New Zealand Legislation: Acts

11 Assistance in obtaining evidence for use in New Zealand court

• (1) Where the Attorney-General is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that evidence or information relevant to any criminal proceedings in New Zealand may be obtained if a court or other judicial authority in a foreign country is requested—

  • (a) To take, or cause to be taken, the evidence of any specified person; or

  • (b) To order the production of any specified document by any person,—

  the Attorney-General may request that foreign country to assist in arranging for that evidence to be taken or that document to be produced.

  (2) Any deposition (by whatever name called) that is received from a foreign country pursuant to a request made under subsection (1) of this section and that purports to have been signed by the deponent and the person taking the evidence or to have been certified as a correct record by the person taking the evidence may, subject to the rules of law relating to the admission of evidence, be put in as evidence at the hearing of the criminal proceedings to which the request relates.

  (3) Any document (other than a deposition) received from a foreign country pursuant to a request made under subsection (1) of this section may, subject to the rules of law relating to the admission of evidence, be put in as evidence at the hearing of the criminal proceedings to which the request relates as if produced by the person who produced the document pursuant to the order of the Court or other judicial authority of that foreign country.

  (4) All courts shall take judicial notice of any seal or signature impressed, affixed, appended, or subscribed on or to any deposition (by whatever name called) tendered in evidence under this section.