Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Crimes Act 1961

Crimes against rights of property - Unlawful taking

221: Theft of parts of killed animals

You could also call this:

“Taking parts from someone else's dead animal is stealing”

If you kill an animal that belongs to someone else and you plan to steal any part of it, you are committing theft. This includes taking the animal’s body, skin, feathers, or any other part. It doesn’t matter if you only want a small piece of the animal; if it’s not yours and you kill it to take something from it, that’s stealing. Remember, this law applies to all animals that are owned by other people, not just farm animals or pets.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM330203.

Topics:

Crime and justice > Criminal law

220A: Theft of livestock and other animals, or

“If you take someone else's farm animals or pets without permission, you could go to jail.”

222: Theft by spouse or partner, or

“Taking things from your husband, wife, or partner can still be stealing.”

Part 10 Crimes against rights of property
Unlawful taking

221Theft of parts of killed animals

Every one commits theft if he or she kills any animal that is the property of any other person with intent to steal the carcass, skin, or plumage, or any other part, of the animal.

Compare

1961 No 43 s 221

Notes

Section 221: replaced, on 1 October 2003, by section 15 of the Crimes Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 39).
Section 221 heading: replaced, on 12 March 2019, by section 10 of the Crimes Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 4).