New Zealand Legislation: Acts
Acts are laws made by Parliament
In an enactment,—
Act means an Act of the Parliament of New Zealand or of the General Assembly; and includes an Imperial Act that is part of the law of New Zealand
Commencement, in relation to an enactment, means the time when the enactment comes into force
Committed for trial means committed to the High Court or a District Court under the Summary Proceedings Act 1957
Commonwealth country and part of the Commonwealth mean a country that is a member of the Commonwealth; and include a territory for the international relations of which the member is responsible
Consular officer means a person who has authority to exercise consular functions
de facto partner means a person who is a party to a de facto relationship (as defined in section 29A)
de facto partner: this definition was inserted, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3 Interpretation Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 13).
Enactment means the whole or a portion of an Act or regulations
Gazette means the New Zealand Gazette published or purporting to be published under the authority of the New Zealand Government; and includes a supplement
Governor-General in Council or a similar expression means the Governor-General acting on the advice and with the consent of the Executive Council
Minister, in relation to an enactment, means the Minister of the Crown who, under the authority of a warrant or with the authority of the Prime Minister, is responsible for the administration of an enactment
Month means a calendar month
New Zealand or similar words referring to New Zealand, when used as a territorial description, mean the islands and territories within the Realm of New Zealand; but do not include the self-governing state of the Cook Islands, the self-governing State of Niue, Tokelau, or the Ross Dependency
North Island means the island commonly known as the “North Island”
; and includes the islands adjacent to it north of Cook Strait
Order in Council means an order made by the Governor-General in Council
Person includes a corporation sole, a body corporate, and an unincorporated body
Prescribed means prescribed by or under an enactment
Proclamation means a proclamation made and signed by the Governor-General under the Seal of New Zealand and published in the Gazette
Public notification, “public notice”
, or a similar expression in relation to an act, matter, or thing, means a notice published in—
(a) The Gazette; or
(b) One or more newspapers circulating in the place or district to which the act, matter, or thing relates or in which it arises:
Regulations means—
(a) Regulations, rules, or bylaws made under an Act by the Governor-General in Council or by a Minister of the Crown:
(b) An Order in Council, Proclamation, notice, Warrant, or instrument, made under an enactment that varies or extends the scope or provisions of an enactment:
(c) An Order in Council that brings into force, repeals, or suspends an enactment:
(d) Regulations, rules, or an instrument made under an Imperial Act or the Royal prerogative and having the force of law in New Zealand:
(e) An instrument that is a regulation or that is required to be treated as a regulation for the purposes of the Regulations Act 1936 or the Acts and Regulations Publication Act 1989 or the Regulations (Disallowance) Act 1989:
(f) An instrument that revokes regulations, rules, bylaws, an Order in Council, a Proclamation, a notice, a Warrant, or an instrument, referred to in paragraphs (a) to (e):
Repeal, in relation to an enactment, includes expiry, revocation, and replacement
Rules of Court, in relation to a court, means rules regulating the practice and procedure of the court
South Island means the island commonly known as the South Island; and includes the islands adjacent to it south of Cook Strait
Summary conviction means a conviction by a District Court Judge or by 1 or more Justices of the Peace in accordance with the Summary Proceedings Act 1957
Territorial limits of New Zealand, limits of New Zealand, or a similar expression, when used as a territorial description, means the outer limits of the territorial sea of New Zealand
Working day means a day of the week other than—
(a) A Saturday, a Sunday, Waitangi Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day, the Sovereign's Birthday, and Labour Day; and
(b) A day in the period commencing with 25 December in a year and ending with 2 January in the following year; and
(c) If 1 January falls on a Friday, the following Monday; and
(d) If 1 January falls on a Saturday or a Sunday, the following Monday and Tuesday:
writing means representing or reproducing words, figures, or symbols in a visible and tangible form and medium (for example, in print)
Writing: this definition was substituted, as from 21 November 2003, by section 38 Electronic Transactions Act 2002 (2002 No 35). See clause 2 Electronic Transactions Act Commencement Order 2003 (SR 2003/289).
Compare: 1924 No 11 s 4