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Summary Offences Act 1981

Intimidation, obstruction, and hindering Police

21: Intimidation

You could also call this:

"Threatening or frightening someone on purpose is against the law"

Illustration for Summary Offences Act 1981

You commit an offence if you try to frighten or intimidate someone on purpose. You can do this by threatening to hurt them or their family, or damage their property. You can also intimidate someone by following them or hiding their property. You commit an offence if you stop someone from doing their job or running their business. This includes preventing them from working or exercising their trade. If you commit this offence, you could go to prison for up to 3 months or pay a fine of up to $2,000.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM53569.

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21Intimidation

  1. Every person commits an offence who, with intent to frighten or intimidate any other person, or knowing that his or her conduct is likely to cause that other person reasonably to be frightened or intimidated,—

  2. threatens to injure that other person or any member of his or her family, or to damage any of that person's property; or
    1. follows that other person; or
      1. hides any property owned or used by that other person or deprives that person of, or hinders that person in the use of, that property; or
        1. watches or loiters near the house or other place, or the approach to the house or other place, where that other person lives, or works, or carries on business, or happens to be; or
          1. stops, confronts, or accosts that other person in any public place.

            1. Every person commits an offence who forcibly hinders or prevents any person from working at or exercising any lawful trade, business, or occupation.

            2. Every person who commits an offence against this section is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or a fine not exceeding $2,000.

            Notes
            • Section 21: substituted, on , by section 5 of the Summary Offences Amendment Act 1997 (1997 No 97).