Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Crimes Act 1961

Crimes against rights of property - Robbery and blackmail

239: Demanding with intent to steal, etc

You could also call this:

“Forcing someone to give you something or do something for you by using threats or violence”

If you use force or threats to make someone sign, create, accept, change, or destroy a document that could give you money or something valuable, you can go to prison for up to 14 years. This is true even if you don’t have a right to do so.

If you threaten or scare someone to demand their property because you want to steal it, you can go to prison for up to 7 years.

These rules are part of the law to stop people from forcing others to do things they don’t want to do, especially when it comes to money or property.

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 It might be out of date or be missing some parts.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=DLM330270.

Topics:
Crime and justice > Criminal law
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238: Punishment of blackmail, or

“If you try to blackmail someone, you could go to jail for up to 14 years.”

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240: Obtaining by deception or causing loss by deception, or

“Using tricks or lies to get things that don't belong to you or to make someone lose something”

Part 10 Crimes against rights of property
Robbery and blackmail

239Demanding with intent to steal, etc

  1. Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years who, without claim of right, by force or with any threat, compels any person to execute, make, accept, endorse, alter, or destroy any document capable of conferring a pecuniary advantage with intent to obtain any benefit.

  2. Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years who, with menaces or by any threat, demands any property from any persons with intent to steal it.

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Notes
  • Section 239: replaced, on , by section 15 of the Crimes Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 39).