Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Crimes Act 1961

Crimes against rights of property - Robbery and blackmail

236: Assault with intent to rob

You could also call this:

“Hurting or scaring someone to take their stuff is a serious crime that can lead to jail time.”

If you try to rob someone, you can get in serious trouble. Here’s what you need to know:

You could go to prison for up to 14 years if you try to rob someone and do any of these things:

You hurt someone very badly, or you have a weapon or something that looks like a weapon and attack someone, or you and other people together attack someone.

Even if you don’t do any of those things, just attacking someone when you’re trying to rob them can still get you sent to prison for up to 7 years.

Remember, robbery is a very serious crime, and the law treats it that way to keep everyone safe.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM330259.

Topics:
Crime and justice > Criminal law
Previous

235: Aggravated robbery, or

“Stealing from someone while hurting them badly, working with others, or using a weapon”

Next

237: Blackmail, or

“Threatening to reveal information or cause harm to get someone to do what you want or to gain something”

Part 10 Crimes against rights of property
Robbery and blackmail

236Assault with intent to rob

  1. Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years who, with intent to rob any person,—

  2. causes grievous bodily harm to that person or any other person; or
    1. being armed with any offensive weapon or instrument, or any thing appearing to be such a weapon or instrument, assaults that person or any other person; or
      1. being together with any other person or persons, assaults that person or any other person.

        1. Every one who assaults any person with intent to rob that person or any other person is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years.

        Compare
        Notes
        • Section 236: replaced, on , by section 15 of the Crimes Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 39).