Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Crimes Act 1961

Crimes against public order - Offence of oath to commit offence

80: Oath to commit offence

You could also call this:

“It's against the law to make someone promise to do something bad or illegal.”

If you make someone take an oath or promise to commit a crime, you can go to prison for up to 5 years. This includes if you are there when someone else makes a person take this kind of oath, and you agree to it. You can also get in trouble if you try to make someone take this oath, or if you take the oath yourself.

If you’ve already been found not guilty or guilty of this crime, you can’t be tried again for treason or for helping someone after they’ve committed treason for the same situation.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM328548.

Topics:
Crime and justice > Criminal law
Previous

79: Sabotage, or

“Damaging important things on purpose to hurt New Zealand's safety or defence”

Next

81: Seditious offences defined, or

“This law about people saying bad things against the government was removed in 2008.”

Part 5 Crimes against public order
Offence of oath to commit offence

80Oath to commit offence

  1. Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years who—

  2. administers or is present at and consenting to the administration of any oath or engagement purporting to bind the person taking the same to commit any offence; or
    1. attempts to induce or compel any person to take any such oath or engagement; or
      1. takes any such oath or engagement.

        1. No one who has been acquitted or convicted of any offence against this section is liable to be afterwards tried for treason, or for being accessory after the fact to treason, in respect of the same matter.

        Compare
        • 1908 No 32 ss 115, 116