Live statuteSupportedNZRacial hatred
s.131
Human Rights Act 1993
- Target
- Inciting racial disharmony
- Test
- Intent to excite hostility or ill-will, or bring into contempt or ridicule, a group in New Zealand on colour, race, or ethnic or national origins, plus threatening, abusive, or insulting matter or words likely to have that effect.
- Max
- 3 months or a fine not exceeding $7,000
Every person commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to a fine not exceeding $7,000 who, with intent to excite hostility or ill-will against, or bring into contempt or ridicule, any group of persons in New Zealand on the ground of the colour, race, or ethnic or national origins of that group of persons,— (a) publishes or distributes written matter which is threatening, abusive, or insulting, or broadcasts by means of radio or television words which are threatening, abusive, or insulting; or (b) uses in any public place (as defined in section 2(1) of the Summary Offences Act 1981), or within the hearing of persons in any such public place, or at any meeting to which the public are invited or have access, words which are threatening, abusive, or insulting,— being matter or words likely to excite hostility or ill-will against, or bring into contempt or ridicule, any such group of persons in New Zealand on the ground of the colour, race, or ethnic or national origins of that group of persons.
Official English, legislation.govt.nz, Human Rights Act 1993 s.131 (as at 27 November 2025).
Cite · Human Rights Act 1993 No 82, s.131 · as of 2026-09-05
- Do not treat s.131 as Israel §24 or UK s.1.
- Criminal overlay. s.61 is the civil racial-disharmony twin (unlawful, no intent required).
- Terrorism Suppression Act 2002 has participation, financing, and material-support offences. No independent-praise / glorification limb is quoted here.