If you threaten to kill someone or hurt them very badly, you can go to prison for up to 7 years. You can be in trouble if you say you will kill or hurt someone, or if you write it in a letter. If you send a letter or make someone receive a letter that says you will kill or hurt them, and you know what the letter says, you can also get in trouble.

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This page was last updated on 4 August 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM330785.

Topics:

Crime and justice > Criminal law

305: Providing explosive to commit crime, or

"It used to be against the law to give someone explosives to help them do something bad."

307: Threatening to destroy property, or

"Threatening to damage someone's things or hurt their animal can get you in big trouble"

Part 11Threatening, conspiring, and attempting to commit offences

306Threatening to kill or do grievous bodily harm

Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years who—
threatens to kill or do grievous bodily harm to any person; or
sends or causes to be received, knowing the contents thereof, any letter or writing containing any threat to kill or do grievous bodily harm to any person.

Repealed

Compare

1908 No 32 s 342
1941 No 10 Schedule

Notes

Section 306(2): repealed, on 30 June 2002, by section 164(b) of the Sentencing Act 2002 (2002 No 9).