http://bgr.com/2013/01/29/smartphone-unlocking-petition-310663/
Excerpt:
first-time offenders can be fined up to $500,000 or be imprisoned for up to five years for unlocking a subsidized wireless phone without a carrier’s consent.
We are actually pretty fortunate in New Zealand, we have a LOT of flexibility that other countries may have, and even though in SOME cases rates are less, at least we don't have to worry about this kind of thing.