Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Crimes Act 1961

Crimes against rights of property - Unlawful taking

222: Theft by spouse or partner

You could also call this:

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

You can be found guilty of stealing someone’s property even if you were married to them, in a civil union with them, or in a de facto relationship with them when you took their property. This means that being in a relationship with someone doesn’t give you the right to take their things without permission. The law treats theft the same way whether you’re in a relationship with the person or not.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM330205.

Topics:
Crime and justice > Criminal law
Family and relationships > Marriage and partnerships
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“Taking parts from someone else's dead animal is stealing”

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223: Punishment of theft, or

“This law explains how long you can go to jail for stealing things, depending on how much the stolen stuff is worth.”

Part 10 Crimes against rights of property
Unlawful taking

222Theft by spouse or partner

  1. A person may be convicted of theft of another person's property even though those persons were married to, or in a civil union or a de facto relationship with, each other at the time of the theft.

Compare
Notes
  • Section 222: replaced, on , by section 15 of the Crimes Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 39).
  • Section 222 heading: amended, on , by section 7 of the Relationships (Statutory References) Act 2005 (2005 No 3).
  • Section 222: amended, on , by section 7 of the Relationships (Statutory References) Act 2005 (2005 No 3).