(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

(2) A reference in this Act to a person being charged with an offence is a reference to an information being laid against the person for the offence.

(3) A reference in this Act to a benefit derived by a person includes a reference to—

• (a) A benefit derived, directly or indirectly, by the person; and

• (b) A benefit derived, directly or indirectly, by another person at the request or direction of the first person.

(4) For the purposes of this Act, 2 serious offences are related to one another if the elements of the 2 offences comprise substantially the same act or omission.

(5) For the purposes of this Act, a person is proceeded against by indictment for an offence if proceedings against that person for that offence are commenced by the laying of an information in form 2 in Schedule 2 to the Summary Proceedings Act 1957.

(1) For the purposes of this Act, a person shall be treated as having been convicted on indictment of a serious offence if—

• (a) The person is proceeded against by indictment and convicted of the offence:

• (b) The person is proceeded against by indictment and found guilty of, or pleads guilty to, the offence but is discharged without conviction:

• (c) The person absconds in connection with the offence.

(2) For the purposes of this Act, a person's conviction of an offence shall be treated as having been quashed,—

• (a) Where subsection (1)(a) of this section applies, if the conviction is quashed or set aside:

• (b) Where subsection (1)(b) of this section applies, if the finding or plea of guilt is quashed or set aside:

• (c) Where subsection (1)(c) of this section applies, if, after the person has been brought before a Court in respect of the offence, the person is discharged in respect of the offence or a conviction of the person for the offence is quashed or set aside.

(3) Where a person is treated as having been convicted of an offence by reason of subsection (1)(c) of this section, a reference in this Act to the commission of the offence by the person shall be read as a reference to the alleged commission of the offence by that person.

(1) For the purposes of this Act, a person shall be treated as having absconded in connection with an offence only if—

• (a) An information is laid charging the person with the commission of the offence; and

• (b) A warrant for the arrest of the person is issued in relation to that information; and

• (c) At the end of the period of 6 months after the warrant was issued, the person—

  • (i) Cannot be found; or

  • (ii) By reason of being outside New Zealand, is not amenable to justice.

(2) If, at the end of the period referred to in subsection (1)(c) of this section, extradition or rendition proceedings are underway in respect of the offence, the person shall not be treated as having absconded unless and until those proceedings terminate without an order for the person's extradition being made or, as the case may be, without the issue or endorsement of a warrant, or the making of an order, authorising the rendition of that person.

For the purposes of this Act, dealing with property of a person includes—

• (a) If a debt is owed to that person, making a payment to any person in reduction of the debt:

• (b) Removing the property from New Zealand:

• (c) Receiving or making a gift of the property.

This Act binds the Crown.

(1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, this Act applies only to serious offences committed, or believed to have been committed, after the commencement of this Act.

(2) Subsection (1) of this section does not apply in respect of foreign forfeiture orders, foreign pecuniary penalty orders, or foreign restraining orders.

(1) Where a person is convicted on indictment of a serious offence, the Solicitor-General may, at any time before the expiration of the relevant application period, apply to the appropriate Court for one or both of the following orders:

• (a) A forfeiture order against property that is tainted property in respect of the offence:

• (b) A pecuniary penalty order against the person in respect of benefits derived by the person from the commission of the offence.

(2) For the purposes of this section, the appropriate Court, in relation to the person in respect of whose conviction for a serious offence a confiscation order is sought, is—

• (a) The Court before which that person was sentenced, or is due to appear for sentence, in respect of that offence; or

• (b) Where that person is treated as having been convicted of the offence by reason of section 3(1)(c) of this Act, the High Court.

(3) An application may be made under this section in relation to one or more serious offences.

(4) If an application under paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of this section has been made and finally determined in respect of a person's conviction, no further application may be made under that paragraph in relation to the same conviction, except with the leave of the Court.

(5) The Court shall not grant leave under subsection (4) of this section unless it is satisfied—

• (a) That—

  • (i) The tainted property or, as the case requires, the benefit to which the new application relates was identified only after the previous application was determined; or

  • (ii) Evidence necessary to support the new application was not reasonably available at the time of the hearing of the previous application; and

• (b) That it is in the interests of justice to grant the leave.

Every application made under section 8 of this Act in respect of a serious offence shall,—

• (a) In the case of an application for a forfeiture order, identify the property that is alleged to be tainted property in respect of the offence:

• (b) In the case of an application for a pecuniary penalty order, identify the benefits that are alleged to have been derived from the commission of the offence.

(1) Where an application is made for a forfeiture order against property in respect of a person's conviction of a serious offence,—

• (a) The applicant shall serve notice of the application on that person and on any other person the applicant has reason to believe may have an interest in the property:

• (b) The Court may, at any time before the final determination of the application, direct the applicant to serve notice of the application on a specified person or class of persons, in such manner and within such time as the Court thinks fit:

• (c) The person in respect of whose conviction the application is made and any other person who claims an interest in the property are entitled to appear and to adduce evidence at the hearing of the application.

(2) Where an application is made for a pecuniary penalty order against a person convicted of a serious offence,—

• (a) The applicant shall serve notice of the application on that person:

• (b) The person is entitled to appear and to adduce evidence at the hearing of the application.

(1) Where—

• (a) An application is made for a forfeiture order against property of a particular kind; and

• (b) The provisions of any New Zealand enactment provide for the registration of title to, or charges over, property of that kind,—

the Court may, at any time before the final determination of the application, by order, direct the authority responsible for administering those provisions to enter on the register a note of the fact that an application has been made under this Act for a forfeiture order against the property, and the authority shall give effect to the order accordingly.

(2) Where—

• (a) Any entry is made in a register pursuant to an order made under subsection (1) of this section; and

• (b) Any of the following occurs, namely—

  • (i) The application to which the entry relates is finally determined; or

  • (ii) Proceedings on the application to which the entry relates are discontinued, whether because the application is withdrawn or for any other reason; or

  • (iii) The application to which the entry relates is amended so as to exclude the property in respect of which the entry is made,—

the Court shall, by order, direct the relevant authority to cancel the entry, and the authority shall give effect to the order accordingly.

(1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, the Court hearing an application for a confiscation order may amend the application either of its own motion or at the request of the applicant.

(2) The Court shall not amend the application—

• (a) To include additional property in an application for a forfeiture order; or

• (b) To include an additional benefit in an application for a pecuniary penalty order—

unless the Court is satisfied that—

• (c) The property or benefit was not reasonably capable of identification when the application was made; or

• (d) Evidence necessary to support the application in relation to that property or benefit became available only after the application was made.

(3) Where the application is amended in the manner described in subsection (2) of this section, the Court shall—

• (a) Direct the applicant to serve notice of the amendment on the person in respect of whose conviction the application was made:

• (b) In the case of an application for a forfeiture order, direct the applicant to serve notice of the application (as so amended) on any person whom the applicant has reason to believe may have an interest in the additional property included in the application.

Where a person is, by reason of section 3(1)(c) of this Act, treated as having been convicted of a serious offence, a Court shall not make a confiscation order in respect of that conviction unless—

• (a) The Court is satisfied, on the balance of probabilities, that the person has absconded; and

• (b) The Court is satisfied, beyond reasonable doubt, that the person is guilty of the offence.

(1) Where an application for a confiscation order is made in respect of a person's conviction of a serious offence, the Court may, in determining the application, take into account—

• (a) Any evidence given in the proceedings taken against that person for the offence, including (but without limiting the generality of the foregoing)—

  • (i) Any documents, exhibits, or other things connected with the proceedings that the Court considers relevant:

  • (ii) Any note or transcript of the evidence admitted in the proceedings:

• (b) Any sanction imposed pursuant to the person's conviction (whether imposed on sentence or prescribed by law), being a sanction in the nature of a pecuniary penalty or forfeiture of property.

(2) If an application is made to the Court before which the person is due to appear for sentence, the Court may defer the passing of sentence until it has determined the application for the confiscation order.

(1) On the hearing of an application for a forfeiture order in respect of a person's conviction of a serious offence, the Court may, if it is satisfied that property specified in the application is tainted property in respect of the offence, order that such of the property as is specified by the Court is forfeited to the Crown.

(2) In considering whether or not to make an order under subsection (1) of this section in respect of particular property, the Court may have regard to—

• (a) The use that is ordinarily made, or was intended to be made, of the property; and

• (b) Any undue hardship that is reasonably likely to be caused to any person by the operation of such an order; and

• (c) The nature and extent of the offender's interest in the property (if any), and the nature and extent of any other person's interest in it (if any); and

• (d) In addition to the matter referred to in section 14(1)(b) of this Act, any other matter relating to the nature and circumstances of the offence or the offender, including the gravity of the offence.

(3) A Court that makes a forfeiture order against property may, if it considers that it is appropriate to do so, by order,—

• (a) Declare the nature, extent, and value of any person's interest in the property; and

• (b) Declare that the forfeiture order may, to the extent to which it relates to the interest, be discharged pursuant to section 22 of this Act.

(4) Where the Court orders that property (other than money) is forfeited to the Crown, the Court shall specify in the order the amount that it considers to be the value of the property at the time the order is made.

(5) Where a Court makes a forfeiture order, the Court may give such directions as are necessary and convenient for giving effect to the order.

(6) Without limiting the generality of subsection (5) of this section, where a Court makes a forfeiture order against any property title to which is passed by registration on a register maintained pursuant to any New Zealand enactment, the Court may direct an officer of the Court to do anything reasonably necessary to obtain possession of any document required to effect the transfer of the property, and for that purpose may, by warrant, authorise any such officer to enter and search any place or thing and seize any such document.

(7) Sections 31 to 34 of this Act, so far as applicable and with all necessary modifications, shall apply in relation to a warrant issued pursuant to subsection (6) of this section to an officer of the Court as if it were a warrant issued under section 30 of this Act to a member of the Police.

(1) Where a Court makes a forfeiture order against property, the property shall vest absolutely in the Crown to the extent of the interest specified in the order.

(2) Nothing in subsection (1) of this section affects the operation of section 99 of the Land Transfer Act 1952 in relation to a forfeiture order made in respect of an estate or interest under that Act.

(3) Where a Court makes a forfeiture order in respect of an estate or interest in land, the order shall be transmitted by the Registrar of the Court to the District Land Registrar or the Registrar of Deeds, as the case may be, for the purposes of registration under the Land Transfer Act 1952 or the Deeds Registration Act 1908, as the case may require.

(4) Where a Court makes a forfeiture order against any property,—

• (a) Except with the leave of the Court that made the forfeiture order, the property that is forfeited to the Crown under the order shall not be disposed of, or otherwise dealt with, by or on behalf of the Crown, until the expiry of the relevant appeal period; and

• (b) On the expiry of the relevant appeal period, if the forfeiture order has not been discharged, the property may be disposed of, or otherwise dealt with, in accordance with any direction of the Minister.

(5) For the purposes of this section expiry of the relevant appeal period, in relation to a forfeiture order made in reliance on a person's conviction of a serious offence, means—

• (a) The end of the appeal period in relation to the making of the forfeiture order; or

• (b) The end of the appeal period in relation to the person's conviction on which the order is based,—

whichever is the later.

(6) For the purposes of this section, appeal period, in relation to the making of a forfeiture order or the entering of a person's conviction, means the period ending—

• (a) When the time for bringing an appeal against the decision of the Court expires, if no such appeal has been brought; or

• (b) If an appeal against the decision of the Court has been brought, when the appeal is finally determined or is withdrawn, whichever occurs first.

(1) Where an application is made for a forfeiture order, a person who claims an interest in any of the property specified in the application may apply, before the forfeiture order is made, to the Court for an order under section 18 of this Act.

(2) Where a Court makes a forfeiture order against any property, any person who claims an interest in any of the property specified in the order may apply to the Court for an order under section 18 of this Act at any time within the period of 6 months from the date on which the forfeiture order was made or such further period as the Court allows on application made for that purpose either before or after the expiry of that period of 6 months.

(3) The person in respect of whose conviction the forfeiture order is sought or was made may not apply under subsection (1) or subsection (2) of this section.

(4) A person on whom notice of the application for a forfeiture order, or of any amendment to the application, was served, or who appeared at the hearing of the application, may not apply under subsection (2) of this section except with the leave of the Court.

