Treating

1 Every person is guilty of a corrupt practice who commits the offence of treating. 2 A person commits the offence of treating if at any time the person directly, indirectly, or by an agent corruptly gives, provides, or pays (in whole or in part) the expense of giving or providing, any food, drink, entertainment, or other thing to or for a person— a for the purpose of influencing that person, or any other person, to— i vote or refrain from voting; or ii refrain from registering as an elector of an electoral district; or iii register on the roll for a General electoral district and not a Māori electoral district, or register on the roll for a Māori electoral district and not a General electoral district; or b for the purpose of procuring the vote of that person or any other person; or c on account of that person, or any other person, having— i voted or refrained from voting; or ii refrained from registering as an elector of an electoral district; or iii registered on the roll for a General electoral district and not a Māori electoral district, or registered on the roll for a Māori electoral district and not a General electoral district. 3 Every person commits the offence of treating who, being the holder of a licence for the sale by retail of alcohol (within the meaning of section 5(1) of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 ) , knowingly supplies any food, drink, entertainment, or provision— a to any person where the supply thereof is demanded for the purpose of treating, or for any corrupt or illegal practice; or b to any persons, whether electors or not, for the purpose of procuring the return of a candidate or candidates at an election, and without receiving payment for it at the time when it is supplied. 4 A person who corruptly accepts or takes any food, drink, entertainment, or other thing in any of the circumstances specified in subsection (2) also commits the offence of treating. 5 Notwithstanding anything in this section, the provision of a light supper after any election meeting shall be deemed not to constitute the offence of treating. 1956 No 107 s 142; 1975 No 28 s 41 Section 217(2) : replaced , on 20 December 2025 , by section 47(1) of the Electoral Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 82). Section 217(3) : amended , on 18 December 2013 , by section 417(1) of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 (2012 No 120). Section 217(4) : replaced , on 20 December 2025 , by section 47(2) of the Electoral Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 82).