Skip To Main Content

New Zealand Legislation: Acts

Acts are laws made by Parliament

New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990

Public Act	1990 No 109
Date of assent	28 August 1990

Note

This Act is administered in the Ministry of Justice

Contents

1 Short Title and commencement

Part 1
General provisions

2 Rights affirmed

4 Other enactments not affected

5 Justified limitations

6 Interpretation consistent with Bill of Rights to be preferred

7 Attorney-General to report to Parliament where Bill appears to be inconsistent with Bill of Rights

Part 2
Civil and political rights

Life and security of the person

8 Right not to be deprived of life

9 Right not to be subjected to torture or cruel treatment

10 Right not to be subjected to medical or scientific experimentation

11 Right to refuse to undergo medical treatment

Democratic and civil rights

12 Electoral rights

13 Freedom of thought, conscience, and religion

14 Freedom of expression

15 Manifestation of religion and belief

16 Freedom of peaceful assembly

17 Freedom of association

18 Freedom of movement

Non-discrimination and minority rights

19 Freedom from discrimination

20 Rights of minorities

Search, arrest, and detention

21 Unreasonable search and seizure

22 Liberty of the person

23 Rights of persons arrested or detained

24 Rights of persons charged

25 Minimum standards of criminal procedure

26 Retroactive penalties and double jeopardy

27 Right to justice

Part 3
Miscellaneous provisions

28 Other rights and freedoms not affected

29 Application to legal persons

An Act—

(a) To affirm, protect, and promote human rights and fundamental freedoms in New Zealand; and

(b) To affirm New Zealand's commitment to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

BE IT ENACTED by the Parliament of New Zealand as follows: