Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Crimes Act 1961

Crimes against rights of property - Arson, damage, and waste

267: Arson

You could also call this:

“Purposely or carelessly setting fire to things that aren't yours is against the law.”

You commit arson if you damage property using fire or explosives in certain ways. There are different levels of punishment depending on how serious the damage is and why you did it.

If you damage property with fire or explosives and you know it might put someone’s life in danger, you could go to prison for up to 14 years. This also applies if you damage buildings, vehicles, ships, or aircraft that don’t belong to you, or if you do it to get something or to cause someone else to lose something.

You could go to prison for up to 7 years if you damage any other kind of property that isn’t yours using fire or explosives. This also applies if you do it to get something or to make someone else lose something.

If you damage property with fire or explosives and don’t care that it might damage other property too, you could go to prison for up to 5 years.

In this section and in section 269, ‘benefit’ means anything of value you might get, like money, special treatment, property, or services.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM330497.

Topics:
Crime and justice > Criminal law
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268: Attempted arson, or

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Part 10 Crimes against rights of property
Arson, damage, and waste

267Arson

  1. Every one commits arson and is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years who—

  2. intentionally or recklessly damages by fire or by means of any explosive any property if he or she knows or ought to know that danger to life is likely to ensue; or
    1. intentionally or recklessly, and without claim of right, damages by fire or by means of any explosive any immovable property, or any vehicle, ship, or aircraft, in which that person has no interest; or
      1. intentionally damages by fire or by means of any explosive any immovable property, or any vehicle, ship or aircraft, with intent to obtain any benefit, or to cause loss to any other person.

        1. Every one commits arson and is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years who—

        2. intentionally or recklessly, and without claim of right, damages by fire or by means of any explosive any property in which that person has no interest (other than property referred to in subsection (1)); or
          1. intentionally or recklessly damages by fire or by means of any explosive any property (other than property referred to in subsection (1)) with intent to obtain any benefit, or with intent to cause loss to any other person.

            1. Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years who intentionally damages by fire or by means of any explosive any property with reckless disregard for the safety of any other property.

            2. In this section and in section 269, benefit means any benefit, pecuniary advantage, privilege, property, service, or valuable consideration.

            Compare
            Notes
            • Section 267: replaced, on , by section 15 of the Crimes Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 39).