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Coroners Act 2006

Inquiries into causes and circumstances of deaths - Inquiries

71A: Chief coroner may grant exemption from restrictions in section 71

You could also call this:

"Chief Coroner can allow you to share details about self-inflicted deaths despite usual rules"

Illustration for Coroners Act 2006

You can ask the chief coroner for permission to publish details about self-inflicted deaths, even if there are rules against it in section 71(2). The chief coroner will consider your request and might ask for advice from experts or more information from you. They can only give you permission if they think it won't encourage others to copy the behaviour and if there's a good reason to allow the publication. You can talk to the chief coroner in person, by phone, or online to sort out your application quickly. The chief coroner keeps a record of all requests, their decisions, and the reasons behind those decisions. The chief coroner might get advice from a special panel set up under section 116A to help make their decision.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM6906484.

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Part 3Inquiries into causes and circumstances of deaths
Inquiries

71AChief coroner may grant exemption from restrictions in section 71

  1. A person may apply to the chief coroner for an exemption from the restrictions (specified in section 71(2)) applying to the publication of details of self-inflicted deaths.

  2. On receiving an application under subsection (1), the chief coroner—

  3. must, so far as practicable, give priority to the consideration of the application; and
    1. may request advice from the suicide and media expert panel established under section 116A; and
      1. may request further information from the applicant.

        1. The chief coroner may grant an applicant an exemption from all or any of the restrictions in section 71(2) only if the chief coroner is satisfied that—

        2. granting the exemption does not present an undue risk that other people will attempt to copy the behaviour of the dead person concerned; and
          1. any risk that people will attempt to copy the behaviour of the dead person concerned is outweighed by other considerations that make it desirable, in the public interest, to allow the publication of the details.

            1. To ensure an application is dealt with promptly, the chief coroner may carry out any communications necessary for processing the application in person or by way of remote access (such as by telephone, video, or Internet link).

            2. The chief coroner must keep a written record of—

            3. every application received under subsection (1); and
              1. whether the chief coroner granted an exemption to the applicant under subsection (3); and
                1. the reasons in each case for granting, or declining to grant, the exemption.

                  Notes
                  • Section 71A: inserted, on , by section 46 of the Coroners Amendment Act 2016 (2016 No 29).