Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Crimes Act 1961

Crimes against the person - Assaults and injuries to the person

200: Poisoning with intent

You could also call this:

“Giving someone harmful stuff to make them very sick or upset is against the law and can get you in big trouble.”

If you give someone poison or another harmful substance with the intention of causing them serious harm, you could go to prison for up to 14 years.

If you give someone poison or another harmful substance to annoy them, make them uncomfortable, or for any illegal reason, you could go to prison for up to 3 years.

These rules apply whether you give the poison or harmful substance directly to the person or cause them to take it in some other way.

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 It might be out of date or be missing some parts.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=DLM329701.

Topics:

Crime and justice > Criminal law

199: Acid throwing, or

“It's against the law to throw or put harmful liquids on someone to hurt or scar them.”

201: Infecting with disease, or

“Making someone sick on purpose is against the law and can lead to jail time.”

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

200Poisoning with intent

Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years who, with intent to cause grievous bodily harm to any one, administers to or causes to be taken by any person any poison or other noxious substance.
Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years who, with intent to cause inconvenience or annoyance to any one, or for any unlawful purpose, administers to, or causes to be taken by, any person any poison or other noxious substance.
Repealed

Compare

1908 No 32 s 203
Criminal Code (1954) s 217 (Canada)

Notes

Section 200(3): repealed, on 30 June 2002, by section 164(b) of the Sentencing Act 2002 (2002 No 9).