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Overview
The Victims’ Rights Act 2002 sets out how victims should be treated and what rights they have when involved with the criminal justice system in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
You can read about the legislation here: Victims' Rights Act 2002 (external link)
Who is considered a victim under the Victims’ Rights Act?
The Victims’ Rights Act defines a victim as:
- a person an offence was committed against
- a person who was physically injured because of an offence
- a person whose property was lost or damaged because of an offence
- a parent or legal guardian of a victim who is a child or young person (unless they are charged with the crime)
- A family or whānau member where a victim has died or become incapable because of the offence.
What are the rights that victims have?
The Victims’ Rights Act includes rights that apply to all victims, as well as some additional rights for victims of specified offences. You can find a plain-language summary of victims' rights on our Victims Code page or download the Victims Code (PDF, 577 KB).
If your rights are not met
If you believe your rights have not been met, you can make a complaint.
You can contact the government agency involved and explain what happened. They may be able to resolve the issue directly. Find out more information about government agencies, including how you can get in contact.
You can also find more information on Making a complaint.