Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Crimes Act 1961

Crimes against the person - Assaults and injuries to the person

196: Common assault

You could also call this:

"Hitting or hurting someone on purpose is called common assault"

Illustration for Crimes Act 1961

If you assault someone, you can go to prison for up to one year. Assault means you intentionally use force against another person. You can be charged with common assault if you do this to anyone.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM329385.

Topics:
Crime and justice > Criminal law
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195A: Failure to protect child or vulnerable adult, or

"Adults must protect kids and vulnerable people from serious harm, or they could go to jail."

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197: Disabling, or

"Making someone unable to act by knocking them out or making them sleepy on purpose is against the law."

Part 8Crimes against the person
Assaults and injuries to the person

196Common assault

  1. Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 1 year who assaults any other person.

Compare
  • 1908 No 32 s 210