may be imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 131

    Subsection (2) was amended, as from 26 December 1989, by section 3(3) Abolition of the Death Penalty Act 1989 (1989 No 119) by omitting the words for any crime punishable by death, or.

110 False oaths
  • Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years who, being required or authorised by law to make any statement on oath or affirmation, thereupon makes a statement that would amount to perjury if made in a judicial proceeding.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 132

111 False statements or declarations
  • Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years who, on any occasion on which he is required or permitted by law to make any statement or declaration before any officer or person authorised by law to take or receive it, or before any notary public to be certified by him as such notary, makes a statement or declaration that would amount to perjury if made on oath in a judicial proceeding.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 133

112 Evidence of perjury, false oath, or false statement
  • No one shall be convicted of perjury, or of any offence against section 110 or section 111 of this Act, on the evidence of one witness only, unless the evidence of that witness is corroborated in some material particular by evidence implicating the accused.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 134; Criminal Code (1954), s 115 (Canada)

113 Fabricating evidence
  • Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years who, with intent to mislead any tribunal holding any judicial proceeding to which section 108 applies, fabricates evidence by any means other than perjury.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 135

114 Use of purported affidavit or declaration
  • Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years who—

    • (a) Signs a writing that purports to be an affidavit sworn before him or a statutory declaration taken by him, when the writing was not so sworn or taken, or when he knows that he has no authority to administer that oath or take that declaration; or

    • (b) Uses or offers for use any writing purporting to be an affidavit or statutory declaration that he knows was not sworn or made, as the case may be, by the deponent or before a person authorised to administer that oath or take that declaration.

    Compare: Criminal Code (1954), s 118 (Canada)

115 Conspiring to bring false accusation
  • Every one who conspires to prosecute any person for any alleged offence, knowing that person to be innocent thereof, is liable—

    • (a) To imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years if that person might, on conviction of the alleged offence, be sentenced to preventive detention, or to imprisonment for a term of 3 years or more:

    • (b) To imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years if that person might, on conviction of the alleged offence, be sentenced to imprisonment for a term less than 3 years.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 136

    Paragraph (a) was amended, as from 26 December 1989, by section 3(4) Abolition of the Death Penalty Act 1989 (1989 No 119) by omitting the words to death, or.

116 Conspiring to defeat justice
  • Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years who conspires to obstruct, prevent, pervert, or defeat the course of justice in New Zealand or the course of justice in an overseas jurisdiction.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 137

    Section 116 was amended, as from 18 June 2002, by section 6(1) Crimes Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 20), by inserting the words in New Zealand or the course of justice in an overseas jurisdiction.

117 Corrupting juries and witnesses
  • Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years who—

    • (a) dissuades or attempts to dissuade a person, by threats, bribes, or other corrupt means, from giving evidence in any cause or matter (whether civil or criminal, and whether tried or to be tried in New Zealand or in an overseas jurisdiction); or

    • (b) influences or attempts to influence, by threats or bribes or other corrupt means, a member of a jury in his or her conduct as such (whether in a cause or matter tried or to be tried in New Zealand or in an overseas jurisdiction, and whether the member has been sworn as a member of a particular jury or not); or

    • (c) accepts any bribe or other corrupt consideration to abstain from giving evidence (whether in a cause or matter tried or to be tried in New Zealand or in an overseas jurisdiction); or

    • (d) accepts any bribe or other corrupt consideration on account of his or her conduct as a member of a jury (whether in a cause or matter tried or to be tried in New Zealand or in an overseas jurisdiction, and whether the member has been sworn as a member of a particular jury or not); or

    • (e) wilfully attempts in any other way to obstruct, prevent, pervert, or defeat the course of justice in New Zealand or the course of justice in an overseas jurisdiction.

    Section 117 was substituted, as from 18 June 2002, by section 7(1) Crimes Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 20).

Escapes and rescues

118 Assisting escape of prisoners of war or internees
  • Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years who knowingly and wilfully—

    • (a) Assists any prisoner of war detained in New Zealand, or any person interned in New Zealand, to escape from any place in which he is for the time being detained; or

    • (b) Assists any such prisoner or person as aforesaid, suffered to be at large on his parole in New Zealand, to escape from the place where he is at large on his parole.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 140

119 Breaking prison
  • Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years who by force or violence breaks any prison, with intent to set at liberty himself or any other person detained therein.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 141; 1954 No 51 part Schedule 1

    The heading to section 119 was amended, as from 1 June 2005, by section 206 Corrections Act 2004 (2004 No 50) by substituting the word prison for the words penal institution.

    Section 119 was amended, as from 1 June 2005, by section 206 Corrections Act 2004 (2004 No 50) by substituting the word prison for the words penal institution. See clause 2 Corrections Act Commencement Order 2005 (SR 2005/52).

120 Escape from lawful custody
  • (1) Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years who,—

    • (a) Having been convicted of an offence, escapes from any lawful custody in which he may be under the conviction; or

    • (b) Whether convicted or not, escapes from any prison in which he is lawfully detained; or

    • (c) Being in lawful custody otherwise than aforesaid, escapes from such custody.

