New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990

24 Rights of persons charged

• Everyone who is charged with an offence—

  • (a) shall be informed promptly and in detail of the nature and cause of the charge; and

  • (b) shall be released on reasonable terms and conditions unless there is just cause for continued detention; and

  • (c) shall have the right to consult and instruct a lawyer; and

  • (d) shall have the right to adequate time and facilities to prepare a defence; and

  • (e) shall have the right, except in the case of an offence under military law tried before a military tribunal, to the benefit of a trial by jury when the penalty for the offence is or includes imprisonment for 2 years or more; and

  • (f) shall have the right to receive legal assistance without cost if the interests of justice so require and the person does not have sufficient means to provide for that assistance; and

  • (g) shall have the right to have the free assistance of an interpreter if the person cannot understand or speak the language used in court.

  Section 24(e): amended, on 1 July 2013, by section 4 of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 92).