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Coroners Act 2006

Deaths to be reported and post-mortems - Reporting of deaths

17: Investigations by police

You could also call this:

"Police help coroners find out what happened when someone dies"

Illustration for Coroners Act 2006

If a death is reported to a coroner under section 15, the police must investigate. You need to know the police investigate to help the coroner understand what happened. The police do what the coroner tells them to do. When a coroner gives the police a task, they must think about what is fair and reasonable, as outlined in section 8 of the Policing Act 2008. If the police think the task is not fair or reasonable, they can ask the chief coroner for help. The police and the chief coroner then work together to decide what to do. This rule does not change what is said in section 115.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM377536.

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Crime and justice > Police and safetyHealth and wellbeing > Public health
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16: Responsible coroner, or

"The coroner in charge of handling a death is called the responsible coroner."

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18: When New Zealand Police has exclusive right to custody of body, or

"When Police take care of a body after someone dies"

Part 2Deaths to be reported and post-mortems
Reporting of deaths

17Investigations by police

  1. If a death has been reported to a coroner under section 15, the Commissioner of Police must cause to be made all investigations—

  2. necessary to help to achieve the purpose of this Act in relation to the death; or
    1. directed by the responsible coroner.

      1. In making a direction under subsection (1)(b), the responsible coroner must have regard to the principles set out in section 8 of the Policing Act 2008.

      2. If the Commissioner considers that a coroner’s direction under subsection (1)(b) is unreasonable or unnecessary, the Commissioner may refer the direction to the chief coroner.

      3. If a referral is made under subsection (1B), the Commissioner and the chief coroner must, by agreement, confirm, revoke, or vary the direction.

      4. This section does not limit section 115.

      Compare
      Notes
      • Section 17(1)(b): amended, on , by section 13(1) of the Coroners Amendment Act 2016 (2016 No 29).
      • Section 17(1A): inserted, on , by section 13(2) of the Coroners Amendment Act 2016 (2016 No 29).
      • Section 17(1B): inserted, on , by section 13(2) of the Coroners Amendment Act 2016 (2016 No 29).
      • Section 17(1C): inserted, on , by section 13(2) of the Coroners Amendment Act 2016 (2016 No 29).