Version as at 1 July 2023 1 Crimes of Torture Act 1989 s2 Short Title This Act may be cited as the Crimes of Torture Act 1989. 2 Interpretation (1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,— act of torture means any act or omission by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person— (a) (b) for such purposes as— (i) obtaining from that person or some other person information or a confession; or (ii) punishing that person for any act or omission for which that per‐ son or some other person is responsible or is suspected of being responsible; or (iii) intimidating or coercing that person or some other person; or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind;— but does not include any act or omission arising only from, or inherent in, or incidental to, any lawful sanctions that are not inconsistent with the Articles of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights the Convention means the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhu‐ man, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, adopted by the General Assem‐ bly of the United Nations on 10 December 1984, a copy of the English text of which is set out in Schedule 1 New Zealand includes all waters within the outer limits of the territorial sea of New Zealand (as defined by section 3 of the Territorial Sea, Contiguous Zone, and Exclusive Economic Zone Act 1977) public official means— (a) any person in the service of the Sovereign in right of New Zealand, including— (i) a member of any of the Armed Forces of New Zealand; and (ii) a judicial officer and a law enforcement officer within the mean‐ ing of Part 6 of the Crimes Act 1961; and (iii) an officer within the meaning of the Corrections Act 2004; and (iiia) a security officer within the meaning of the Corrections Act 2004; and (iv) a member and an employee of any local authority or public body; and 3