Section 128 — Human Rights Act 1993: Protection and privileges of witnesses, etc

128 Protection and privileges of witnesses, etc (1) Every person shall have the same privileges in relation to the giving of information to, the answering of questions put by, and the production of documents and things to, a Commission as witnesses have in any Court. (2) No person shall be required to supply any information to or to answer any question put by a Commission in relation to any matter, or to produce to a Commission any document or paper or thing relating to any matter, in any case where compliance with that requirement would be in breach of an obligation of secrecy or non-disclosure imposed on that person by the provisions of any Act or regulations, other than the Official Information Act 1982 . (3) No person shall be liable to prosecution for an offence against any enactment, other than section 143 of this Act, by reason of that person's compliance with any requirement of a Commission under section 127 of this Act. (4) Where the attendance of any person is required by a Commission under section 127 of this Act, the person shall be entitled to the same fees, allowances, and expenses as if the person were a witness in a Court and, for the purpose,— (a) The provisions of any regulations in that behalf under the Summary Proceedings Act 1957 shall apply accordingly; and (b) The Commission shall have the powers of a Court under any such regulations to fix or disallow, in whole or in part, or to increase, any amounts payable under the regulations. Compare: 1977 No 49 s 73(3), (4), (6), (7) Section 128 was amended, as from 1 January 2002, by section 33 Human Rights Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 96) by substituting “ Commission ” for “ Commissioner ” in each place where it appears.