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 kill you, it's still against the law."

Illustration for Crimes Act 1961

You cannot agree to someone killing you. If someone is killed, it does not matter if they said it was okay. The person who did the killing can still be in trouble with the law.

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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

"Using more force than you're allowed to"

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64: Obedience to de facto law, or

"Following the laws of the people in charge keeps you safe from getting in trouble."

Part 3Matters 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