(5) The Court shall not grant leave under subsection (4) of this section unless there are special reasons for doing so.

(6) Without limiting the generality of subsection (5) of this section, the Court may grant leave under subsection (4) of this section if it is satisfied—

• (a) That the applicant had good reason for failing to attend the hearing of the application for the forfeiture order; or

• (b) That evidence proposed to be adduced by the applicant in connection with the application under subsection (2) of this section was not reasonably available to the applicant at the time of the hearing of the application for the forfeiture order.

(7) A person who makes an application under subsection (1) or subsection (2) of this section shall serve notice of the application on the Solicitor-General, who shall be a party to any proceedings upon that application.

(1) Where—

• (a) A person applies to the Court under subsection (1) or subsection (2) of section 17 of this Act in respect of an interest in property; and

• (b) The Court is satisfied that the applicant's claim to that interest is valid,—

the Court shall, subject to subsection (2) of this section, make an order—

• (c) Declaring the nature, extent, and value of the applicant's interest in the property; and

• (d) Either—

  • (i) Directing the Crown to transfer the interest to the applicant; or

  • (ii) Declaring that there is payable by the Crown to the applicant an amount equal to the value of the interest declared by the Court; or

  • (iii) In the case of an application under section 17(1) of this Act, directing that the interest shall not be included in a forfeiture order made in respect of the proceedings that gave rise to the application.

(2) The Court may refuse to make an order under subsection (1) of this section if it is satisfied that—

• (a) The applicant was, in any respect, involved in the commission of the offence in respect of which forfeiture of the property is or was sought; or

• (b) If the applicant acquired the interest at the time of or after the commission of the offence, the applicant did not acquire the interest in the property in good faith and for value, without knowing or having reason to believe that the property was, at the time of the acquisition, tainted property,—

but nothing in this subsection shall be taken to require such a refusal.

(1) Where a Court makes a forfeiture order against property in respect of a person's conviction of a serious offence, and the conviction is subsequently quashed, the quashing of the conviction shall operate to discharge the forfeiture order.

(2) Where a forfeiture order in respect of any property is discharged as provided in subsection (1) of this section or by a Court hearing an appeal against the making of the order, the Solicitor-General shall—

• (a) As soon as practicable after the discharge of the order, serve notice of the discharge of the forfeiture order on any person the Solicitor-General has reason to believe may have had an interest in the property immediately before the making of the order; and

• (b) If required to do so by a Court, serve notice of the discharge of the forfeiture order on any specified person or class of persons, in such manner and within such period as is directed by the Court.

(3) Every notice under subsection (2) of this section shall include a statement that a person claiming an interest in the property may apply under subsection (4) of this section for the transfer of the interest to that person.

(4) Where a forfeiture order is discharged in either of the ways referred to in subsection (2) of this section, any person claiming an interest in the property immediately before the making of the forfeiture order may apply to the Minister, in writing, for the transfer of the interest to that person.

(5) If the Minister is satisfied that any claim made under subsection (4) of this section in respect of any interest in property is valid, the Minister shall,—

• (a) If the interest is still vested in the Crown, arrange for the interest to be transferred to the claimant; or

• (b) In any other case, and subject to section 21 of this Act, arrange for payment to the claimant of an amount equal to the value of the interest.

(1) In any case where there is any question as to the validity of any claim made pursuant to section 19(4) of this Act, the Minister may apply to a District Court for directions concerning the claim, and the Court may give such directions in the matter as it thinks just.

(2) Where an application is made under subsection (1) of this section,—

• (a) The Minister shall serve notice of the application on every person that the Minister has reason to believe may have an interest in the application:

• (b) The Court may, at any time before the final determination of the application, direct the Minister to serve notice of the application on a specified person or class of persons, in such manner and within such time as the Court thinks fit:

• (c) Every person who claims an interest in the application is entitled to appear and to adduce evidence at the hearing of the application.

Where, on any application made under section 17 of this Act in respect of any interest in any property, the Court has made an order under section 18(1)(d)(ii) of this Act declaring that there is payable by the Crown to the applicant an amount equal to the value of the interest declared by the Court, an amount equal to the amount so declared shall be deducted from any amount required to be paid, under section 19(5)(b) of this Act, to that applicant in respect of that interest.

Where a Court—

• (a) Makes a forfeiture order against any property; and

• (b) Makes an order under subsection (3) of section 15 of this Act in respect of an interest in the property,—

the payment to the Crown, while the interest is still vested in the Crown, of the amount specified in the order under that subsection as the value of the interest shall operate to discharge the forfeiture order to the extent to which it relates to the interest, and the Minister shall arrange for the interest to be transferred to the person in whom it was vested immediately before the forfeiture order was made.

(1) Where—

• (a) Any property is forfeited to the Crown under a forfeiture order; and

• (b) An interest in that property is required to be transferred to any person (in this section called “the purchaser”) under section 19(5) or section 22 of this Act or under a direction given under section 18(1)(d)(i) of this Act; and

• (c) Immediately before the forfeiture took place, there existed other interests in that property,—

the purchaser may give written notice to each other person who had such an interest in the property that the purchaser intends to purchase that other interest from the Crown.

(2) Any person who receives such a notice may, within 21 days after receipt of the notice, lodge a written objection to the purchase of that interest with the Minister.

(3) Where the purchaser complies with the requirements of subsection (1) of this section, and, in respect of any other interest in the property,—

• (a) A written objection to the purchase of the interest is not lodged with the Minister within the period referred to in subsection (2) of this section; and

• (b) The purchaser pays to the Crown, while that interest is still vested in the Crown, an amount equal to the value of that interest,—

the Minister shall arrange for that interest to be transferred to the purchaser.

Where a foreign forfeiture order against property is registered in New Zealand in accordance with section 56 of the Mutual Assistance Act,—

• (a) This Part of this Act (other than sections 15(3), 16(4) to (6), and 17 to 23), so far as applicable and with all necessary modifications, shall apply in relation to the order; and

• (b) The property may be disposed of, or otherwise dealt with, in accordance with any direction of the Attorney-General or of a person authorised, in writing, by the Attorney-General for the purposes of this paragraph.

Where, in accordance with section 56 of the Mutual Assistance Act, the High Court orders the registration in New Zealand of a foreign forfeiture order against property, the Court shall direct the Solicitor-General to serve notice of the registration—

• (a) On a specified person or specified persons (other than a person convicted of a foreign serious offence in respect of which the foreign forfeiture order was made) whom the Court has reason to believe may have an interest in the property; and

• (b) In such manner and within such time as the Court thinks fit.

(1) Where a foreign forfeiture order against property is registered in New Zealand in accordance with section 56 of the Mutual Assistance Act, any person (other than a person convicted of a foreign serious offence in respect of which the order was made) who claims an interest in any of the property to which the order relates may apply to the High Court for an order under section 23D of this Act.

(2) A person on whom notice of the hearing held in connection with the making of the foreign forfeiture order was served, or who appeared at the hearing, may not apply under subsection (1) of this section except with the leave of the Court.

(3) The Court shall not grant leave under subsection (2) of this section unless there are special reasons for doing so.

(4) Without limiting the generality of subsection (3) of this section, the Court may grant leave under subsection (2) of this section if it is satisfied—

• (a) That the applicant had good reason for failing to attend the hearing held in connection with the making of the foreign forfeiture order; or

• (b) That evidence proposed to be adduced by the applicant in connection with the application under subsection (1) of this section was not reasonably available to the applicant at the time of that hearing.

(5) Subject to subsection (6) of this section, an application under subsection (1) of this section shall be made before the expiry of the period of 2 months beginning on the date on which the foreign forfeiture order is registered in the Court.

(6) The Court may grant a person leave to apply under subsection (1) of this section outside the period referred to in subsection (5) of this section if the Court is satisfied that the person's failure to apply within that period was not due to any neglect on the person's part.

(7) A person who makes an application under subsection (1) of this section shall serve notice of the application on the Solicitor-General, who shall be a party to any proceedings on the application.

(1) Where—

• (a) A person applies to the Court under section 23C(1) of this Act in respect of an interest in property; and

• (b) The Court is satisfied that the applicant's claim to that interest is valid,—

the Court shall, subject to subsection (2) of this section, make an order—

• (c) Declaring the nature, extent, and value of the applicant's interest in the property; and

• (d) Either—

  • (i) Directing the Crown to transfer the interest to the applicant; or

  • (ii) Declaring that there is payable by the Crown to the applicant an amount equal to the value of the interest declared by the Court.

(2) The Court may refuse to make an order under subsection (1) of this section if it is satisfied that—

• (a) The applicant was, in any respect, involved in the commission of the offence in respect of which the foreign forfeiture order was made; or

• (b) If the applicant acquired the interest at the time of or after the commission of the offence, the applicant did not acquire the interest in the property in good faith and for value, without knowing or having reason to believe that the property was, at the time of the acquisition, tainted property,—

but nothing in this subsection shall be taken to require such a refusal.

(1) Sections 25 to 29 of this Act apply to—

• (a) Benefits that are provided to or derived by a person either within or outside New Zealand and either before or after the commencement of this Act:

• (b) Property that comes into the possession, or under the control, of a person either within or outside New Zealand and either before or after the commencement of this Act.

(2) Despite subsection (1), sections 25 to 29 do not apply to interests in or claims against property that a person who is a killer under the Succession (Homicide) Act 2007 is not entitled to claim or receive because of that Act.

(1) On the hearing of an application for a pecuniary penalty order in respect of benefits derived by a person from the commission of a serious offence, the Court may, if it is satisfied that the person derived benefits from the commission of that offence,—

• (a) Assess, in accordance with sections 27 and 28 of this Act, the value of the benefits so derived; and

• (b) Order the person to pay to the Crown a pecuniary penalty not greater than the penalty amount.

(2) The penalty amount is the value of the benefits assessed under sections 27 and 28 of this Act, reduced by—

• (a) An amount equal to the value of any property that has been forfeited, or is proposed to be forfeited, to the Crown under this Part of this Act as proceeds of the relevant serious offence; and

• (b) An amount equal to the value of any pecuniary penalty that has already been imposed, in respect of the benefit, under this Act or any other enactment; and

• (c) Any further amount which the Court considers appropriate to take into account, after having regard to the matter referred to in section 14(1)(b) of this Act.

(3) A pecuniary penalty order against a person may be enforced as if it were an order made in civil proceedings instituted by the Crown against the person to recover a debt due by that person to the Crown.

(1) Where—

• (a) A Court makes a pecuniary penalty order; and

• (b) In calculating the penalty amount, the Court took into account a forfeiture of, or proposed forfeiture order in respect of, any property; and

• (c) The forfeiture order is discharged on appeal against the making of the order, or the proceedings for the proposed forfeiture order terminate without the proposed order being made,—

the Solicitor-General may apply to the Court for a variation of the pecuniary penalty order to increase the amount payable to the Crown by the value of the property taken into account under section 25(2)(a) of this Act.

(2) On an application under subsection (1) of this section, the Court may, if it considers it appropriate to do so, vary the pecuniary penalty order accordingly.

(1) In this section and in section 28 of this Act, the term offence period, in relation to an application for a pecuniary penalty order in respect of 2 or more serious offences, means the period commencing when the earlier or earliest of those offences was committed and ending when the later or latest of those offences was committed.

(2) For the purposes of an application for a pecuniary penalty order, the value of the benefits derived by a person (in this subsection referred to as the defendant) from the commission of an offence or offences shall be assessed by the Court having regard to evidence before the Court concerning all or any of the following matters:

• (a) The money, or the value of the property other than money, that came into the possession or under the control of—

  • (i) The defendant; or

  • (ii) Another person at the request or direction of the defendant—

  by reason of the commission of the offence or any of the offences:

• (b) The value of any other benefit provided to—

  • (i) The defendant; or

  • (ii) Another person at the request or direction of the defendant—

  by reason of the commission of the offence or any of the offences:

• (c) The value of the defendant's property,—

  • (i) Where the application relates to a single offence, before and after the commission of the offence; or

  • (ii) Where the application relates to 2 or more offences, before, during, and after the offence period.

(3) In calculating, for the purposes of a pecuniary penalty order, the value of benefits derived by a person from the commission of an offence or offences, any expenses or outgoings of that person in connection with the commission of the offence or offences shall be disregarded.

