Crimes Act 1961

307A Threats of harm to people or property

• (1) Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years if, without lawful justification or reasonable excuse, and intending to achieve the effect stated in subsection (2), he or she—

  • (a) threatens to do an act likely to have 1 or more of the results described in subsection (3); or

  • (b) communicates information—

    • (i) that purports to be about an act likely to have 1 or more of the results described in subsection (3); and

    • (ii) that he or she believes to be false.

  (2) The effect is causing a significant disruption of 1 or more of the following things:

  • (a) the activities of the civilian population of New Zealand:

  • (b) something that is or forms part of an infrastructure facility in New Zealand:

  • (c) civil administration in New Zealand (whether administration undertaken by the Government of New Zealand or by institutions such as local authorities, District Health Boards, or boards of trustees of schools):

  • (d) commercial activity in New Zealand (whether commercial activity in general or commercial activity of a particular kind).

  (3) The results are—

  • (a) creating a risk to the health of 1 or more people:

  • (b) causing major property damage:

  • (c) causing major economic loss to 1 or more persons:

  • (d) causing major damage to the national economy of New Zealand.

  (4) To avoid doubt, the fact that a person engages in any protest, advocacy, or dissent, or engages in any strike, lockout, or other industrial action, is not, by itself, a sufficient basis for inferring that a person has committed an offence against subsection (1).

  Section 307A: inserted, on 17 November 2003, by section 6 of the Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 2003 (2003 No 105).