Laws in New Zealand
How New Zealand is classified on 44 of the 48 laws this site maps, grouped by subject. Each links to the full answer and its source.
Body & Life
- Abortion
- Legal on request Abortion is available on request, subject to a gestational limit.
- Euthanasia
- Euthanasia legal The End of Life Choice Act legalizes voluntary euthanasia for eligible individuals with terminal illnesses.
- Suicide Laws
- Not a crime
- FGM Laws
- Specifically banned FGM is banned by a dedicated law or an explicit criminal provision.
- Organ Donor Consent
- Opt-in (explicit consent) New Zealand requires explicit consent, as family disagreement can block donation.
Money & Games
- Gambling Age
- 18 Minimum age to gamble: 18.
- Cryptocurrency
- Legal Cryptocurrency is legal to own and trade.
- Online Gambling
- Legal & regulated Online gambling is legal and licensed for specific platforms as of July 2025.
Daily Life
- Jaywalking
- Offense / fined Jaywalking is illegal and subject to fines for crossing outside designated areas.
- Drinking in Public
- Restricted areas/times Public drinking is legal but banned in many designated liquor-free zones.
- Public Smoking Bans
- Comprehensive ban New Zealand bans smoking in all indoor public workplaces and hospitality venues including pubs, bars, and restaurants.
- Driving Age
- 16–17 Minimum age to drive a car: 16.
- Homeschooling
- Legal Homeschooling is legal.
Animals & Environment
- Fur Farming
- Legal No ban on fur farming.
- Cosmetic Animal Testing
- Banned New Zealand banned animal testing for cosmetics in 2015.
- Plastic Bag Bans
- Banned Lightweight plastic bags are banned nationwide.
Civic & Family
- Voting Age
- 18 The voting age is 18.
- Compulsory Voting
- Voluntary Voting is voluntary.
- Minimum Working Age
- 14–15 Minimum working age: 14.
Relationships & Sexuality
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Marriage legal Same-sex marriage is legally performed and recognized.
- Same-Sex Activity
- Legal Same-sex sexual activity is legal.
- Age of Consent
- 16–17 The age of consent is 16.
- Sex Work
- Legal & regulated Prostitution is fully legal and regulated in New Zealand, including brothels and solicitation.
- Divorce
- Heavily restricted Divorce is legal but requires a long period of separation.
- Non-Binary Recognition
- Recognized New Zealand offers an X sex descriptor on passports and indeterminate sex on birth certificates.
- Same-Sex Adoption
- Joint adoption legal Joint adoption by same-sex couples has been legal since 2013.
- Incest Laws
- Criminal offense
- Marriage Age
- 18+ Minimum marriage age: 18.
Speech & Belief
- Blasphemy Laws
- No blasphemy law The crime of blasphemous libel was repealed and the repeal came into force in 2019.
- Holocaust Denial
- No specific law No specific law against Holocaust denial.
- Flag Desecration
- Criminal offense Destroying the national flag with intent to dishonor is a criminal offense.
- Conversion Therapy
- Banned Conversion therapy is banned nationwide under the 2022 Act.
Justice & Weapons
- Death Penalty
- Fully abolished Fully abolished for all crimes.
- Gun Laws
- Restrictive Handguns are licensed only at the authorities' discretion, or only to club members or existing owners.
- School Corporal Punishment
- Banned Corporal punishment is banned in schools, including by parents, following the 2007 amendment closing a loophole.
- Military Conscription
- No conscription
- Jury Trials
- Jury trials used Jury trials are a standard right for serious criminal offences and specific civil cases.
Substances
- Cannabis
- Legal (Medical) Cannabis is legal for medical use only; recreational use remains prohibited.
- Drinking Age
- 18–20 Minimum age to buy alcohol: 18.
- Smoking Age
- 18 Minimum age to buy tobacco: 18.
- Psilocybin Mushrooms
- Illegal Psilocybin is a controlled substance; possession is a criminal offence.
- Salvia Divinorum
- Legal / unregulated Salvia divinorum is legal or unregulated.
- Khat
- Illegal Khat is listed as a Class C drug in New Zealand, making it a controlled substance.
- E-Cigarettes
- Regulated E-cigarettes are legal but nicotine strength is capped by law.
Nearby countries
A visual reference compiled from Wikipedia’s law-by-country articles, not legal advice. Laws change and summaries simplify — check a primary source before relying on anything here.