It’s a good question, considering the term rape is used to refer to non-consensual sexual intercourse and in New Zealand persons younger than 16 can not legally consent to sex. Auckland University/Supplied Professor Julia Tolmie from the Law School at University of Auckland says rape is non-consensual sex. “Rape is non-consensual sex.”Under the separate charge of unlawful sexual connection with a child younger than 16, the consent is irrelevant. “Rape is sexual intercourse without consent. McDonald said many other countries and jurisdictions had moved away from the term ‘rape’, opting to use sexual assault.

Source: Stuff September 15, 2020 17:01 UTC