(4) For the purposes of this section and section 28 of this Act, where property of a person vests in the Assignee under the Insolvency Act 2006 by reason of a person's bankruptcy, the property shall continue to be treated as the property of that person.

(1) Where an application for a pecuniary penalty order is made in respect of a single offence, and the Court is satisfied that the value of the defendant's property after the commission of the offence exceeded the value of the defendant's property before the commission of the offence, then, for the purposes of section 27 of this Act, the Court may, subject to subsection (3) of this section, treat the value of the benefits derived by the defendant from the commission of the offence as being not less than the amount of the excess.

(2) Where an application for a pecuniary penalty order is made in respect of 2 or more offences, and the Court is satisfied that the value of the defendant's property at any time during or after the offence period exceeded the value of the defendant's property before the offence period, then, for the purposes of section 27 of this Act, the Court may, subject to subsection (3) of this section, treat the value of the benefits derived by the defendant from the commission of the offences as being not less than the amount of the excess.

(3) Notwithstanding anything in subsection (1) or subsection (2) of this section, if the defendant satisfies the Court that the whole or part of the excess was due to causes unrelated to the commission of the offence or offences, the excess or that part of the excess, as the case may be, shall not be included, for the purposes of section 27 of this Act, in the value of benefits derived by the defendant from the commission of the offence or offences.

(4) Where an application for a pecuniary penalty order is made in relation to 1 or more drug-dealing offences,—

• (a) All the property of the defendant at the time the application is made; and

• (b) All the property of the defendant at any time—

  • (i) Within the period between the day the offence, or the earliest offence, was committed and the day on which the application is made; or

  • (ii) Within the period of 2 years immediately before the day on which the application is made,—

  whichever is the shorter—

shall be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, to be property that came into the possession or under the control of the defendant by reason of the commission of the offence or offences.

(1) In assessing the value of benefits derived by a person from the commission of an offence or offences, the Court may treat as property of that person any property that the Court is satisfied is subject to the effective control of the person whether or not the person has—

• (a) Any legal or equitable estate or interest in the property; or

• (b) Any right, power, or privilege in connection with the property.

(2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1) of this section, the Court may have regard to—

• (a) Shareholdings in, debentures over, or directorships of, any company that has an interest (whether direct or indirect) in the property; and

• (b) Any trust that has a relationship to the property; and

• (c) Family, domestic, and business relationships between persons having an interest in the property, or in companies of the kind referred to in paragraph (a) of this subsection or trusts of the kind referred to in paragraph (b) of this subsection, and any other persons.

(3) Where a Court, for the purposes of making a pecuniary penalty order against a person, treats particular property as that person's property under subsection (1) of this section, the Court may, on application by the Solicitor-General, make an order declaring that the property is available to satisfy the order.

(4) Where a Court declares that property is available to satisfy a pecuniary penalty order,—

• (a) The pecuniary penalty order may be enforced against the property as if the property were the property of the person against whom the order is made; and

• (b) A restraining order may be made in respect of the property as if the property were property of the person against whom the order is made.

(5) Where the Solicitor-General applies for an order under subsection (3) of this section that property is available to satisfy a pecuniary penalty order against a person,—

• (a) The Solicitor-General shall serve notice of the application on that person and on any person whom the Solicitor-General has reason to believe may have an interest in the property; and

• (b) That person and any person who claims an interest in the property may appear and adduce evidence at the hearing of the application.

Where a foreign pecuniary penalty order is registered in New Zealand in accordance with section 56 of the Mutual Assistance Act, any amount paid (whether in New Zealand, in the foreign country in which the order was made, or elsewhere) in satisfaction of the order shall be taken to have been paid in satisfaction of the debt that arises by reason of the registration of the order in New Zealand.

(1) Any District Court Judge who, on an application in writing made on oath, is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that there is in or on any place or thing any property that is tainted property in respect of a serious offence may issue a search warrant in respect of that tainted property.

(2) An application for a warrant under subsection (1) of this section may be made only by a commissioned officer of the Police.

(3) A District Court Judge shall not issue a warrant under subsection (1) of this section unless the application contains, or the applicant otherwise supplies to the Judge, such information as the Judge requires concerning the grounds on which the warrant is sought.

(4) A warrant may be issued under subsection (1) of this section in relation to tainted property whether or not an information has been laid in respect of the relevant serious offence, but where an information has not been laid in respect of that offence at the time when the application for the warrant is made, the District Court Judge shall not issue a warrant unless the Judge is satisfied that an information will be laid in respect of the offence within 48 hours of the issue of the warrant.

(1) Every warrant issued under section 30 of this Act shall be in the prescribed form.

(2) Every warrant issued under section 30 of this Act shall be directed to any member of the Police by name, or to any class of members of the Police specified in the warrant, or generally to every member of the Police.

(3) Every warrant issued under section 30 of this Act shall be subject to such special conditions (if any) as the District Court Judge may specify in the warrant.

(4) Every warrant issued under section 30 of this Act shall contain the following particulars:

• (a) The place or thing that may be searched pursuant to the warrant:

• (b) The offence or offences in respect of which the warrant is issued:

• (c) A description of the kind of property that is authorised to be seized:

• (d) The period during which the warrant may be executed, being a period not exceeding 14 days from the date of issue:

• (e) Any conditions specified by the Judge pursuant to subsection (3) of this section.

(1) Subject to any special conditions specified in the warrant pursuant to section 31(3) of this Act, every warrant issued under section 30 of this Act shall authorise the member of the Police executing the warrant—

• (a) To enter and search the place or thing specified in the warrant at any time by day or night during the currency of the warrant; and

• (b) To use such assistants as may be reasonable in the circumstances for the purpose of the entry and search; and

• (c) To use such force as is reasonable in the circumstances for the purposes of effecting entry, and for breaking open anything in or on the place searched; and

• (d) To search for and seize any property of the kind described in the warrant that the person executing the warrant believes on reasonable grounds to be tainted property in respect of the relevant serious offence.

(2) Every person called upon to assist any member of the Police executing a warrant issued under section 30 of this Act shall have the powers described in paragraphs (c) and (d) of subsection (1) of this section.

(3) If a member of the Police, in the course of executing a warrant issued under section 30 of this Act, finds any property that the member of the Police believes, on reasonable grounds, to be—

• (a) Tainted property in respect of a serious offence other than an offence specified in the warrant; or

• (b) Tainted property in relation to any offence specified in the warrant, although not of a kind specified in the warrant,—

the warrant shall be sufficient authority to seize that property if the member of the Police believes on reasonable grounds that seizure is necessary to prevent the loss, destruction, or concealment of the property.

If it is necessary for a member of the Police to stop a vehicle for the purpose of exercising a search power conferred by section 32(1), sections 314B to 314D of the Crimes Act 1961 apply with any necessary modifications as if references in those sections to a statutory search power are references to section 32(1).

Every member of the Police executing any warrant issued under section 30 of this Act—

• (a) Shall have that warrant with him or her; and

• (b) Shall produce it on initial entry and, if requested, at any subsequent time; and

• (c) Shall, if requested at the time of the execution of the warrant or at any subsequent time, provide a copy of the warrant within 7 days after the request is made.

Every member of the Police who executes a warrant issued under section 30 of this Act shall, not later than 7 days after the seizure of any property pursuant to that warrant, give to the owner or occupier of the place or thing searched, and to every other person whom the member of the Police has reason to believe may have an interest in the property seized, a written notice specifying—

• (a) The date and time of the execution of the warrant; and

• (b) The identity of the person who executed the warrant; and

• (c) The property seized under the warrant.

Where property is seized pursuant to a warrant issued under section 30 of this Act, the Commissioner of Police shall arrange for the property to be kept until it is dealt with in accordance with another provision of this Act.

(1) Subject to subsections (2) to (4) of this section and to sections 37 and 38 of this Act, where any property is seized pursuant to a warrant issued under section 30 of this Act, the property shall be returned to the person from whose possession it was seized not later than 14 days after the date on which it was seized.

(2) Subject to sections 37 and 38 of this Act, where—

• (a) Any property is seized pursuant to a warrant issued under section 30 of this Act; and

• (b) At the time when the property was seized, an information had not been laid in respect of a relevant serious offence; and

• (c) No such information is laid within 48 hours after the time when the property was seized,—

the Commissioner of Police shall arrange for the property to be returned to the person from whose possession it was seized as soon as practicable after that period of 48 hours has expired.

(3) Subject to sections 37 and 38 of this Act, where—

• (a) Any property is seized pursuant to a warrant issued under section 30 of this Act; and

• (b) Either—

  • (i) Before the property was seized, a person had been convicted of a relevant serious offence or an information had been laid in respect of a relevant serious offence; or

  • (ii) An information was laid in respect of a relevant serious offence within 48 hours after the time when the property was seized; and

• (c) No forfeiture order has been made against the property within the period of 14 days after the property was seized,—

the Commissioner of Police shall arrange for the property to be returned to the person from whose possession it was seized as soon as practicable after the period of 14 days has expired.

(4) Where—

• (a) Any property has been seized pursuant to a warrant issued under section 30 of this Act; and

• (b) An application for a restraining order or a forfeiture order is made in respect of the property and refused; and

• (c) The property is in the possession of the Commissioner of Police at the time the application is refused,—

the Commissioner of Police shall arrange for the property to be returned to the person from whose possession it was seized as soon as practicable after the refusal.

(1) Where—

• (a) Any property is seized pursuant to a warrant issued under section 30 of this Act; and

• (b) But for this subsection, the Commissioner of Police would be required, pursuant to subsection (2) or subsection (3) of section 36 of this Act, to arrange for any property to be returned to a person as soon as practicable after the end of a particular period; and

• (c) Before the end of that period, a restraining order is made in relation to the property,—

the following provisions shall apply:

• (d) If the restraining order directs the Official Assignee to take custody and control of the property, the Commissioner of Police shall arrange for the property to be given to the Official Assignee in accordance with that order:

• (e) If the High Court has made an order under subsection (2) of this section in relation to the property, the Commissioner of Police shall arrange for the property to be kept until it is dealt with in accordance with this Act.

(2) Where a restraining order is made in relation to property within the period referred to in subsection (1)(c) of this section, the Commissioner of Police may apply to the High Court for an order that the Commissioner retain possession of the property, and the Court may, if it is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the property may afford evidence of the commission of a relevant offence, make an order that the Commissioner may retain the property for so long as the property is required as evidence of the commission of that offence.

(3) Where a forfeiture order is made in respect of any property that is in the possession of the Commissioner of Police pursuant to section 35 of this Act, the Commissioner shall deal with the property as required by the order.

(1) Where any property has been seized pursuant to a warrant issued under section 30 of this Act, any person who claims an interest in the property may apply to a District Court for an order that the property be returned to the person.

(2) An application may be made under subsection (1) of this section at any time before the property is returned or otherwise dealt with in accordance with any of the provisions of sections 36 and 37 of this Act.

(3) Where any person makes an application under subsection (1) of this section in respect of any property, and the Court is satisfied that—

• (a) The applicant is entitled to possession of the property; and

• (b) The property is not tainted property in relation to a relevant serious offence; and

• (c) The person in respect of whose conviction, charging, or proposed charging the property was seized has no interest in the property,—

the Court shall order the Commissioner of Police to arrange for the property to be returned to the applicant.

(1) Where a commissioned officer of the Police is authorised, under section 59 of the Mutual Assistance Act, to apply for a search warrant under this Part of this Act in relation to tainted property in respect of a foreign serious offence, the officer may apply for the search warrant accordingly.

(2) This Part of this Act (other than sections 30(4), 32(3), and 36 to 38), so far as applicable and with all necessary modifications, shall apply in relation to an application made pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, and to any search warrant issued as a result of any such application, as if references in this Part of this Act to tainted property were references to tainted property in relation to a foreign serious offence.

(3) This section applies with any necessary modifications if a person or body is authorised, under section 112 of the International Crimes and International Criminal Court Act 2000, to apply for a search warrant under this Act in relation to tainted property in respect of an international crime or an offence involving the administration of justice.

