Technology-based offences

Key statutes

  • Crimes Act 1961
  • Harmful Digital Communications Act 2015
  • Search and Surveillance Act 2012

Key secondary legislation

  • Crimes (Interception Warrants) Regulations 2003

Forward work

Cabinet has agreed for New Zealand to join the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention) on Cybercrime. This progresses a recommendation by the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Christchurch terror attack to accede to the Convention. The Ministry of Justice is leading this work.

The aim of the Convention is to create a common framework for addressing cybercrime, and to strengthen international cooperation in criminal investigations. New Zealand’s laws already largely align with the requirements of the Convention. Some incremental changes would be required, mostly related to preserving electronic evidence for criminal investigations.