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New Zealand law explained for everyone

Crimes Act 1961

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

105D: Bribery outside New Zealand of foreign public official

You could also call this:

“It's against the law for New Zealanders to bribe officials from other countries, even when they're not in New Zealand.”

If you are a New Zealand citizen, normally live in New Zealand, or represent a company or organisation set up in New Zealand, you can get in trouble for bribing a foreign public official even if you do it outside of New Zealand. The act of bribery you do overseas must be the same as what would be illegal if you did it in New Zealand under section 105C. If you are found guilty of this, you will face the same punishment as if you had done the bribery in New Zealand. This rule applies to both people and companies.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM328779.

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Crime and justice > Criminal law
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105C: Bribery of foreign public official, or

“It's against the law to give money or gifts to officials from other countries to get business deals or special treatment.”

Next

105E: Corruption of foreign public officials, or

“This law makes it illegal for foreign government workers to take bribes for doing their job, whether they're in New Zealand or not.”

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

105DBribery outside New Zealand of foreign public official

  1. Every one commits an offence who, being a person described in subsection (2), does, outside New Zealand, any act that would, if done in New Zealand, constitute an offence against section 105C.

  2. Subsection (1) applies to a person who is—

  3. a New Zealand citizen; or
    1. ordinarily resident in New Zealand; or
      1. a body corporate incorporated in New Zealand; or
        1. a corporation sole incorporated in New Zealand.

          1. Every one who commits an offence against this section is liable to the same penalty to which the person would have been liable if the person had been convicted of an offence against section 105C.

          2. Repealed
          Notes
          • Section 105D: inserted, on , by section 8 of the Crimes (Bribery of Foreign Public Officials) Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 28).
          • Section 105D(4): repealed, on , by section 7 of the Crimes Amendment Act 2015 (2015 No 95).