(1) A foreign country may request the Attorney-General to assist in arranging—
(a) the taking of evidence in New Zealand; or
(b) the production of documents or other articles in New Zealand.
(2) Where, on receipt of a request made under subsection (1) by a foreign country, the Attorney-General is satisfied—
(a) that the request relates to criminal proceedings in the foreign country; and
(b) that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the evidence can be taken or, as the case may be, the documents or other articles can be produced in New Zealand,—
the Attorney-General may authorise, in writing, assistance in accordance with this section.
(3) Where, under subsection (2), the Attorney-General authorises the taking of evidence, a Judge may, subject to sections 32 and 33 and to any regulations made under this Act, take the evidence on oath of each witness appearing before the Judge, and shall—
(a) cause the evidence to be put in writing and certify, in the prescribed form, that the evidence was taken by the Judge; and
(b) cause the writing to be sent to the Attorney-General.
(4) Where, under subsection (2), the Attorney-General authorises the production of documents or other articles, a Judge may, subject to sections 32 and 33 and to any regulations made under this Act, require the production of the documents or other articles, and, unless the Judge otherwise orders, shall cause the documents, or copies of the documents certified by the Judge to be true copies, or the other articles, to be sent to the Attorney-General.
Compare: Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 1987 s 13(1), (2) (Aust)
Section 31(1): amended, on 1 March 1999, by section 9 of the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 15).