Summary Offences Act 1981

Offences against persons or property

10B: Leaving child without reasonable supervision and care

You could also call this:

"Leaving a child alone without proper care can lead to a big fine."

Illustration for Summary Offences Act 1981

You can get a fine of up to $2,000 if you leave a child under 14 without proper care. You must make sure the child is safe and supervised. The fine applies if you are a parent, guardian, or caregiver and leave the child for too long or in bad conditions.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM53535.

This page was last updated on 11 December 2025 — View changes

Topics:

Family and relationships > Children and parentingCrime and justice > Police and safety

10A: Ill-treatment or wilful neglect of child, or

"Don't hurt or neglect kids on purpose"

11: Wilful damage, or

"Deliberately damaging someone's property is against the law"

10BLeaving child without reasonable supervision and care

Every person is liable to a fine not exceeding $2,000 who, being a parent or guardian or a person for the time being having the care of a child under the age of 14 years, leaves that child, without making reasonable provision for the supervision and care of the child, for a time that is unreasonable or under conditions that are unreasonable having regard to all the circumstances.

Compare

1974 No 72 s 9

Notes

Section 10B: inserted, on 1 November 1989, by section 453 of the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989 (1989 No 24).
Section 10B: amended, on 1 January 1998, by section 7 of the Summary Offences Amendment Act 1997 (1997 No 97).