Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Crimes Act 1961

Crimes against the person - Bigamy, and feigned or coerced marriage or civil union

207A: Coerced marriage or civil union

You could also call this:

“It's against the law to force someone to marry or enter a civil union by scaring, threatening, or hurting them.”

If you use force, threats, or scare tactics to make someone get married or enter a civil union, you can go to jail for up to 5 years. This is true even if the marriage or civil union isn’t legal in New Zealand, or if it’s just an arrangement that looks like a marriage or civil union. It doesn’t matter if the ceremony hasn’t happened yet, or if the marriage or civil union wouldn’t be legally binding. The law still applies if you try to force someone into any kind of marriage or civil union, even if it’s not official or recognised by law.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS139014.

Topics:
Crime and justice > Criminal law
Family and relationships > Marriage and partnerships
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207: Feigned marriage or civil union, or

“It's against the law to pretend to marry or have a civil union with someone when you know it won't be real.”

Next

208: Abduction for purposes of marriage or civil union or sexual connection, or

“Taking or keeping someone against their will to marry them, be in a civil union with them, or have sex with them is against the law.”

Part 8 Crimes against the person
Bigamy, and feigned or coerced marriage or civil union

207ACoerced marriage or civil union

  1. Everyone is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years who, with intent to cause another person to enter into a marriage or civil union, uses coercion (for example, intimidation, threats, or violence) against that other person.

  2. Subsection (1) applies even if the marriage or civil union—

  3. is not governed by New Zealand law:
    1. is an arrangement or a relationship (however described, and even if not legally binding) in the form of a marriage or civil union:
      1. is not solemnised or otherwise completed:
        1. is, or if solemnised or otherwise completed would be, void or not legally binding (for example, for lack of consent, absence of formality, or non-compliance with a legal requirement).

          Notes
          • Section 207A: inserted, on , by section 28 of the Family Violence (Amendments) Act 2018 (2018 No 47).