Human Rights Act 1993

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2 Interpretation

  • (1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

    act includes an activity, condition, enactment, policy, practice, or requirement

    Chief Commissioner means the Commissioner appointed as the Chief Human Rights Commissioner under section 8(1)(a)

    Commission means the Human Rights Commission continued by section 4 and includes the Office of Human Rights Proceedings

    Commission: this definition was amended, as from 25 January 2005, by section 200 Crown Entities Act 2004 (2004 No 115) by inserting “and includes the Office of Human Rights Proceedings” after “continued by section 4”.

    Commissioner means a member of the Commission

    Director of Human Rights Proceedings or Director means the Director of Human Rights Proceedings or alternate Director of Human Rights Proceedings appointed under section 20A

    dispose, in sections 53 and 54, includes sell, assign, lease, let, sublease, sublet, license, or mortgage, and agree to dispose

    dispute resolution meeting means a meeting of the kind referred to in section 77(2)(c)

    dispute resolution services includes the provision of answers to questions by members of the public about discrimination and compliance with this Act

    employer, in Part 2, includes—

    • (a) the employer of an independent contractor; and

    • (b) the person for whom work is done by contract workers under a contract between that person and the person who supplies those contract workers; and

    • (c) the person for whom work is done by an unpaid worker

    employment agreement has the meaning given to that term by section 5 of the Employment Relations Act 2000

    employment contract has the meaning given to that term by section 2 of the Employment Contracts Act 1991

    Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner means the Commissioner appointed as the Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner under section 8(1)(c)

    General manager means the General manager of the Commission appointed by the Chief Commissioner under section 18; and includes any acting general manager of the Commission

    Human Rights Review Tribunal or Tribunal means the Tribunal continued by section 93

    Minister means the Minister of Justice

    Office of Human Rights Proceedings or Office means the office referred to in section 20

    prohibited ground of discrimination has the meaning given to it by section 21

    Race Relations Commissioner means the Commissioner appointed as the Race Relations Commissioner under section 8(1)(b)

    relative, in relation to any person, means any other person who—

    • (a) is related to the person by blood, marriage, civil union, de facto relationship, affinity, or adoption; or

    • (b) is wholly or mainly dependent on the person; or

    • (c) is a member of the person's household

    relative: paragraph (a) of this definition was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 7 Relationships (Statutory References) Act 2005 (2005 No 3) by inserting “civil union, de facto relationship,” after “marriage,”.

    residential accommodation, in sections 53 and 54, includes accommodation in a dwellinghouse, flat, hotel, motel, boardinghouse, or camping ground

    superannuation scheme means any superannuation scheme, fund, or plan, or any provident fund, set up to confer, on its members or other persons, retirement or other benefits, such as accident, disability, sickness, or death benefits

    trustees, in relation to a superannuation scheme, includes the person or persons appointed to administer a superannuation scheme constituted under an Act of Parliament of New Zealand.

    (2) Unless the context otherwise requires, every reference in this Act to a complaint alleging a breach of 1 or more Parts of this Act includes a complaint that appears to allege or concern such a breach (whether or not it refers to the relevant Part in question).

    (3) Unless the context otherwise requires, every reference in this Act to a person against whom a complaint is made includes a body of any kind against whom a complaint is made.

    Compare: 1977 No 49 ss 2, 15(13), 25(5); 1983 No 56 s 4(4); 1992 No 16 s 2(3); 1993 No 35 s 3(3)

    Employment agreement: this definition was inserted, as from 2 October 2000, by section 240 Employment Relations Act 2000 (2000 No 24).

    Section 2 was substituted, as from 1 January 2002, by section 3 Human Rights Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 96).