New Zealand Legislation: Acts

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

  Section 10B: inserted, on 1 October 1985, by section 2 of the Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 1985 (1985 No 121).