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Reserve Bank of New Zealand Act 2021

Central bank functions - Currency

156: Reproduction or imitation of currency

You could also call this:

"Don't make or use fake money without the Bank's permission"

Illustration for Reserve Bank of New Zealand Act 2021

You must not make or use fake money on purpose. This includes designing, printing, or reproducing something that looks like real money. You can get in trouble if you do this without the Bank's permission. You might get a fine or go to prison if you break this rule. The fine can be up to $20,000 for an individual or $50,000 for a company. The prison term can be up to 12 months. The Bank can give you permission to make or use something that looks like money. If they do, you will not get in trouble. Fake money means anything that looks like a real bank note or coin, and could be mistaken for it, as explained in this section and section 157.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS287194.

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Topics:
Money and consumer rights > TaxesCrime and justice > Criminal law
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155: Making or issuing of other bank notes or coins, or

"Only the Reserve Bank can make or issue New Zealand money"

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157: Court may order imitation currency and other things to be destroyed, or

"Court can order fake money and things that made it to be destroyed"

Part 3Central bank functions
Currency

156Reproduction or imitation of currency

  1. A person must not intentionally—

  2. make, design, engrave, print, or reproduce any reproduction or imitation currency; or
    1. use, issue, or publish any reproduction or imitation currency.

      1. Subsection (1) does not apply if the Bank has given its prior consent.

      2. Every person who contravenes this section commits an offence and is liable on conviction,—

      3. in the case of an individual, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to a fine not exceeding $20,000 (or both):
        1. in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $50,000.

          1. In this section and section 157, reproduction or imitation currency means any article or thing resembling a bank note or coin or so nearly resembling or having such a likeness to a bank note or coin as to be likely to be confused with or mistaken for it.

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