Without limiting subsections (1) and (2) of section 32 of this Act (as applied by section 38A(2) of this Act), if a member of the Police, in the course of executing a warrant issued under section 30 of this Act in relation to a foreign serious offence, finds any property that the member of the Police believes on reasonable grounds to be—

• (a) Tainted property in relation to the foreign serious offence although not of a kind specified in the warrant; or

• (b) Tainted property in relation to another foreign serious offence in respect of which a search warrant issued under section 30 of this Act is in force,—

the warrant shall be sufficient authority to seize that property if the member of the Police believes, on reasonable grounds, that seizure is necessary to prevent the loss, destruction, or concealment of the property.

Where—

• (a) Property is seized pursuant to a warrant issued under section 30 of this Act in respect of a foreign serious offence; and

• (b) At the end of the period of 1 month commencing on the day after the day on which the property was seized,—

  • (i) Neither a foreign restraining order nor a foreign forfeiture order in relation to the property has been registered in New Zealand under the Mutual Assistance Act; and

  • (ii) A restraining order in respect of the property has not been made under this Act in relation to the foreign serious offence,—

the Commissioner of Police shall arrange for the property to be returned to the person from whose possession it was seized as soon as practicable after the end of that period of 1 month.

(1) Where—

• (a) Any property is seized pursuant to a warrant issued under section 30 of this Act in respect of a foreign serious offence; and

• (b) Before the end of the period referred to in section 38C of this Act,—

  • (i) A foreign restraining order in relation to the property is registered in New Zealand under the Mutual Assistance Act; or

  • (ii) A restraining order in respect of the property is made under this Act in relation to the foreign serious offence,—

the following provisions shall apply:

• (c) If there is in force, at the end of that period, a direction by a Court that the Official Assignee take custody and control of the property, the Commissioner of Police shall arrange for the property to be given to the Official Assignee in accordance with the direction:

• (d) If there is in force at the end of that period an order under subsection (2) of this section in relation to the property, the Commissioner shall arrange for the property to be kept until it is dealt with in accordance with another provision of this Act:

• (e) If neither paragraph (c) nor paragraph (d) of this subsection applies, the Commissioner of Police shall deal with the property in accordance with the terms of the foreign restraining order or, as the case may require, the restraining order made under this Act.

(2) Where—

• (a) Any property is seized pursuant to a warrant issued under section 30 of this Act in respect of a foreign serious offence; and

• (b) Either—

  • (i) A foreign restraining order in respect of the property is registered in New Zealand under the Mutual Assistance Act; or

  • (ii) A restraining order in respect of the property is made under this Act in relation to the foreign serious offence; and

• (c) At the time when the restraining order is made or registered, the property is in the possession of the Commissioner of Police,—

the Commissioner may apply to the High Court for an order that the Commissioner retain possession of the property, and the Court may, if it is satisfied that the property is required by the Commissioner to be dealt with in accordance with a request made under the Mutual Assistance Act by the foreign country that requested the registration of, or the obtaining of, the restraining order, make an order that the Commissioner may retain the property for so long as the property is required for that purpose.

(3) Where—

• (a) Any property is seized pursuant to a warrant issued under section 30 of this Act in relation to a foreign serious offence; and

• (b) While the property is in the possession of the Commissioner of Police, a foreign forfeiture order in respect of the property is registered in New Zealand under the Mutual Assistance Act,—

the Commissioner shall deal with the property as required by the forfeiture order.

(1) Where any property has been seized pursuant to a warrant issued under section 30 of this Act in respect of a foreign serious offence, any person who claims an interest in the property may apply to a District Court for an order that the property be returned to the person.

(2) An application may be made under subsection (1) of this section at any time before the property is returned or otherwise dealt with in accordance with any of the provisions of sections 38C and 38D of this Act.

(3) Where a person makes an application under subsection (1) of this section in respect of any property, and the Court is satisfied—

• (a) That the applicant is entitled to possession of the property; and

• (b) That the property is not tainted property in relation to the relevant foreign serious offence; and

• (c) That the person who is alleged to have committed the relevant foreign serious offence has no interest in the property,—

the Court shall order the Commissioner of Police to arrange for the property to be returned to the applicant.

(1) Where a person (in this section and sections 43, 44, and 48 of this Act referred to as the defendant)—

• (a) Has been convicted on indictment of a serious offence; or

• (b) Has been, or is about to be, charged with a serious offence,—

the Solicitor-General may apply to the High Court for a restraining order under section 42 of this Act.

(2) A restraining order may be sought and made in respect of—

• (a) Specified property of the defendant; or

• (b) All the property of the defendant (including property acquired after the making of the order); or

• (c) All the property of the defendant (including property acquired after the making of the order) other than specified property; or

• (d) Specified property of a person other than the defendant.

Subject to section 41 of this Act, where an application is made for a restraining order against property,—

• (a) The applicant shall serve notice of the application on—

  • (i) The owner of the property; and

  • (ii) Any other person the applicant has reason to believe may have an interest in the property; and

  • (iii) The Official Assignee, in any case where the applicant seeks an order of the kind referred to in section 42(1)(b) of this Act; and

• (b) The Court may, at any time before the final determination of the application, direct the applicant to serve notice of the application on a specified person or class of persons, in such manner and within such time as the Court thinks fit; and

• (c) The owner of the property and any other person who claims an interest in the property are entitled to appear and to adduce evidence at the hearing of the application.

(1) Notwithstanding section 40 of this Act, where an application is made for a restraining order against property, the Court may, if the Solicitor-General so requests, consider the application without notice having been given in accordance with that section if the Court is satisfied that proceeding without notice is necessary to prevent the destruction, concealment, or disposal of the property.

(2) Notwithstanding anything in section 65(1) of this Act but subject to subsection (3) of this section, a restraining order granted by virtue of subsection (1) of this section ceases to be in force at the end of the period of 7 days commencing on the date on which it is made.

(3) If, before a restraining order granted by virtue of subsection (1) of this section in respect of any property would otherwise expire under subsection (2) of this section, an application is made for a restraining order against that property (whether or not the application also relates to any other property), being an application that is to be heard on notice, the first-mentioned restraining order shall continue in force until the application is finally disposed of.

(4) Where an application to which subsection (3) of this section applies is made, it shall be the duty of the Solicitor-General to prosecute the application with all due diligence, and if that is not done the Court may, on the application of any party to the proceedings, order that the proceedings be struck out.

(5) Where an application to which subsection (3) of this section applies is made, the Court shall, so far as it is practicable and consistent with the interests of justice, ensure that the application is dealt with speedily.

(6) The provisions of this Act shall apply to a restraining order made by virtue of subsection (1) of this section as if it were a restraining order made on notice, except that—

• (a) Section 65(1), section 65(3)(g), and section 66 shall not apply:

• (b) Section 65(3)(c) and (d) shall be read as if for the expression “subsection (1) of this section” there were substituted the expression “section 41 of this Act”.

(7) On the expiry of a restraining order made by virtue of subsection (1) of this section, any ancillary order made under section 47 of this Act in relation to that order shall cease to be in force.

(1) Where an application is made to the High Court for a restraining order against any property, the Court may, subject to sections 43 and 44 of this Act, by order,—

• (a) Direct that the property, or such part of the property as is specified in the order, is not to be disposed of or otherwise dealt with by any person except as provided in the order; and

• (b) If the Court is satisfied that it is desirable to do so, direct the Official Assignee to take custody and control of the property, or of such part of the property as is specified in the order.

(2) A restraining order against a person's property may be made subject to such conditions as the Court thinks fit, which conditions may include, but are not limited to, conditions which make provision for meeting, out of the property included in the order, all or any of the following:

• (a) The reasonable living expenses of the person and the person's dependants, if any:

• (b) The person's reasonable business expenses:

• (c) The person's reasonable expenses in defending any criminal proceedings (including any proceedings under this Act):

• (d) Any specified debt incurred by the person in good faith:

• (e) Any other expense allowed by the Court.

(3) In determining whether or not to make provision of the type described in subsection (2) of this section, the Court shall have regard to the ability of the person to meet the expense or debt concerned out of property that is not subject to a restraining order.

(1) Where an application under section 39 of this Act seeks a restraining order against specified property of the defendant, the Court shall not make an order against the property unless the Court is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that—

• (a) The property is tainted property in relation to the relevant serious offence; or

• (b) The defendant derived a benefit, directly or indirectly, from the commission of the offence.

(2) Where an application under section 39 of this Act seeks a restraining order against all the property of the defendant or against all the property of the defendant other than specified property, the Court shall not make an order against the property unless the Court is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the defendant derived a benefit, directly or indirectly, from the commission of the offence concerned.

(3) Where an application under section 39 of this Act seeks a restraining order against specified property of a person other than the defendant, the Court shall not make an order against the property unless the Court is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that—

• (a) The property is tainted property in relation to the relevant serious offence; or

• (b) The property is subject to the effective control of the defendant, and the defendant derived a benefit, directly or indirectly, from the commission of the offence.

(4) In determining, for the purposes of subsection (3)(b) of this section, whether there are reasonable grounds to believe that property is subject to the effective control of the defendant, the Court may have regard to the matters referred to in section 29(2) of this Act.

(5) Subject to subsections (1) to (3) of this section, the Court may make a restraining order in respect of property whether or not the Court considers there is a risk of the property being disposed of, or otherwise dealt with, in such a manner as would defeat the operation of this Act.

(6) The Court shall not make a restraining order unless the application contains, or the applicant otherwise supplies to the Court, such information as the Court requires concerning the grounds on which the order is sought.

(1) Where an application is made for a restraining order and the defendant has not been convicted of the offence to which the application relates, the Court shall not make a restraining order unless the Court is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the defendant committed the offence.

(2) Where an application is made for a restraining order and the defendant has not been charged with the offence to which the application relates, the Court shall not make a restraining order unless it is satisfied that the defendant will be charged with the offence or a related offence within 48 hours of the making of the order.

(1) For the purposes of an application under section 39 of this Act,—

• (a) The Solicitor-General may, on behalf of the Crown, give to the Court such undertakings with respect to the payment of damages or costs, or both, in relation to the making or operation of the restraining order as are required by the Court; and

• (b) The Court may decline to make a restraining order if the Crown fails to give to the Court such undertakings with respect to the payment of damages or costs, or both, as the Court considers appropriate.

(2) Any money payable by the Crown in satisfaction of any undertaking given under subsection (1) of this section shall be paid out of the Crown Bank Account without further appropriation than this section.

Where a restraining order is made against a person's property, the applicant shall serve notice of the order on that person.

(1) Where the Court makes a restraining order against any property, the Court may, at the time it makes the order or at any later time, make such ancillary orders in relation to the property as the Court considers appropriate.

(2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1) of this section, the Court may, under that subsection, make any one or more of the following orders:

• (a) An order varying the property to which the restraining order relates:

• (b) An order varying any condition to which the restraining order is subject:

• (c) An order for the examination of—

  • (i) Any person whose property is subject to the restraining order; or

  • (ii) Any other person,—

  before the Court or the Registrar of the Court concerning the nature and location of any property to which the restraining order relates:

• (d) An order with respect to the carrying out of any undertaking given by the Crown under section 45 of this Act:

• (e) Where the restraining order directs the Official Assignee to take custody and control of property,—

  • (i) An order regulating the manner in which the Official Assignee may exercise his or her powers or perform his or her duties under the restraining order:

  • (ii) An order determining any question relating to the property, including any question relating to the liabilities of the owner of the property or the exercise of the powers, or the performance of the duties, of the Official Assignee:

  • (iii) An order for the examination, before the Official Assignee, of any person whose property is subject to the restraining order, or any other person, concerning the nature and location of the property:

  • (iv) An order directing the owner of the property to furnish to the Official Assignee, within the time specified in the order, a statement on oath setting out such particulars of the property of that person as the Court thinks fit.

(3) An order under subsection (1) of this section may be made on application by—

• (a) The Solicitor-General; or

• (b) The person whose property is subject to the restraining order; or

• (c) Where the restraining order directs the Official Assignee to take custody and control of property, the Official Assignee; or

• (d) With the leave of the Court, any other person.

(4) A person who makes an application under subsection (3) of this section in relation to a restraining order shall serve notice of that application on each other person who is entitled, by virtue of that subsection, to make an application under this section in relation to the restraining order.

