Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Crimes Act 1961

Crimes against the person - Duties tending to the preservation of life

152: Duty of parent or guardian to provide necessaries and protect from injury

You could also call this:

“Parents and guardians must give kids what they need and keep them safe from harm.”

If you are a parent or someone who takes care of a child under 18 years old, you have important legal duties. You must provide the child with things they need to live, which are called necessaries. You also need to take reasonable steps to keep the child safe from harm. These duties apply to anyone who has actual care or charge of a child, even if they are not the child’s parent.

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 It might be out of date or be missing some parts.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=DLM329293.

Topics:
Crime and justice > Criminal law
Family and relationships > Children and parenting
Previous

151: Duty to provide necessaries and protect from injury, or

“People who look after adults who can't care for themselves must give them what they need and keep them safe.”

Next

153: Duty of employers to provide necessaries, or

“Employers must give young workers food, clothes, and a place to stay, or they could go to jail.”

Part 8 Crimes against the person
Duties tending to the preservation of life

152Duty of parent or guardian to provide necessaries and protect from injury

  1. Every one who is a parent, or is a person in place of a parent, who has actual care or charge of a child under the age of 18 years is under a legal duty—

  2. to provide that child with necessaries; and
    1. to take reasonable steps to protect that child from injury.

      Notes
      • Section 152: replaced, on , by section 6 of the Crimes Amendment Act (No 3) 2011 (2011 No 79).