    (2) For the purposes of this section, custody under an illegal warrant or other irregular process shall be deemed to be lawful.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 ss 142, 143, 147(2); 1954 No 51 part Schedule 1

    Subsection (1)(b) was amended, as from 1 June 2005, by section 206 Corrections Act 2004 (2004 No 50) by substituting the word prison for the words penal institution. See clause 2 Corrections Act Commencement Order 2005 (SR 2005/52).

    Subsection (1)(ba) was inserted, as from 1 October 1985, by section 6 Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 1985 (1985 No 121).

    Subsection (1)(ba) was amended, as from 30 June 2002, by section 186 Sentencing Act 2002 (2002 No 9), by omitting the words pursuant to section 120 or. See sections 148 to 160 Sentencing Act 2002 (2002 No 9) for the savings and transitional provisions. See clause 2 Sentencing Act Commencement Order 2002 (SR 2002/176).

    Subsection (1)(ba) was substituted, as from 1 September 2004, by section 51 Criminal Procedure (Mentally Impaired Persons) Act 2003 (2003 No 115). See clause 2 Criminal Procedure (Mentally Impaired Persons) Act Commencement Order 2004 (SR 2004/147).

121 Assisting escape from lawful custody
  • (1) Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years who—

    • (a) Rescues any person from lawful custody, whether in a prison or not; or

    • (b) Assists any person in escaping or attempting to escape from lawful custody, whether in a prison or not; or

    • (c) With intent to facilitate the escape of any person lawfully detained in a prison, conveys or causes to be conveyed into any prison any thing whatever.

    (2) Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years who—

    • (a) Being a constable who has any person in his lawful custody, voluntarily and intentionally permits that person to escape from such custody:

    • (aa) Being a security officer (within the meaning of section 3(1) of the Corrections Act 2004) in whose custody any person is lawfully detained, voluntarily and intentionally permits that person to escape from such custody:

    • (b) Being an officer of a prison in which any person is lawfully detained, voluntarily and intentionally permits that person to escape from the prison.

    (3) Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year who, by failing to perform any legal duty, permits any person in his lawful custody to escape.

    (4) For the purposes of this section, custody under an irregular warrant or other irregular process shall be deemed to be lawful.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 ss 144, 145, 146, 147, 149; 1954 No 51 part Schedule 1

    Subsections (1) and (2) were amended, as from 1 June 2005, by section 206 Corrections Act 2004 (2004 No 50) by substituting the word prison for the words penal institution wherever they appeared. See clause 2 Corrections Act Commencement Order 2005 (SR 2005/52).

    Subsection (2)(aa) was inserted, as from 1 March 1995, by section 27(1) Penal Institutions Amendment Act 1994 (1994 No 120). See clause 3(1) Penal Institutions Amendment Act Commencement Order 1995 (SR 1995/3).

    Subsection (2)(aa) was amended, as from 1 June 2005, by section 206 Corrections Act 2004 (2004 No 50) by substituting the words section 3(1) of the Corrections Act 2004 for the words section 2 of the Penal Institutions Act 1954. See clause 2 Corrections Act Commencement Order 2005 (SR 2005/52).

122 Assisting escape of mentally impaired person detained for offence
  • Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years who—

    Paragraph (a) was amended, as from 1 April 1970, by section 5(1) Criminal Justice Amendment Act 1969 (1969 No 73) by substituting the words Part 4 of the Mental Health Act 1969 or Part 5A of the Criminal Justice Act 1954 or to or from any hospital within the meaning of the Mental Health Act 1969 for the words Part 4 of the Mental Health Act 1911, to or from any institution under that Act.

    Paragraph (a) was amended, as from 1 October 1985, by section 7(1) Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 1985 (1985 No 121) by substituting the words Part 7 of the Criminal Justice Act 1985 for the words Part 5A of the Criminal Justice Act 1954.

    Paragraph (b) was amended, as from 1 April 1970, by section 5(1) Criminal Justice Amendment Act 1969 (1969 No 73) by substituting the words any hospital within the meaning of the Mental Health Act 1969 for the words any institution within the meaning of the said Act.

    Paragraph (b) was amended, as from 1 April 1970, by section 5(1) Criminal Justice Amendment Act 1969 (1969 No 73) by inserting the words or the said Part 5A.

    Paragraph (b) was amended, as from 1 October 1985, by section 7(2) Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 1985 (1985 No 121) by substituting the expression Part 7 for the expression Part 5A.

    Paragraph (b) was amended, as from 1 March 1995, by section 27(2) Penal Institutions Amendment Act 1994 (1994 No 120) by inserting after the word institution, the words a security officer within the meaning of section 2 of the Penal Institutions Act 1954,. See clause 3(1) Penal Institutions Amendment Act Commencement Order 1995 (SR 1995/3).

