Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Crimes Act 1961

Crimes against the person - Assaults and injuries to the person

204: Impeding rescue

You could also call this:

“It's against the law to stop someone from trying to save a life, unless you're saving a life yourself.”

If you try to stop someone from saving their own life or someone else’s life, you can get in big trouble. You could go to jail for up to 10 years. This is called ‘impeding rescue’.

However, you won’t be in trouble if you had a good reason for doing it. Also, if you’re trying to save your own life or someone else’s life, and you accidentally stop someone else from helping, you won’t be in trouble either.

Remember, it’s important to help people who are in danger and not to get in the way of rescue efforts.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM329731.

Topics:
Crime and justice > Criminal law
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203: Endangering transport, or

“This law used to make it illegal to do things that put people in danger when they travel, but it's not a rule anymore.”

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204A: Female genital mutilation, or

“This law makes it illegal to harm a girl's or woman's private parts, except for certain medical reasons.”

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

204Impeding rescue

  1. Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years who, without lawful justification or excuse, prevents or impedes or attempts to prevent or impede any person who is attempting to save his or her own life or the life of any other person.

  2. No one is guilty of an offence against this section who does any such act as aforesaid in the course of saving his or her own life or the life of any other person.

Compare
  • 1908 No 32 s 201
  • Criminal Code (1954) s 227 (Canada)