Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

225: Power to search vehicles for goods stolen or obtained by crimes involving dishonesty
or “Police could check cars for stolen things, but this rule doesn't exist anymore.”

You could also call this:

“Borrowing or using someone else's vehicle, boat, or horse without permission is against the law.”

If you dishonestly take or use a vehicle, ship, aircraft, or any part of these, or a horse, for your own purposes or someone else’s purposes without having the right to do so, you can go to prison for up to 7 years. This is different from theft.

If you try to do this, or if you dishonestly interfere with or get into or on a vehicle, ship, or aircraft without having the right to do so, you can go to prison for up to 2 years.

These rules apply even if you don’t intend to steal the vehicle, ship, aircraft, or horse permanently.

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Next up: 227: Being in possession of instrument for conversion

or “Having tools to steal cars, boats, or planes without permission is against the law.”

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Crimes Act 1961
Crimes against rights of property
Unlawful taking
226: Conversion of vehicle or other conveyance

Part 10 Crimes against rights of property
Unlawful taking

226Conversion of vehicle or other conveyance

Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years who, dishonestly and without claim of right, but not so as to be guilty of theft, takes or uses for his or her own purposes or another person's purposes—
any vehicle, ship, or aircraft; or
any part of any vehicle, ship, or aircraft; or
any horse.

Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years who attempts to commit the offence in subsection (1) or who, dishonestly and without claim of right, interferes with, or gets into or upon, any vehicle, ship, or aircraft.

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