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Crimes Act 1961

Parties to the commission of offences

69A: Party to certain acts or omissions in New Zealand

You could also call this:

"Helping someone break the law in New Zealand can get you in trouble too"

Illustration for Crimes Act 1961

You can commit an offence if you help someone who is not from New Zealand to do or not do something in New Zealand. This something must be an act that would be an offence if you did it. You can be punished with up to 14 years in prison if the act is actually done. You can also commit an offence if you try to get someone who is not from New Zealand to do or not do something in New Zealand. This something must be an act that would be an offence if you did it. You can be punished with up to 10 years in prison if the act is not actually done. A relevant act is something that would be an offence against section 73 (treason), section 77 (inciting to mutiny), or section 78 (espionage) if you did it in New Zealand. You owe allegiance to the Sovereign in right of New Zealand, which means you have a duty to be loyal to New Zealand. This duty is important when it comes to committing offences.

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This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS1556532.

Topics:
Crime and justice > Criminal law
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69: Party to any other crime outside New Zealand, or

"Helping someone commit a serious crime outside New Zealand is against the law"

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70: Offence committed other than offence intended, or

"When you help someone do a crime, you're part of it, even if it doesn't happen exactly as planned."

Part 4Parties to the commission of offences

69AParty to certain acts or omissions in New Zealand

  1. A person who owes allegiance to the Sovereign in right of New Zealand commits an offence if—

  2. the person, in or outside New Zealand, aids, abets, incites, counsels, or procures a person who does not owe such allegiance to do or omit a relevant act in New Zealand; and
    1. the relevant act is in fact done or omitted.

      1. A person who commits an offence against subsection (1) is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years.

      2. A person who owes allegiance to the Sovereign in right of New Zealand commits an offence if—

      3. the person, in or outside New Zealand, incites, counsels, or attempts to procure a person who does not owe such allegiance to do or omit a relevant act in New Zealand; and
        1. the relevant act is not in fact done or omitted.

          1. A person who commits an offence against subsection (3) is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years.

          2. In this section, relevant act means an act which, if done or omitted in New Zealand by a person who owes allegiance to the Sovereign in right of New Zealand, would be an offence against—

          3. section 73 (treason); or
            1. section 77 (inciting to mutiny); or
              1. section 78 (espionage).

                Notes
                • Section 69A: inserted, on , by section 9 of the Crimes (Countering Foreign Interference) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 71).