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Crimes Act 1961

Crimes affecting the administration of law and justice - Bribery and corruption

99: Interpretation

You could also call this:

"What special words mean in this law"

Illustration for Crimes Act 1961

When you read this part of the law, some words have special meanings. A bribe is something valuable given to someone to influence them, like money or a job. It can be given directly or indirectly.

A judicial officer is someone who works in a court, like a Judge or a Coroner. It also includes people who help make decisions in courts, or people who are part of a group that listens to evidence under oath.

A law enforcement officer is a police officer or someone who helps catch or punish people who break the law. An official is someone who works for the government, a local council, or a public organisation, including teachers as defined in section 10(7) of the Education and Training Act 2020.

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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=DLM328730.

Topics:
Crime and justice > Criminal lawCrime and justice > Courts and legal help
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98F: Attorney-General's consent to prosecutions required, or

"The Attorney-General must say it's okay before someone can be taken to court for smuggling or trafficking people."

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100: Judicial corruption, or

"Corrupt court staff can go to prison for taking bribes to do their job unfairly."

Part 6Crimes affecting the administration of law and justice
Bribery and corruption

99Interpretation

  1. In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires,—

    bribe means any money, valuable consideration, office, or employment, or any benefit, whether direct or indirect

      judicial officer means a Judge of any court, or a District Court Judge, Coroner, associate coroner, Justice of the Peace, or Community Magistrate, or any other person holding any judicial office, or any person who is a member of any tribunal authorised by law to take evidence on oath

        law enforcement officer means any constable, or any person employed in the detection or prosecution or punishment of offenders

          official means any person in the service of the Sovereign in right of New Zealand (whether that service is honorary or not, and whether it is within or outside New Zealand), or any member or employee of any local authority or public body, or any person employed in the education service within the meaning of section 10(7) of the Education and Training Act 2020.

          Compare
          • 1908 No 32 ss 126, 127
          Notes
          • Section 99 judicial officer: amended, on , by section 36 of the Coroners Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 8).
          • Section 99 judicial officer: amended, on , by section 4 of the Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 1998 (1998 No 79).
          • Section 99 judicial officer: amended, on , pursuant to section 18(2) of the District Courts Amendment Act 1979 (1979 No 125).
          • Section 99 official: amended, on , by section 668 of the Education and Training Act 2020 (2020 No 38).