Section 131 — Human Rights Act 1993: Inciting racial disharmony

131 Inciting racial disharmony (1) Every person commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to a fine not exceeding $7,000 who, with intent to excite hostility or ill-will against, or bring into contempt or ridicule, any group of persons in New Zealand on the ground of the colour, race, or ethnic or national origins of that group of persons,— (a) Publishes or distributes written matter which is threatening, abusive, or insulting, or broadcasts by means of radio or television words which are threatening, abusive, or insulting; or (b) Uses in any public place (as defined in section 2(1) of the Summary Offences Act 1981 ), or within the hearing of persons in any such public place, or at any meeting to which the public are invited or have access, words which are threatening, abusive, or insulting,— being matter or words likely to excite hostility or ill-will against, or bring into contempt or ridicule, any such group of persons in New Zealand on the ground of the colour, race, or ethnic or national origins of that group of persons. (2) For the purposes of this section, publishes or distributes and written matter have the meaning given to them in section 61 of this Act. Compare: 1971 No 150 s 25; 1977 No 49 s 86