(5) No person shall be excused from answering any question, or furnishing any information, when required to do so pursuant to an order made pursuant to paragraph (c) or paragraph (e)(iii) or paragraph (e)(iv) of subsection (2) of this section, on the ground that compliance with that requirement could or would tend to incriminate that person or subject that person to any penalty or forfeiture.

(6) Every examination by the Official Assignee pursuant to an order made pursuant to subsection (2)(e)(iii) of this section is a judicial proceeding within the meaning of section 108 of the Crimes Act 1961 (which relates to perjury).

Where a person having an interest in property that is subject to a restraining order applies to the Court under section 47 of this Act for variation of the order to exclude the person's interest from the order, the Court shall grant the application if,—

• (a) Where the applicant is not the defendant, and the restraining order was made pursuant to section 43(3) of this Act, the Court is satisfied that—

  • (i) The interest is not tainted property; and

  • (ii) Either—

    • (A) The applicant's interest in the property is not subject to the effective control of the defendant; or

    • (B) A pecuniary penalty order cannot be made against the defendant:

• (b) In any other case where the applicant is not the defendant, the Court is satisfied that the interest is not tainted property:

• (c) Where the applicant is the defendant, the Court is satisfied that—

  • (i) The interest is not tainted property; and

  • (ii) A pecuniary penalty order cannot be made against the defendant:

• (d) In any case, the Court is satisfied that it is in the public interest to do so, having regard to all the circumstances, including,—

  • (i) Any hardship that is reasonably likely to be caused to any person if the interest remains subject to the restraining order:

  • (ii) The gravity of the offence:

  • (iii) The likelihood that the interest will be subject to a forfeiture order or be required to satisfy a pecuniary penalty order.

Where—

• (a) Any person is examined before the Court, or a Registrar of the Court, or the Official Assignee, pursuant to an order made pursuant to paragraph (c) or paragraph (e)(iii) of subsection (2) of section 47 of this Act; or

• (b) Any person is required, pursuant to an order made pursuant to section 47(2)(e)(iv) of this Act, to furnish to the Official Assignee a statement on oath,—

no statement or disclosure made by the person in answer to a question put in the course of the examination (where paragraph (a) of this section applies), and no such statement so furnished (where paragraph (b) of this section applies), shall be admissible against that person in any civil or criminal proceedings, except—

• (c) A proceeding for giving false evidence in the course of the examination or, as the case may require, for making any false statement in any statement so furnished; or

• (d) Proceedings on an application for a restraining order, a forfeiture order, or a pecuniary penalty order.

Where the Official Assignee is given a direction under section 42(1)(b) of this Act in relation to any property, the Official Assignee may do anything that is reasonably necessary to preserve the property, including—

• (a) Taking, or becoming a party to, any civil proceedings affecting the property; and

• (b) Ensuring that the property is insured; and

• (c) If the property consists, in whole or in part, of securities or investments, realising or otherwise dealing with the securities or investments; and

• (d) If the property consists, in whole or in part, of a business, doing anything that is necessary or convenient for carrying on the business.

(1) Where—

• (a) A pecuniary penalty order is made against a person (in this subsection referred to as “the defendant”) in reliance on the defendant's conviction of a serious offence; and

• (b) Either—

  • (i) At the time when the pecuniary penalty order is made, the Official Assignee has custody and control of property under a restraining order made, in relation to the offence or a related offence, against—

    • (A) Property of the defendant; or

    • (B) Property of another person in relation to which an order under section 29(3) of this Act is made; or

  • (ii) A restraining order is subsequently made against—

    • (A) Property of the defendant; or

    • (B) Property of another person in relation to which an order under section 29(3) of this Act is in force—

    in relation to the offence, and that restraining order includes a direction that the Official Assignee take custody and control of the property,—

the Court making the pecuniary penalty order or, as the case may be, the restraining order may include in that order a direction that the Official Assignee pay to the Crown, out of such of that property as the Court specifies, in accordance with this section, an amount equal to the amount payable under the pecuniary penalty order.

(2) Subject to section 60 of this Act, where the Official Assignee is given a direction under subsection (1) of this section in relation to any property, the Official Assignee shall, as soon as practicable after the expiry of the relevant appeal period,—

• (a) If the property is money,—

  • (i) Apply the money in payment of the costs recoverable by the Official Assignee under section 63 of this Act in relation to the restraining order; and

  • (ii) Subject to subsection (4) of this section, pay the remainder of the money to the Crown; and

• (b) If the property is not money,—

  • (i) Sell or otherwise dispose of the property; and

  • (ii) Apply the proceeds of the sale or disposition in payment of the costs recoverable by the Official Assignee under section 63 of this Act in relation to the restraining order; and

  • (iii) Subject to subsection (4) of this section, pay the remainder of those proceeds to the Crown.

(3) Notwithstanding anything in subsection (2) of this section, in no case shall the amount applied under paragraph (a)(i) or paragraph (b)(ii) of that subsection exceed the amount payable under the pecuniary penalty order.

(4) Where the money or proceeds referred to in paragraph (a)(ii) or paragraph (b)(iii) of subsection (2) of this section, together with the amount applied in payment of the costs recoverable by the Official Assignee under section 63 of this Act, exceed the amount payable under the pecuniary penalty order, the excess shall be paid to the person whose property was subject to the restraining order.

(5) For the purposes of this section, expiry of the relevant appeal period, in relation to a pecuniary penalty order made in reliance on a person's conviction of an offence, means—

• (a) The end of the appeal period in relation to the making of the pecuniary penalty order; or

• (b) The end of the appeal period in relation to the person's conviction on which the order is based,—

whichever is the later.

(6) For the purposes of this section, appeal period, in relation to the making of a pecuniary penalty order or the entering of a person's conviction, means the period ending—

• (a) When the time for bringing an appeal against the decision of the Court expires, if no such appeal has been brought; or

• (b) If an appeal against the decision of the Court has been brought, when the appeal is finally determined or is withdrawn, whichever occurs first.

(1) For the purposes of enabling the Official Assignee to comply with a direction by a Court under section 51(1) of this Act, the Court may, at any time, appoint an officer of the Court or any other person to execute any deed or instrument in the name of a person who owns or has an estate, interest, or right in such of the property under the Official Assignee's control as the Court specifies and to do anything necessary to give validity and operation to the deed or instrument.

(2) The execution of the deed or instrument by the person so appointed has the same force and validity as if the deed or instrument had been executed by the person who owned or had the estate, interest, or right in the property.

(1) Where the Official Assignee, in accordance with a direction under section 51(1) of this Act, pays money to the Crown in respect of the liability of a person under a pecuniary penalty order, the person's liability under the order shall, to the extent of the payment, be discharged.

(2) Where—

• (a) A pecuniary penalty order is made against a person in reliance on that person's conviction of a serious offence; and

• (b) A restraining order, in relation to that offence or a related offence, is or has been made against property of that person, or against property of another person in relation to which an order under section 29(3) of this Act is, or has been, made,—

any amount applied under paragraph (a)(i) or paragraph (b)(ii) of section 51(2) of this Act in payment of any costs recoverable by the Official Assignee under section 63 of this Act in relation to the restraining order shall, for the purposes of subsection (1) of this section, be deemed to be money paid to the Crown in respect of the liability of the first-mentioned person under the pecuniary penalty order.

(1) Where—

• (a) A Court makes a forfeiture order against any property; and

• (b) At the time when the forfeiture order is made, the Official Assignee has custody and control of that property under a restraining order,—

the Minister may direct the Official Assignee—

• (c) To retain the property until the expiry of the relevant appeal period referred to in section 16 of this Act; and

• (d) On the expiry of that relevant appeal period,—

  • (i) If the property is money, to apply the money in payment of the costs recoverable by the Official Assignee under section 63 of this Act in relation to the restraining order; or

  • (ii) If the property is not money,—

    • (A) To sell or otherwise dispose of the property; and

    • (B) To apply the proceeds of the sale or disposition in payment of the costs recoverable by the Official Assignee under section 63 of this Act in relation to the restraining order; and

• (e) To pay the remainder of the money or proceeds to the Crown.

(2) Any direction given under subsection (1) of this section shall be subject to the provisions of sections 17 to 23 of this Act.

(3) Nothing in this section limits the power of the Minister to give directions under section 16(4) of this Act relating to the disposition of property that is subject to a forfeiture order.

(1) Where—

• (a) A pecuniary penalty order is made against a person in reliance on the person's conviction of a serious offence; and

• (b) A restraining order, in relation to the offence or a related offence, is or has been made against—

  • (i) Property of the defendant; or

  • (ii) Property of another person in relation to which an order under section 29(3) of this Act is, or has been, made,—

then, upon the making of the later of the orders, there is created, by force of this section, a charge on the property to secure the payment to the Crown of the amount payable under the pecuniary penalty order.

(2) Where a charge is created by subsection (1) of this section on property of a person, the charge ceases to have effect in respect of the property—

• (a) Upon the quashing of the conviction in reliance on which the pecuniary penalty order was made; or

• (b) Upon payment to the Crown of the amount payable under the pecuniary penalty order, where that payment is made in satisfaction of that order; or

• (c) Upon the discharge of the pecuniary penalty order or the restraining order by a Court hearing an appeal against the making of the order; or

• (d) Upon the person becoming a bankrupt; or

• (e) Upon the sale or disposition of the property,—

  • (i) Pursuant to an order under section 51 of this Act; or

  • (ii) By the owner of the property with the consent of the Court that made the pecuniary penalty order; or

  • (iii) If the Official Assignee was directed to take custody and control of the property, by the owner of the property with the consent of the Official Assignee; or

• (f) Upon the sale of the property to a purchaser in good faith for value who, at the time of purchase, has no notice of the charge,—

whichever occurs first.

(3) A charge created by subsection (1) of this section on property—

• (a) Is subject to every encumbrance to which the property was subject immediately before the charge was created and that would, apart from this subsection, have priority over the charge; but

• (b) Has priority over all other encumbrances, except where—

  • (i) By virtue of prior registration under the provisions of any enactment, another encumbrance is entitled to priority over the charge; and

  • (ii) The person claiming priority by virtue of that prior registration proves that at the time when that person acquired, or became entitled to, the benefit of the encumbrance under which that person claims, that person had no notice of the charge; and

• (c) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, is not affected by any change of ownership of the property.

(1) Where a charge is created by section 55 of this Act on property of a particular kind, and the provisions of any New Zealand enactment provide for the registration of title to, or charges over, property of that kind, the applicant for the pecuniary penalty order secured by that charge may cause the charge to be registered under the provisions of that enactment.

(2) If the charge is registered under subsection (1) of this section, a person who purchases or acquires an interest in the property after the registration of the charge shall, for the purposes of section 55(2)(f) of this Act, be deemed to have notice of the charge at the time of the purchase or acquisition.

(1) Where a restraining order applies to property of a particular kind, and the provisions of any New Zealand enactment provide for the registration of title to, or charges over, property of that kind, the authority responsible for administering those provisions shall, if requested to do so by the applicant for the restraining order, record on the register the particulars of the restraining order.

(2) If the particulars are so recorded on the register, any person who subsequently deals with the property shall, for the purposes of section 58 of this Act, be deemed to have notice of the restraining order at the time of the dealing.

(1) Every person commits an offence who, knowing that a restraining order has been made in respect of property, disposes or otherwise deals with the property in contravention of the order.

(2) Every person who commits an offence against this section is liable on conviction on indictment,—

• (a) In the case of an individual, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or a fine not exceeding $20,000:

• (b) In the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $60,000.

(1) Where—

• (a) A restraining order is made in respect of property; and

• (b) The property is disposed of, or otherwise dealt with, in contravention of the order; and

• (c) The disposition or dealing was either not for sufficient consideration or not in favour of a person who acted in good faith,—

the Solicitor-General may apply to the High Court for an order that the disposition or dealing be set aside.

(2) On any application made under subsection (1) of this section in relation to a disposition or dealing, the Court may make an order—

• (a) Setting the disposition or dealing aside as from the day on which the disposition or dealing took place; or

• (b) Setting the disposition or dealing aside as from the day of the order, and declaring the respective rights of any persons who acquired interests in the property on or after the day on which the disposition or dealing took place and before the day of the order.

