Plain language law

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Crimes Act 1961

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

271: Waste or diversion of electricity, gas, or water

You could also call this:

“It's illegal to waste or redirect electricity, gas, or water on purpose to hurt someone.”

You could be sent to prison for up to 5 years if you waste or divert electricity, gas, or water without a right to do so. This applies if you intend to cause harm or loss to someone by wasting or diverting these resources, or if you make someone else waste or divert them. This law is part of the rules about arson, damage, and waste in the Crimes Act 1961.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM330707.

Topics:

Crime and justice > Criminal law

270: Endangering transport, or

“This law says it's a crime to mess with or damage things like cars, boats, or planes in a way that could hurt people or break stuff.”

272: Providing explosive to commit crime, or

“It's against the law to have or make explosives or dangerous things if you plan to use them to do something illegal.”

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

271Waste or diversion of electricity, gas, or water

Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years who, without claim of right and with intent to cause loss or harm to any person, wastes or diverts any electricity, gas, or water, or causes it to be wasted or diverted.

Compare

1961 No 43 s 299

Notes

Section 271: replaced, on 1 October 2003, by section 15 of the Crimes Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 39).