Crimes Act 1961

Crimes against reputation

214: Plea of justification

You could also call this:

“This old rule explained how someone could defend themselves if they were accused of saying something mean about another person.”

The law used to have a section called ‘Plea of justification’ under ‘Crimes against reputation’ in the Crimes Act 1961. This section was about how someone could defend themselves if they were accused of damaging another person’s reputation. However, this part of the law no longer exists. It was removed on 1 February 1993. The government decided to take it out of the Crimes Act when they made changes to the laws about defamation, which is when someone says or writes false things that harm another person’s reputation.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM329796.

Topics:
Crime and justice > Criminal law

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213: No prosecution without leave of Judge, or

“A special permission from a judge is needed before someone can be taken to court for saying bad things about another person.”


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215: Punishment of criminal libel, or

“This old law used to say how people would be punished for writing mean lies about others, but it's not used anymore.”

Part 9 Crimes against reputation

214Plea of justification (Repealed)

    Notes
    • Section 214: repealed, on , by section 56(2) of the Defamation Act 1992 (1992 No 105).