(1) Where, after the Official Assignee has been directed by an order under section 51(1) of this Act to pay an amount to the Crown out of property of a person, the Official Assignee is given notice in writing of the filing of a creditor's petition against the person under section 13 of the Insolvency Act 2006, the Official Assignee—

• (a) Shall refrain from taking action to sell or dispose of the property pursuant to that direction; and

• (b) Shall not pay the Crown any money pursuant to that direction,—

until the petition has been withdrawn, or has been disposed of.

(2) Where—

• (a) Property of a person is in the custody and control of the Official Assignee in accordance with a restraining order; and

• (b) The person becomes bankrupt,—

the property shall cease to be in the custody and control of the Official Assignee under this Act and shall be deemed to be vested in the Assignee of the bankrupt's property under section 101 of the Insolvency Act 2006.

(3) Notwithstanding anything in section 232(2) of the Insolvency Act 2006, a pecuniary penalty order made against any person shall be provable in the bankruptcy of that person.

The Official Assignee is not personally liable for the payment of any rates, land tax, or other statutory charge imposed by or under any enactment in respect of property in the custody and control of the Official Assignee pursuant to a restraining order—

• (a) Except where the rates, land tax, or statutory charge fall due on or after the date of the restraining order; and

• (b) Where paragraph (a) of this section applies, only to the extent of any rents and profits received by the Official Assignee in respect of the property on or after that date.

(1) The Official Assignee, and every person to whom the Official Assignee delegates any of the Official Assignee's functions, duties, and powers under this Act, shall be indemnified by the Crown in respect of any liability relating to the exercise or performance, or purported exercise or performance, or omission to exercise or perform, any function, duty, or power conferred or imposed on the Official Assignee by or under this Act, unless it is shown that the exercise or performance, or purported exercise or performance, or omission to exercise or perform, the function, duty, or power was in bad faith.

(2) Any money required for the purposes of this section shall be paid out of the Crown Bank Account without further appropriation than this section.

(3) The indemnity conferred by subsection (1) of this section extends to legal costs incurred in defending a proceeding.

(1) Where the Official Assignee—

• (a) Takes custody and control of property pursuant to a restraining order; and

• (b) Complies with—

  • (i) Any direction given under section 51(1) of this Act in respect of that property; or

  • (ii) Any direction given pursuant to section 54 of this Act in respect of that property,—

the Official Assignee shall be entitled to recover, in accordance with section 51(2) or section 54(1)(d) of this Act, in respect of the exercise or performance, by the Official Assignee or any delegate of the Official Assignee, of functions, duties, or powers under this Act in respect of that property, such costs as may be prescribed or provided for in regulations made under this Act.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) of this section, the costs that may be prescribed or provided for in regulations made under this Act include—

• (a) Costs, charges, and expenses properly incurred or payable by or on behalf of the Official Assignee in connection with the exercise or performance, by the Official Assignee or any delegate of the Official Assignee, of functions, duties, or powers under this Act in respect of the property:

• (b) Proper remuneration for work done by any person (being the Official Assignee or any delegate of the Official Assignee or any other member of the staff of the Official Assignee) in connection with the exercise or performance, by the Official Assignee or any delegate of the Official Assignee, of functions, duties, or powers under this Act in respect of the property.

(1) Where the High Court has made a restraining order against a person's property, the Court may, on application by that person, revoke the order if—

• (a) The person gives to the Court satisfactory undertakings concerning the person's property; or

• (b) Where the order was made in respect of that person's conviction of a serious offence or the alleged commission by that person of a serious offence, the person gives to the Court satisfactory security for the payment of any pecuniary penalty that may be imposed on the person under this Act in respect of the offence or a related serious offence.

(2) A person who makes an application under subsection (1) of this section in relation to a restraining order shall serve notice of that application on the Solicitor-General and, where the order directed the Official Assignee to take custody and control of the property, the Official Assignee.

(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3) of this section and to section 66 of this Act, every restraining order shall expire at the end of the period of 6 months after the making of the order, and, on the expiry of a restraining order, that order, and any ancillary order made under section 47 of this Act in relation to that order, shall cease to be in force.

(2) Where a restraining order is made in reliance on the proposed charging of a person with a serious offence, the order shall cease to be in force at the end of the period of 48 hours after the making of the order if the person has not been charged with the offence, or a related serious offence, before the period expires.

(3) Where a restraining order is made—

• (a) In reliance on a person's conviction of a serious offence or the charging of a person with such an offence; or

• (b) In reliance on the proposed charging of a person with a serious offence and the person is, within the period of 48 hours after the making of that order, charged with the offence or a related serious offence,—

the following provisions shall apply:

• (c) If, before the order would otherwise expire under subsection (1) of this section, the charge is withdrawn and the person is not charged with a related serious offence by the time the charge is withdrawn, the restraining order shall cease to be in force when the charge is withdrawn:

• (d) If, before the order would otherwise expire under subsection (1) of this section, the person is acquitted of the charge or the conviction is quashed and the person has not been charged with a related serious offence by the time of the acquittal or quashing, the restraining order shall cease to be in force when the acquittal or quashing occurs:

• (e) If a Court makes a confiscation order in reliance on the person's conviction of the offence or a related serious offence, and the confiscation order is satisfied or otherwise ceases to be in force, the restraining order shall cease to be in force when that order is satisfied or otherwise ceases to be in force, unless, at that time,—

  • (i) An application for another confiscation order in respect of the person's conviction of the offence or a related serious offence awaits determination; or

  • (ii) Another confiscation order in respect of the person's conviction of the offence or a related serious offence is in force:

• (f) If a Court refuses an application for a confiscation order made in reliance on the person's conviction of the offence or a related serious offence, the restraining order ceases to be in force when the Court refuses the application unless, at that time,—

  • (i) An application for another confiscation order in respect of the person's conviction of the offence or a related serious offence awaits determination; or

  • (ii) Another confiscation order in respect of the person's conviction of the offence or a related serious offence is in force:

• (g) If, before the restraining order would otherwise expire under subsection (1) of this section, an application is made to the High Court under section 66 of this Act for an order extending the period of operation of the restraining order, and the application is granted, the restraining order shall cease to be in force at such time as is specified in the Court's order under that section.

(1) Where the High Court has made a restraining order against a person's property, the Solicitor-General may, before that order expires under section 65(1) or section 65(3)(g) of this Act, apply to that Court for an extension, or a further extension, of the period of operation of the restraining order.

(2) Where an application is made under subsection (1) of this section, and the restraining order is still in force, the Court may, by order, extend the operation of the restraining order for a period not exceeding 6 months if the Court is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing—

• (a) That a forfeiture order will still be made in respect of the property or part of the property; or

• (b) That a pecuniary penalty order will still be made against the person in respect of whose conviction or alleged commission of a serious offence the restraining order was made.

(3) On making any order under subsection (2) of this section, the Court may give any additional directions it considers appropriate in relation to the operation of the restraining order, including a direction specifying whether all or part of the property is to remain subject to the restraining order during the extended period of operation.

(4) An applicant for an order under subsection (2) of this section shall serve notice of the application on any person whose property is the subject of the application, and that person shall be entitled to appear and to adduce evidence at the hearing of the application.

(1) Where the Solicitor-General is authorised, under section 60 of the Mutual Assistance Act, to apply for a restraining order under this Act in respect of a foreign serious offence, the Solicitor-General may apply for the order accordingly.

(2) This Part of this Act (other than sections 43(1), 43(2), 44(2), 48, 51 to 56, 65, and 66), so far as applicable, shall apply in relation to an application made pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, and to any restraining order made as a result of the application, with all necessary modifications, and with the following specific modifications, namely,—

• (a) A reference in this Part of this Act to a serious offence shall be read as a reference to a foreign serious offence:

• (b) A reference in this Part of this Act to a person being charged with a serious offence shall be read as a reference to the commencement in a foreign country of criminal proceedings alleging the commission of a foreign serious offence:

• (c) The reference in section 42(2)(c) of this Act to a person's reasonable expenses in defending any criminal proceedings shall be read as including a reference to the person's reasonable expenses in defending such proceedings in a foreign country.

(3) Subject to subsections (4) and (5) of this section, a restraining order made in respect of a foreign serious offence ceases to be in force at the end of the period of 28 days commencing on the day on which the order is made.

(4) Where the High Court makes a restraining order in respect of a foreign serious offence, the Court may, on application by the Solicitor-General before the end of the period referred to in subsection (3) of this section, extend the period of operation of the restraining order.

(5) Where—

• (a) A restraining order against property is made in respect of a foreign serious offence; and

• (b) Before the end of the period referred to in subsection (3) of this section (or, where the period of operation of the order is extended pursuant to subsection (4) of this section, the period as so extended), a foreign restraining order against the property is registered in New Zealand under the Mutual Assistance Act,—

the first-mentioned restraining order shall cease to be in force when the foreign restraining order is registered.

(6) This section applies with any necessary modifications if a person or body is authorised, under section 112 of the International Crimes and International Criminal Court Act 2000, to apply for a restraining order under this Act in relation to tainted property in respect of an international crime or an offence involving the administration of justice.

(1) Where a foreign restraining order is registered in New Zealand in accordance with section 56 of the Mutual Assistance Act, or a restraining order is registered in accordance with section 112(2) of the International Crimes and International Criminal Court Act 2000, this Part of this Act (other than sections 47 to 55, 64, 65, and 66), so far as applicable, shall apply in relation to the restraining order with all necessary modifications, and with the following specific modifications, namely,—

• (a) A reference in this Part of this Act to a restraining order directing the Official Assignee to take custody and control of property shall be read as a reference to an order under section 66C of this Act:

• (b) A reference in this Part of this Act to an order under section 51(1) of this Act shall be read as a reference to an order under section 66E of this Act:

• (c) The reference in section 63 of this Act to a restraining order shall be read as a reference to an order under section 66C of this Act.

(2) A foreign restraining order registered in New Zealand under the Mutual Assistance Act ceases to be in force when the registration is cancelled in accordance with that Act.

(1) Where a foreign restraining order against property is registered in the High Court under the Mutual Assistance Act, the Court may, if satisfied on application by the Solicitor-General that is desirable to do so, by order direct the Official Assignee to take custody and control of the property, or of such part of the property as is specified in the order.

(2) Where an application is made for an order under subsection (1) of this section against property,—

• (a) The Solicitor-General shall give written notice of the application to—

  • (i) The owner of the property; and

  • (ii) Any other person that the Solicitor-General has reason to believe may have an interest in the property; and

  • (iii) The Official Assignee; and

• (b) The Court may, at any time before the final determination of the application, direct the Solicitor-General to give or publish notice of the application to a specified person or class of persons, in such manner and within such time as the Court thinks fit; and

• (c) The owner of the property and any other person who claims an interest in the property are entitled to appear and to adduce evidence at the hearing of the application.

(3) Where an order is made under subsection (1) of this section against a person's property, the Solicitor-General shall give the person written notice of the order.

(4) Where an order is made under subsection (1) of this section in respect of property of a person, the Court may, at the time it makes the order or at any later time, make any one or more of the following orders:

• (a) An order regulating the manner in which the Official Assignee may exercise his or her powers or perform his or her duties pursuant to the order under subsection (1) of this section:

• (b) An order determining any question relating to the property, including any question relating to—

  • (i) The liabilities of the owner of the property; or

  • (ii) The exercise of the powers, or the performance of the duties, of the Official Assignee pursuant to the order under subsection (1) of this section:

• (c) An order for the examination, before the Court, or the Registrar of the Court, or the Official Assignee, of any person whose property is subject to the order under subsection (1) of this section, or any other person, concerning the nature and location of the property:

• (d) An order directing the owner of the property to furnish to the Official Assignee, within the time specified in the order, a statement on oath, setting out such particulars of the property of that person as the Court thinks fit.

(5) Where the Official Assignee is given a direction under subsection (1) of this section in relation to any property, the Official Assignee may do anything that is reasonably necessary to preserve the property, including—

• (a) Taking, or becoming a party to, any civil proceedings affecting the property; and

• (b) Ensuring that the property is insured; and

• (c) If the property consists, in whole or in part, of securities or investments, realising or otherwise dealing with the securities or investments; and

• (d) If the property consists, in whole or in part, of a business, doing anything that is necessary or convenient for carrying on the business.

