Crimes Act 1961

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 herself, or any other person dependent on him or her or in his or her 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 or her 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 or her personal services, or of the personal services of any person under his or her 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)

Section 98(1)(e): replaced, on 4 April 2001, by section 3(1) of the Crimes Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 9).

Section 98(1)(f): replaced, on 4 April 2001, by section 3(1) of the Crimes Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 9).

Section 98(2) slave: inserted, on 4 April 2001, by section 3(2) of the Crimes Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 9).