Is A Protection Order a Criminal Offense in NZ Law.

The short audio answers for commonly asked question, is a protection order a criminal offence in New Zealand.

I am a Auckland family lawyer, from New Zealand. I also practice criminal law as well.

A protection order is an order granted by the family court and is called a non-molestation order in other countries. Essentially it protects the person in whose favourite it is made for against family violence.

Breaching a protection order or carries a term of imprisonment and it is a criminal offence to breach a protection order.  However the mere existence of a protection order does not constitute a criminal offence in New Zealand.