(6) Where the High Court makes an order under paragraph (c) or paragraph (d) of subsection (4) of this section, subsections (5) and (6) of section 47 and section 49 of this Act, so far as applicable and with all necessary modifications, shall apply,—

• (a) In the case of an order made under subsection (4)(c) of this section, as if that order were an order made under section 47(2)(e)(iii) of this Act:

• (b) In the case of an order made under subsection (4)(d) of this section, as if that order were an order made under section 47(2)(e)(iv) of this Act.

(1) Where—

• (a) A foreign restraining order against property is registered in the High Court in New Zealand under the Mutual Assistance Act; or

• (b) The High Court makes an order under section 66C of this Act in respect of property,—

the Court may, on application by a person claiming an interest in the property, make an order requiring the Solicitor-General, on behalf of the Crown, to give or carry out an undertaking with respect to the payment of damages or costs, or both, in relation to the registration, making, or operation of the order.

(2) Any money payable by the Crown in satisfaction of any undertaking given under subsection (1) of this section shall be paid out of the Crown Bank Account without further appropriation than this section.

(1) Where—

• (a) A foreign restraining order made against property of a person in reliance on the person's conviction, or alleged commission, of a foreign serious offence is registered in the High Court in New Zealand under the Mutual Assistance Act; and

• (b) A foreign pecuniary penalty order made in reliance on the person's conviction of the offence or a related foreign serious offence has been or is registered in the High Court in New Zealand under the Mutual Assistance Act; and

• (c) An order has been made or is made under section 66C of this Act directing the Official Assignee to take custody and control of the property,—

the High Court may, by order, direct the Official Assignee to pay to the Crown out of that property, in accordance with this section, an amount equal to the amount payable under that pecuniary penalty order.

(2) For the purposes of enabling the Official Assignee to comply with an order under subsection (1) of this section, the Court may, at any time,—

• (a) Direct the Official Assignee to sell or otherwise dispose of such of the property under the Official Assignee's control as the Court specifies; and

• (b) Appoint an officer of the Court or any other person to execute any deed or instrument in the name of a person who owns or has an estate, interest, or right in the property and to do anything necessary to give validity and operation to the deed or instrument.

(3) The execution of the deed or instrument by the person so appointed has the same force and validity as if the deed or instrument had been executed by the person who owned or had the estate, interest, or right in the property.

(4) Subject to section 60 of this Act, where the Official Assignee is given a direction under subsection (1) of this section in relation to any property, the Official Assignee shall, as soon as practicable after the direction is given,—

• (a) If the property is money,—

  • (i) Apply the money in payment of the costs recoverable by the Official Assignee under section 63 of this Act in relation to the order under section 66C of this Act in respect of the property; and

  • (ii) Subject to subsection (5) of this section, pay the remainder of the money to the Crown; and

• (b) If the property is not money,—

  • (i) Sell or otherwise dispose of the property; and

  • (ii) Apply the proceeds of the sale or disposition in payment of the costs recoverable by the Official Assignee under section 63 of this Act in relation to the order under section 66C of this Act in respect of the property; and

  • (iii) Subject to subsection (5) of this section, pay the remainder of those proceeds to the Crown.

(5) Notwithstanding anything in subsection (4) of this section, in no case shall the amount applied under paragraph (a)(i) or paragraph (b)(ii) of that subsection exceed the amount payable under the foreign pecuniary penalty order.

(6) Where the money or proceeds referred to in paragraph (a)(ii) or paragraph (b)(iii) of subsection (4) of this section, together with the amount applied in payment of the costs recoverable by the Official Assignee under section 63 of this Act, exceed the amount payable under the foreign pecuniary penalty order, the excess shall be paid to the person whose property was subject to the order under section 66C of this Act.

(1) Where the Official Assignee, in accordance with a direction under section 66E(1) of this Act, pays money to the Crown in respect of the liability of a person under a foreign pecuniary penalty order, the person's liability under the order shall, to the extent of the payment, be discharged.

(2) Where—

• (a) A foreign restraining order made against property of a person in reliance on the person's conviction, or alleged commission, of a foreign serious offence is registered in the High Court in New Zealand under the Mutual Assistance Act; and

• (b) A foreign pecuniary penalty order made in reliance on the person's conviction of the offence or a related foreign serious offence has been or is registered in the High Court in New Zealand under the Mutual Assistance Act; and

• (c) An order has been made or is made under section 66C of this Act directing the Official Assignee to take custody and control of the property,—

any amount applied under paragraph (a)(i) or paragraph (b)(ii) of subsection (4) of section 66E of this Act in payment of any costs recoverable by the Official Assignee under section 63 of this Act in relation to the order made under section 66C of this Act shall, for the purposes of subsection (1) of this section, be deemed to be money paid to the Crown in respect of the liability of the first-mentioned person under the foreign pecuniary penalty order.

(1) Where—

• (a) A foreign restraining order made against property of a person in reliance on the person's conviction, or alleged commission, of a foreign serious offence is registered in the High Court in New Zealand under the Mutual Assistance Act; and

• (b) A foreign pecuniary penalty order made in reliance on the person's conviction of the offence or a related foreign serious offence has been or is registered in the High Court in New Zealand under the Mutual Assistance Act,—

then, upon the registration of the foreign restraining order or the foreign pecuniary penalty order, whichever last occurs, there is created, by force of this section, a charge on the property to secure the payment to the Crown of the amount payable under the foreign pecuniary penalty order.

(2) Where a charge is created by subsection (1) of this section on property of a person, the charge ceases to have effect in respect of the property—

• (a) Upon payment to the Crown of the amount payable under the foreign pecuniary penalty order, where that payment is made in satisfaction of that order; or

• (b) Upon the person becoming bankrupt; or

• (c) Upon the sale or disposition of the property,—

  • (i) Pursuant to an order under section 66E of this Act; or

  • (ii) By the owner of the property with the consent of the High Court; or

  • (iii) If the Official Assignee was directed to take custody and control of the property pursuant to an order under section 66C of this Act, by the owner of the property with the consent of the Official Assignee; or

• (d) Upon the sale of the property to a purchaser in good faith for value who, at the time of purchase, has no notice of the charge; or

• (e) Upon the cancellation of the registration of either the foreign pecuniary penalty order or the foreign restraining order, in accordance with the Mutual Assistance Act,—

whichever occurs first.

(3) A charge created by subsection (1) of this section on property—

• (a) Is subject to every encumbrance to which the property was subject immediately before the charge was created and that would, apart from this subsection, have priority over the charge; but

• (b) Has priority over all other encumbrances, except where—

  • (i) By virtue of prior registration under the provisions of any enactment, another encumbrance is entitled to priority over the charge; and

  • (ii) The person claiming priority by virtue of that prior registration proves that at the time when that person acquired, or became entitled to, the benefit of the encumbrance under which that person claims, that person had no notice of the charge; and

• (c) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, is not affected by any change of ownership of the property.

(1) Where a charge is created by section 66G of this Act on property of a particular kind, and the provisions of any New Zealand enactment provide for the registration of title to, or charges over, property of that kind, the Solicitor-General may cause the charge to be registered under the provisions of that enactment.

(2) If the charge is registered under subsection (1) of this section, a person who purchases or acquires an interest in the property after the registration of the charge shall, for the purposes of section 66G(2)(d) of this Act, be deemed to have notice of the charge at the time of the purchase or acquisition.

In this Part of this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

(1) A commissioned officer of police may apply to a Judge of the High Court for a production order under section 69 of this Act if—

• (a) one of the following situations exists:

  • (i) a person has been convicted of a drug-dealing offence:

  • (ii) the officer has reasonable grounds for believing that a person has committed a drug-dealing offence:

  • (iii) a person has been convicted of a serious offence, and there are reasonable grounds to suspect that it is an offence to which subsection (1A) applies:

  • (iv) the officer has reasonable grounds for believing that a person has committed a serious offence to which subsection (1A) applies; and

• (b) the officer has reasonable grounds for believing that a person has possession or control of one or more property-tracking documents in relation to the offence.

(1A) This section applies to a serious offence if it is transnational in nature (as defined in articles 3(2) and 18(1) of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime, done at New York on 15 November 2000) and involves an organised criminal group (as defined in article 2(a) of that convention).

(2) Every application under this section shall be made in writing and on oath, and shall contain the following particulars:

• (a) The grounds on which the application is made:

• (b) A description of the document or documents production of which is sought:

• (c) A description of the property or type of property to which the document or documents are believed to relate:

• (d) The reasons why it is considered necessary to obtain a production order in relation to the identification, location, or quantification of that property.

(1) Where an application is made under section 68 of this Act to a Judge of the High Court for a production order against a person, the Judge may, subject to subsection (4) of this section and to sections 73 and 74 of this Act, make an order that the person—

• (a) Produce to a Police employee any specified document or class of documents of the kind referred to in section 68(1)(b) of this Act that are in the person's possession or control; or

• (b) Make available to a Police employee, for inspection, any specified document or class of documents of that kind that are in the person's possession or control—

if the Judge is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for making the order.

(2) A Judge shall not make an order under subsection (1) of this section unless the application contains, or the applicant otherwise supplies to the Judge, such information as the Judge requires concerning the grounds on which the application is sought.

(3) Where, on an application under section 68 of this Act for a production order in respect of an offence, the Judge is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to believe that—

• (a) The person who was convicted of the offence, or who is believed to have committed the offence, derived a benefit, directly or indirectly, from the commission of the offence; and

• (b) Property specified in the application is subject to the effective control of that person,—

the Judge may, having regard to the matters referred to in section 29(2) of this Act, treat any document relevant to identifying, locating, or quantifying that property as a property-tracking document in relation to the offence for the purposes of this section.

(4) An order under subsection (1)(a) of this section shall not be made in respect of bankers' books.

A production order requiring a person to produce or make available any document to a Police employee—

• (a) Shall specify when the document is to be produced or made available:

• (b) May specify—

  • (i) The place where the document is to be produced or made available:

  • (ii) The Police employee to whom the document is to be produced or made available.

(1) A Police employee to whom a document is produced or made available for inspection in accordance with a production order under section 69 of this Act may do one or more of the following:

• (a) Inspect the document:

• (b) Take extracts from the document:

• (c) Make copies of the document:

• (d) In the case of an order under subsection (1)(a) of that section, retain the document for as long as is reasonably necessary for the purposes of this Act.

(2) Where a Police employee retains a document pursuant to a production order, the Police employee shall, on request by the person to whom the order was addressed,—

• (a) Give the person a copy of the document certified by the Police employee, in writing, to be a true copy of the document; or

• (b) Permit the person to inspect, take extracts from, and make copies of, the document.

(1) Subject to sections 73 and 74 of this Act, section 69 of this Act applies notwithstanding any enactment, or any rule of law, that obliges any person to maintain secrecy in relation to, or not to disclose, any matter, and any compliance with an order made under section 69 of this Act is not a breach of the relevant obligation of secrecy or non-disclosure or of the enactment or rule of law by which the obligation is imposed.

(2) Subject to sections 73 and 74 of this Act, no person shall be excused from producing or making available any document, when required to do so by a production order,—

• (a) On the ground that the production of that document could or would tend to incriminate that person or subject that person to any penalty or forfeiture; or

• (b) On the ground of any other privilege that could otherwise be claimed by that person in relation to the production of the document in any proceedings in a Court.

(3) Where a person produces or makes available a document pursuant to a production order, neither the production or making available of the document, nor any information, document, or thing obtained as a consequence of the production or making available of the document, is admissible against that person in any criminal proceedings except for an offence against section 76 of this Act.

(4) For the purposes of subsection (3) of this section, proceedings on an application for a restraining order, a forfeiture order, or a pecuniary penalty order are not criminal proceedings.

Nothing in section 69 or section 72 of this Act overrides—

• (a) Sections 82 to 88 of the Tax Administration Act 1994; or

• (b) Section 37 of the Statistics Act 1975; or

• (c) Section 105 of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Act 1989.

(1) Nothing in section 69 or section 72 of this Act shall require any legal practitioner to disclose any privileged communication.

(2) For the purposes of this section, a communication is a privileged communication only if—

• (a) It is a confidential communication, whether oral or written, passing between—

  • (i) A legal practitioner in his or her professional capacity and another legal practitioner in such capacity; or

  • (ii) A legal practitioner in his or her professional capacity and his or her client,—

  whether made directly or indirectly through an agent of either; and

• (b) It is made or brought into existence for the purpose of obtaining or giving legal advice or assistance; and

• (c) It is not made or brought into existence for the purpose of committing or furthering the commission of some illegal or wrongful act.

