Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Crimes Act 1961

Matters of justification or excuse - General provisions

63: Consent to death

You could also call this:

“You can't agree to let someone end your life, and if you do, the person who does it is still breaking the law.”

You can’t agree to someone ending your life. If someone kills you, even if you said it was okay, it’s still against the law. The person who did it will still be responsible for the crime. This rule applies to everyone, no matter what.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM328502.

Topics:
Crime and justice > Criminal law
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62: Excess of force, or

“If you use more force than allowed, you can get in trouble with the law.”

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64: Obedience to de facto law, or

“You won't get in trouble for following rules made by people who are in charge, even if they're not officially the government.”

Part 3 Matters of justification or excuse
General provisions

63Consent to death

  1. No one has a right to consent to the infliction of death upon himself or herself; and, if any person is killed, the fact that he or she gave any such consent shall not affect the criminal responsibility of any person who is a party to the killing.

Compare
  • 1908 No 32 s 87