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Search and Surveillance Act 2012

General provisions in relation to search, surveillance, and inspection powers - Offences

179: Offence to disclose information acquired through search or surveillance

You could also call this:

"Don't share secret information you get from searches or spying unless it's part of your job."

If you get information about someone because of a search or surveillance, you must not tell others about it unless you are doing your job. This includes information you get from exercising a search or surveillance power, an examination order, a production order, or using a device or technique specified in a declaratory order. You can only share the information if it is part of your duties, functions, or powers.

If you tell others about the information when you are not supposed to, you can get in trouble with the law. You can be charged with an offence and punished if you are found guilty.

If you are found guilty, you could go to prison for up to 6 months if you are an individual, or your company could be fined up to $100,000 if you are a body corporate.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM2136895.

Topics:
Crime and justice > Police and safetyCrime and justice > Criminal lawRights and equality > Privacy
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Part 4General provisions in relation to search, surveillance, and inspection powers
Offences

179Offence to disclose information acquired through search or surveillance

  1. No person who, as a consequence of any thing specified in subsection (2), acquires information about any person may knowingly disclose the substance, meaning, or purport of that information, or any part of that information, otherwise than in the performance of that person's duties, functions, or powers.

  2. The things referred to in subsection (1) are—

  3. the exercise of a search or surveillance power:
    1. an examination order:
      1. a production order:
        1. the use of a device, technique, or procedure, or the carrying out of an activity specified in a declaratory order.

          1. Every person who acts in contravention of subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable on conviction,—

          2. in the case of an individual, to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 6 months:
            1. in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $100,000.