0800 COURTS closes at 3:00pm 24 December 2025, for urgent matters (relating to family matter or bail conditions), please call 0800 253 425. 0800 4 FINES closes at 7:00pm, 24 December 2025. Our Contact Centres will reopen at 8:00am on Monday 5 January 2026. National Office (Aitken Street, Wellington) reception will be closed from 3:00pm on Friday 19 December, reopening at 8:00am on Monday 5 January 2026. For more information, see Court and Tribunal hours
You should tell the police if the harasser doesn’t follow the conditions of the Order or if they act in a way that’s inconsistent with the Order.
Unless the harasser has a reasonable excuse, it will be a breach of the Restraining Order and a criminal offence.
If the harasser breaches the Restraining Order they can be jailed for up to 6 months or fined up to $5000.
However, they can be jailed for up to 2 years if they’ve already been convicted twice in the last 3 years of breaching a Restraining Order made to protect you.
As well as being charged with breaching a Restraining Order, the harasser can also be charged with any other crime committed at the same time, such as assault, theft, or misuse of a phone.
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