    Section 122 was substituted, as from 1 September 2004, by section 51 Criminal Procedure (Mentally Impaired Persons) Act 2003 (2003 No 115). See clause 2 Criminal Procedure (Mentally Impaired Persons) Act Commencement Order 2004 (SR 2004/147).

    Paragraph (a) was to have been amended, as from 1 June 2005, by section 206 Corrections Act 2004 (2004 No 50) by substituting the word prison for the words penal institution. However, this amendment appears to have been made redundant by the substitution of section 122, as from 1 September 2004, see above. See clause 2 Corrections Act Commencement Order 2005 (SR 2005/52).

    Paragraph (b) was amended, as from 1 June 2005, by section 206 Corrections Act 2004 (2004 No 50) by substituting the word prison for the words penal institution. See clause 2 Corrections Act Commencement Order 2005 (SR 2005/52).

    Paragraph (b) was amended, as from 1 June 2005, by section 206 Corrections Act 2004 (2004 No 50) by substituting the words section 3(1) of the Corrections Act 2004 for the words section 2 of the Penal Institutions Act 1954. See clause 2 Corrections Act Commencement Order 2005 (SR 2005/52).

Part 7
Crimes against religion, morality, and public welfare

Crime against religion

123 Blasphemous libel
  • (1) Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year who publishes any blasphemous libel.

    (2) Whether any particular published matter is or is not a blasphemous libel is a question of fact.

    (3) It is not an offence against this section to express in good faith and in decent language, or to attempt to establish by arguments used in good faith and conveyed in decent language, any opinion whatever on any religious subject.

    (4) No one shall be prosecuted for an offence against this section without the leave of the Attorney-General, who before giving leave may make such inquiries as he thinks fit.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 150

Crimes against morality and decency

124 Distribution or exhibition of indecent matter
  • (1) Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years who, without lawful justification or excuse,—

    • (a) Sells, exposes for sale, or otherwise distributes to the public any indecent model or object; or

    • (b) Exhibits or presents in or within view of any place to which the public have or are permitted to have access any indecent object or indecent show or performance; or

    • (c) Exhibits or presents in the presence of any person in consideration or expectation of any payment or otherwise for gain, any indecent show or performance.

    (2) It is a defence to a charge under this section to prove that the public good was served by the acts alleged to have been done.

    (3) It is a question of law whether the sale, exposure for sale, distribution, exhibition, or presentation might in the circumstances serve the public good, and whether there is evidence of excess beyond what the public good requires; but it is a question of fact whether or not the acts complained of did so serve the public good and whether or not there was such excess.

    (4) It is no defence that the person charged did not know that the model, object, show, or performance to which the charge relates was indecent, unless that person also satisfies the Court—

    • (a) That he had no reasonable opportunity of knowing it; and

    • (b) That in the circumstances his ignorance was excusable.

    (5) No one shall be prosecuted for an offence against this section without the leave of the Attorney-General, who before giving leave may make such inquiries as he thinks fit.

    (6) Nothing in this section shall apply to any publication within the meaning of the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993, whether the publication is objectionable within the meaning of that Act or not.

    (7) [Repealed]

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 157

    Subsection (1)(c) was inserted, as from 1 January 1967, by section 3(1) Crimes Amendment Act 1966 (1966 No 98) and in paragraph (b) the word or was inserted by section 3(2) of that Act.

    Subsection (6) was substituted, as from 1 October 1994, by section 150(1) Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993 (1993 No 94). See Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act Commencement Order 1994 (SR 1994/188)

    Subsection (7) was inserted, as from 1 April 1977, by section 3(1) Cinematograph Films Act 1976 (1976 No 168).

    Subsection (7) was repealed, as from 1 April 1984, by section 76(1) Films Act 1983 (1983 No 130).

    Subsection (7) was inserted, as from 1 July 1987, by section 70(1) Video Recordings Act 1987 (1987 No 85).

    Subsection (7) was repealed, as from 1 October 1994, by section 150(1) Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993 (1993 No 94).

125 Indecent act in public place
  • (1) Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years who wilfully does any indecent act in any place to which the public have or are permitted to have access, or within view of any such place.

    (2) It is a defence to a charge under this section if the person charged proves that he had reasonable grounds for believing that he would not be observed.

    (3) For the purposes of this section, the term place includes any railway carriage, and also includes any ship, aircraft, or vehicle used for the carriage of passengers for hire or reward.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 156(a)

126 Indecent act with intent to insult or offend
  • Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years who with intent to insult or offend any person does any indecent act in any place.

    Compare: 1908 No 32 s 156(b)

Sexual crimes

127 No presumption because of age
  • There is no presumption of law that a person is incapable of sexual connection because of his or her age.

    Section 127 was substituted, as from 20 May 2005, by section 7 Crimes Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 41). See sections 12 and 13 of that Act for the transitional provisions.

128 Sexual violation defined
  • (1) Sexual violation is the act of a person who—

    • (a) rapes another person; or