Terrorism Suppression Act 2002

Terrorism Suppression Act 2002
New Zealand Parliament
Long title The purpose of this Act is— (a) to make further provision in New Zealand law for the suppression of terrorism; and (b) to make provision to implement in New Zealand law New Zealand's obligations under— (i) the Bombings Convention; and (ii) the Financing Convention; and (iii) the Anti-terrorism Resolution; and (iv) the Nuclear Material Convention; and (v) the Plastic Explosives Convention; and (vi) the Nuclear Terrorism Convention; and (c) to make further provision to implement, in part, the Al-Qaida and the Taliban Sanctions Resolutions.[1]
Royal assent	17 October 2002
Status: Current legislation

The Terrorism Suppression Act 2002 is New Zealand counter-terrorism legislation passed under the Clark-led Labour government. Enacted following the September 11 attacks in the United States, the Act was designed to better address contemporary terrorism issues, both domestically and abroad. Until May 2019, the Act had not been formally used in a prosecution; however there were several failed attempts by the Crown to do so.^[2] Many individuals and organisations have however been designated as "Terrorist entities" under the Act's provisions, in line with UN Security Council designations.^[3] The Act was amended in 2007.^[4] In May 2019, a charge of engaging in a terrorist act was laid against Brenton Tarrant, the perpetrator of the Christchurch mosque attacks, under section 6A of the Act.^[5]