If you do something that’s part of a crime, or if something happens that completes a crime, and this happens in New Zealand, the law says the crime happened in New Zealand. This is true even if you weren’t in New Zealand when it happened. The law looks at where the action or event took place, not where you were at the time.
For example, if you send a mean message to someone in New Zealand from another country, the law might say the crime happened in New Zealand because that’s where the message was received. This helps the New Zealand police and courts deal with crimes that cross borders.
Remember, this is just about where the law says a crime happened. It doesn’t mean you’re guilty of a crime. That’s for the courts to decide.
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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.
