When you do something wrong, like commit a crime, it's considered to have happened in the place where some part of the crime occurred. If any part of the crime happens in New Zealand, the whole crime is deemed to have been committed in New Zealand. This is true even if you were not in New Zealand when the crime happened or when some part of it occurred.
This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.
This page was last updated on
View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM328024.
6: Persons not to be tried in respect of things done outside New Zealand, or
"You can't be tried in New Zealand for things you did in other countries, unless special rules say so."
7A: Extraterritorial jurisdiction in respect of certain offences with transnational aspects, or
"New Zealand can try certain crimes committed overseas if they involve terrorism or other serious offences, even if none of it happened in New Zealand."
For the purpose of jurisdiction, where any act or omission forming part of any offence, or any event necessary to the completion of any offence, occurs in New Zealand, the offence shall be deemed to be committed in New Zealand, whether the person charged with the offence was in New Zealand or not at the time of the act, omission, or event.
