(1)
Every person commits an offence and is liable on conviction to the penalty specified in subsection (3) who, in New Zealand or elsewhere, commits a war crime.
(2)
For the purposes of this section, a war crime is an act specified in—
Article 8(2)(a) of the Statute (which relates to grave breaches of the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Geneva Conventions); or
Article 8(2)(b) of the Statute (which relates to other serious violations of the laws and customs applicable in international armed conflict); or
Article 8(2)(c) of the Statute (which relates to armed conflict not of an international character involving serious violations of Article 3 common to the four Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949); or
Article 8(2)(e) of the Statute (which relates to other serious violations of the laws and customs applicable in armed conflict not of an international character).
(3)
The penalty for a war crime is,—
if the offence involves the wilful killing of a person, the same as the penalty for murder:
in any other case, imprisonment for life or a lesser term.
(4)
Nothing in this section affects or limits the operation of section 3 of the Geneva Conventions Act 1958 (which makes a grave breach of the Geneva Conventions an offence under New Zealand law).
Compare: Statute art 8
Section 11(1): amended, on 1 July 2013, by section 413 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 (2011 No 81).