Questioning of persons - national procedures for ICC proceedings

New Zealand

New Zealand - International Crimes and International criminal Court Act 2000 (2021) EN

24 Requests for assistance
(1)
(a)
(iv) the questioning of any person being investigated or prosecuted; or

89 Assistance in questioning persons

(1) This section applies if the ICC requests assistance under any of Articles 19(8), 56, 64, or 93(1)(c) of the Statute in questioning a person who is being investigated or prosecuted.

(2) The Attorney-General may give authority for the request to proceed if the Attorney-General is satisfied that—
(a) the request relates to an investigation being conducted by the Prosecutor or a proceeding before the ICC; and
(b) the person is or may be in New Zealand.

(3) If the Attorney-General gives authority to proceed,—
(a) the Attorney-General must forward the request to the appropriate New Zealand agency; and
(b) that agency must, without delay,—
(i) use its best endeavours to undertake the questioning that the ICC has requested; and
(ii) ensure that the answers to the questions put are recorded in writing and make any other report on the questioning as it considers to be appropriate in the circumstances; and
(iii) advise the Attorney-General of the outcome of those endeavours and, if relevant, deliver the record and any report of the questioning to the Attorney-General.

91 Assistance in arranging service of documents

(1) This section applies if the ICC requests assistance under any of Articles 19(8), 56, 58(7), 64, or 93(1)(d) of the Statute in arranging for the service of a document in New Zealand.

(2) The Attorney-General may give authority for the request to proceed if the Attorney-General is satisfied that—
(a) the request relates to an investigation being conducted by the Prosecutor or a proceeding before the ICC; and
(b) the person or body to be served is or may be in New Zealand.

(3) If the Attorney-General gives authority for the request to proceed, the Attorney-General must forward the request for service to the appropriate New Zealand agency, and that agency must, without delay,—
(a) use its best endeavours to have the process served—
(i) in accordance with any procedure specified in the request; or
(ii) if that procedure would be unlawful or inappropriate in New Zealand, or if no procedure is specified, in accordance with the law of New Zealand; and
(b) transmit to the Attorney-General—
(i) a certificate as to service, if the document is served; or
(ii) a statement of the reasons that prevented service, if the document is not served.

(4) In this section, document includes—
(a) a summons requiring a person to appear as a witness; and
(b) a summons to an accused that has been issued under Article 58(7) of the Statute.

Rome Statute

Article 93 Other forms of cooperation

1. States Parties shall, in accordance with the provisions of this Part and under procedures of national law, comply with requests by the Court to provide the following assistance in relation to investigations or prosecutions:

(c) The questioning of any person being investigated or prosecuted;