(3) Where the information or document consists wholly of payments, income, expenditure, or financial transactions of a specified person (whether a legal practitioner, his or her client, or any other person), it shall not be a privileged communication if it is contained in, or comprises the whole or part of, any book, account, statement, or other record prepared or kept by the legal practitioner in connection with a trust account of the legal practitioner within the meaning of section 6 of the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006.

(4) Where any person refuses to disclose any information or document on the ground that it is a privileged communication under this section, the Commissioner of Police or that person may apply to a Judge of the High Court for an order determining whether or not the claim of privilege is valid; and, for the purposes of determining any such application, the Judge may require the information or document to be produced to him or her.

(5) For the purposes of this section, the term legal practitioner means a barrister or solicitor of the High Court, and references to a legal practitioner include a firm or an incorporated law firm (within the meaning of the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006) in which he or she is, or is held out to be, a partner, director, or shareholder.

(1) Where a Judge of the High Court makes an order under section 69(1)(a) of this Act, the person against whom the order is made may apply to the Judge or to another Judge of the High Court for variation of the order.

(2) Where, on hearing any application made under subsection (1) of this section by any person in respect of any document, the Judge is satisfied that the document is essential to the business activities of the person, the Judge may vary the production order in respect of that document so that the order requires the document to be made available for inspection in accordance with section 69(1)(b) of this Act.

(1) Every person commits an offence against this section who, being a person against whom a production order is made,—

• (a) Fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with the order; or

• (b) In purported compliance with the order, produces or makes available to a member of the Police a document which the person knows is false or misleading in a material particular, where that person fails to indicate to the member of the Police the respect in which the document is false or misleading.

(2) Every person who commits an offence against this section is liable on summary conviction,—

• (a) In the case of an individual, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding $5,000:

• (b) In the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $20,000.

(1) Where a commissioned officer of the Police is authorised, under section 61 of the Mutual Assistance Act, to apply to a Judge of the High Court for a production order under this Act in respect of a foreign serious offence, the officer may apply for the order accordingly, and sections 68 to 76 of this Act, so far as applicable and with all necessary modifications, shall apply to the application and to any production order made as a result of the application.

(2) Where a member of the Police takes possession of a document pursuant to a production order made in respect of a foreign serious offence, the document may be retained for a period not exceeding 1 month pending a written direction from the Attorney-General as to the manner in which it is to be dealt with, and, if any such direction is given, shall be dealt with in accordance with the direction.

(3) This section applies with any necessary modifications if a person or body is authorised, under section 112 of the International Crimes and International Criminal Court Act 2000, to apply for a production order under this Act in relation to tainted property in respect of an international crime or an offence involving the administration of justice.

(1) A Judge of the High Court may, on the application of a commissioned officer of the Police, make an order directing a financial institution to supply to the Commissioner of Police information obtained by the institution about transactions conducted through an account held by a particular person with the institution.

(2) A Judge may make a monitoring order only if the Judge is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the person in respect of whom the order is sought—

• (a) Has committed, or is about to commit, a drug-dealing offence; or

• (b) Has benefited directly or indirectly, or is about to benefit directly or indirectly, from the commission of a drug-dealing offence.

(3) Every monitoring order shall specify—

• (a) The name or names in which the account is believed to be held; and

• (b) The class of information that the institution is required to supply; and

• (c) The manner in which the information is to be supplied; and

• (d) The period for which the order is to be in force.

(4) A monitoring order shall apply in relation to transactions conducted during the period specified in the order (being a period commencing not earlier than the day on which notice of the order is given to the financial institution and ending not later than 3 months after the day of the order).

(5) A reference in this section to a transaction conducted through an account includes a transaction through the facility of a safety deposit box.

Every financial institution commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $20,000 if, where that financial institution has been given notice of a monitoring order, that financial institution—

• (a) Fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with the order; or

• (b) Knowingly supplies information that is false or misleading in purported compliance with the order.

(1) No proceedings, civil or criminal, shall lie against any financial institution or any other person by reason of that financial institution's or that person's compliance with a monitoring order.

(2) Nothing in subsection (1) of this section applies in respect of proceedings for an offence against section 78 of this Act.

(1) A financial institution that is, or has been, subject to a monitoring order shall not disclose the existence or the operation of the order to any person except—

• (a) The Commissioner of Police or a member of the Police who is authorised by the Commissioner to receive the information; or

• (b) An officer or agent of the institution, for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the order; or

• (c) A barrister or solicitor, for the purpose of obtaining legal advice or representation in relation to the order.

(2) No person referred to in paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of this section to whom disclosure of the existence or operation of a monitoring order has been made shall disclose the existence or operation of the order except to another person of the kind referred to in that subsection, for the purpose of the performance of the first-mentioned person's duties.

(3) No person referred to in paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of this section to whom disclosure of the existence or operation of a monitoring order has been made shall disclose the existence or operation of the order except to another person of the kind referred to in that subsection, for the purpose of ensuring that the order is complied with or obtaining legal advice or representation in relation to the order.

(4) No person referred to in paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of this section to whom disclosure of the existence or operation of a monitoring order has been made shall disclose the existence or operation of the order except to a person of the kind referred to in that subsection for the purpose of giving legal advice or making representations in relation to the order.

(5) Nothing in subsections (1) to (4) of this section shall prevent the disclosure of the existence or operation of a monitoring order in connection with, or in the course of, proceedings before a Court.

Every person who knowingly contravenes any of subsections (1) to (4) of section 80 of this Act commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction,—

• (a) In the case of an individual, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding $5,000:

• (b) In the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $20,000.

(1) Where a commissioned officer of the Police is authorised, under section 62 of the Mutual Assistance Act, to apply to a Judge of the High Court for a monitoring order under this Act in respect of a foreign drug-dealing offence, the officer may apply for the order accordingly, and sections 77 to 81 of this Act, so far as applicable and with all necessary modifications, shall apply to the application and to any monitoring order made as a result of the application.

(2) Where information is supplied to the Commissioner of Police pursuant to a monitoring order made in relation to a foreign drug-dealing offence, the Commissioner shall, as soon as practicable after receiving the information, pass the information on to the Attorney-General.

(3) This section applies with any necessary modifications if a member of the police is authorised, under section 112 of the International Crimes and International Criminal Court Act 2000, to apply for a monitoring order under this Act in relation to tainted property in respect of an international crime or an offence involving the administration of justice.

(1) In this section, relevant conviction, in relation to a forfeiture order, a pecuniary penalty order, or an order under section 29(3) of this Act, means the conviction of a serious offence which was relied on to support the order.

(2) A person who has an interest in property against which a forfeiture order is made may appeal against that order as if the order were a sentence imposed on the person in respect of the relevant conviction.

(3) A person against whom a pecuniary penalty order is made may appeal against that order as if the order were a sentence imposed on the person in respect of the relevant conviction.

(4) Where a Court makes a pecuniary penalty order and makes an order under section 29(3) of this Act declaring that certain property is available to satisfy the order, a person who has an interest in that property may appeal against the order under section 29(3) of this Act as if the order were a sentence imposed on the person in respect of the relevant conviction.

(5) The Solicitor-General may appeal against a forfeiture order, a pecuniary penalty order, or an order under section 29(3) of this Act, or against the refusal of a Court to make any such order, as if the order or refusal were a sentence imposed in respect of the relevant conviction.

(6) Where an application is made to a Court for an order under section 18 of this Act, the applicant or the Solicitor-General may appeal against the whole or any part of the decision of the Court on that application as if the decision were a sentence imposed,—

• (a) In the case of an appeal by the applicant, on the applicant in respect of the conviction in respect of which a forfeiture order is sought or has been made:

• (b) In the case of an appeal by the Solicitor-General, in respect of the conviction in respect of which a forfeiture order is sought or has been made.

(1) An appeal under section 82 of this Act shall be made to the Court of Appeal, and the provisions of Part 13 of the Crimes Act 1961 shall, with all necessary modifications, apply as if the appeal were an appeal under section 383 of that Act.

(2) On any appeal under section 82 of this Act, the Court of Appeal may confirm the decision or order or refusal appealed against, or vary it, or set it aside and make such other order or decision as the Court of Appeal thinks ought to have been made in the first place.

(1) Every person commits an offence against this section who, knowing that a forfeiture order has been made in respect of any property (being property title to which is passed by registration on a register maintained pursuant to any New Zealand enactment), and knowing that the forfeiture order remains in force, disposes of or otherwise deals with the property before the Crown's interest in the property has been registered in the manner required by law.

(2) Every person who commits an offence against this section is liable on conviction on indictment,—

• (a) In the case of an individual, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or a fine not exceeding $20,000:

• (b) In the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $60,000.

Subject to section 13 of this Act, any question of fact to be determined by a Court or a Judge on an application under this Act is to be determined on the balance of probabilities.

(1) The Official Assignee may from time to time delegate to any person or persons (being the Deputy Official Assignee for New Zealand or any Official Assignee or Deputy Assignee appointed under the State Sector Act 1988) all or any of the functions, duties, and powers conferred or imposed on the Official Assignee by or under this Act.

(2) Every delegation under this section shall be in writing.

(3) No delegation under this section (other than a delegation to the Deputy Official Assignee) shall include the power to delegate under this section.

(4) The power of the Official Assignee to delegate under this section does not limit any power of delegation conferred on the Official Assignee by any other Act.

(5) Subject to any general or special directions given or conditions imposed by the Official Assignee, a person to whom any functions, duties, or powers are delegated under this section may exercise or perform any functions, duties, or powers so delegated to that person in the same manner and with the same effect as if they had been conferred or imposed on that person directly by this section and not by delegation.

(6) Every person purporting to act pursuant to any delegation under this section shall, in the absence of proof to the contrary, be presumed to be acting in accordance with the terms of the delegation.

(7) Any delegation under this section may be made—

• (a) Subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Official Assignee thinks fit:

• (b) Either generally or in relation to any particular case or class of cases.

(8) No delegation under this section shall affect or prevent the exercise or performance of any function, duty, or power by the Official Assignee, nor shall any such delegation affect the responsibility of the Official Assignee for the actions of any person acting under the delegation.

(9) Any person purporting to exercise or perform any function, duty, or power of the Official Assignee by virtue of a delegation under this section shall, when required to do so, produce evidence of that person's authority to exercise or perform the function, duty, or power.

(1) Every delegation under section 86 of this Act shall be revocable in writing at will.

(2) Any such delegation, until it is revoked, shall continue in force according to its tenor, even though the Official Assignee by whom it was made may have ceased to hold office, and shall continue to have effect as if made by the successor in office of the Official Assignee.

Where—

• (a) A person brings or appears in proceedings under this Act in order—

  • (i) To prevent a forfeiture order or restraining order being made against property of the person; or

  • (ii) To have property of the person excluded from a forfeiture order or restraining order; and

• (b) The person is successful in the proceedings; and

• (c) The Court is satisfied that the person was not involved in the commission of the offence in respect of which the order was sought or made,—

the Court may order the Crown to pay all the costs incurred by the person in connection with the proceedings or such part of those costs as the Court thinks fit.

The Governor-General may from time to time, by Order in Council, make regulations for all or any of the following purposes:

• (a) Prescribing the forms of applications, notices, and other documents for the purposes of this Act, and requiring the use of such forms:

• (b) Prescribing the procedure for the service of notices and other documents for the purposes of this Act, and providing for service to be dispensed with in such circumstances as are specified in the regulations:

• (c) Prescribing or providing for the costs recoverable by the Official Assignee under section 63 of this Act:

• (d) Providing for such other matters as are contemplated by or are necessary for giving full effect to this Act and for its due administration.

The Governor-General may from time to time, by Order in Council, make rules regulating the practice and procedure of Courts in proceedings under this Act.

Nothing in this Act limits or restricts the operation of any other enactment providing for the forfeiture of property or the imposition of a pecuniary penalty.

Part 2 of Schedule 1 to the Summary Proceedings Act 1957 is hereby amended by inserting, after the item relating to the Post Office Act 1959 (as inserted by section 237(2) of that Act), the following item: