Section 78 — Crimes Act 1961: Espionage

78 Espionage Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years who, being a person who owes allegiance to the Queen in right of New Zealand, within or outside New Zealand,— (a) With intent to prejudice the security or defence of New Zealand, communicates information or delivers any object to a country or organisation outside New Zealand or to a person acting on behalf of any such country or organisation; or (b) With intent to prejudice the security or defence of New Zealand and with the intention of communicating information or delivering any object to a country or organisation outside New Zealand or to a person acting on behalf of any such country or organisation,— (i) Collects or records any information; or (ii) Copies any document; or (iii) Obtains any object; or (iv) Makes any sketch, plan, model, or note; or (v) Takes any photograph; or (vi) Records any sound or image; or (vii) Delivers any object to any person,—

if the communication or delivery or intended communication or intended delivery under paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of this section is likely to prejudice the security or defence of New Zealand. Section 78 was substituted, as from 1 July 1983, by section 2(1) Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 1982 (1982 No 157).