Local Government Act 2002

5 Interpretation

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

    activity means a good or service provided by, or on behalf of, a local authority or a council-controlled organisation; and includes—

    • (a) the provision of facilities and amenities; and

    • (b) the making of grants; and

    • (c) the performance of regulatory and other governmental functions

    affected,—

    • (a) in relation to a local authority, means a local authority whose district or region contains an affected area:

    • (b) in relation to a territorial authority, means a territorial authority whose district contains an affected area

    affected area has the same meaning as in clause 2 of Schedule 3

    annual plan means an annual plan adopted under section 95

    bylaw means a bylaw made by a local authority under any enactment

    capital project has the meaning given to it in section 5 of the Local Government (Rating) Act 2002

    Commission,—

    • (a) other than in Part 10, means the Local Government Commission continued under section 28:

    committee includes, in relation to a local authority,—

    • (a) a committee comprising all the members of that local authority; and

    • (b) a standing committee or special committee appointed by that local authority; and

    • (c) a joint committee appointed under clause 30 of Schedule 7; and

    • (d) any subcommittee of a committee described in paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) or paragraph (c)

    community means, subject to subsection (2), a community constituted under Schedule 6

    community board means a community board established under section 49

    community facilities has the meaning set out in section 197(2)

    community infrastructure has the meaning set out in section 197(2)

    community outcomes means the outcomes that a local authority aims to achieve in meeting the current and future needs of communities for good-quality local infrastructure, local public services, and performance of regulatory functions

    council-controlled organisation has the meaning set out in section 6

    council-controlled trading organisation has the meaning set out in section 6

    council organisation has the meaning set out in section 6

    development contribution has the meaning set out in section 197(2)

    development contribution policy has the meaning set out in section 197(2)

    district means the district of a territorial authority

    enforcement officer means a person appointed by a local authority to exercise the powers of an enforcement officer in relation to offences against, and infringement offences under, this Act, including enforcement of the bylaws of the local authority

    equity security has the meaning given to it in section 2 of the Securities Act 1978

    financial year means a period of 12 months ending on 30 June

    generally accepted accounting practice means—

    • (a) financial reporting standards (within the meaning of section 2(1) of the Financial Reporting Act 1993) so far as those standards apply to local authorities and council-controlled organisations; and

    • (b) in relation to matters for which no provision is made in financial reporting standards (within the meaning of section 2(1) of the Financial Reporting Act 1993) and that are not subject to any applicable rule of law, accounting policies that—

      • (i) are appropriate to the local authority or council-controlled organisation; and

      • (ii) have authoritative support within the accounting profession in New Zealand

    good-quality, in relation to local infrastructure, local public services, and performance of regulatory functions, has the meaning given in section 10(2)

    group of activities means 1 or more related activities provided by, or on behalf of, a local authority or council-controlled organisation

    local authority means a regional council or territorial authority

    local government organisation has the meaning set out in section 124

    long-term plan means a long-term plan adopted under section 93

    lump sum contribution has the meaning given to it in section 5 of the Local Government (Rating) Act 2002

    mayor means the mayor of a territorial authority elected under the Local Electoral Act 2001

    member,—

    • (a) in relation to a community board, means a member appointed to that board or elected to that board under the Local Electoral Act 2001:

    • (b) in relation to the Commission, means a member of the Local Government Commission:

    • (c) in relation to a local authority, means a member of the governing body of the local authority elected under the Local Electoral Act 2001:

    • (d) in relation to a regional council, means a member of the governing body of the regional council elected under the Local Electoral Act 2001, including the chairperson:

    • (e) in relation to a territorial authority, means a member of the governing body of the territorial authority elected under the Local Electoral Act 2001, including the mayor

    Minister means the Minister of the Crown who, under the authority of any warrant or with the authority of the Prime Minister, is for the time being responsible for the administration of this Act

    natural hazard has the meaning given to it in section 2(1) of the Resource Management Act 1991

    network infrastructure has the meaning set out in section 197(2)

    operating expenses and operating revenues have the same meaning as under generally accepted accounting practice

    public notice, in relation to a notice given by a local authority,—

    • (a) means a notice published in—

      • (i) 1 or more daily newspapers circulating in the region or district of the local authority; or

      • (ii) 1 or more other newspapers that have at least an equivalent circulation in that region or district to the daily newspapers circulating in that region or district; and

    • (b) includes any other public notice that the local authority thinks desirable in the circumstances

    publicly available, in relation to a document, has the meaning set out in subsection (3)

    region—

    • (a) means the region of a regional council; and

    • (b) includes the district of a territorial authority, if the territorial authority is a unitary authority

    regional council means a regional council named in Part 1 of Schedule 2

    remuneration and employment policy means a policy adopted by a local authority under clause 36A of Schedule 7

    reserve fund means money set aside by a local authority for a specific purpose

    Secretary means the Secretary for Local Government

    significance, in relation to any issue, proposal, decision, or other matter that concerns or is before a local authority, means the degree of importance of the issue, proposal, decision, or matter, as assessed by the local authority, in terms of its likely impact on, and likely consequences for,—

    • (a) the district or region:

    • (b) any persons who are likely to be particularly affected by, or interested in, the issue, proposal, decision, or matter:

    • (c) the capacity of the local authority to perform its role, and the financial and other costs of doing so

    significant, in relation to any issue, proposal, decision, or other matter, means that the issue, proposal, decision, or other matter has a high degree of significance

    special consultative procedure means the procedure set out in section 83

    strategic asset, in relation to the assets held by a local authority, means an asset or group of assets that the local authority needs to retain if the local authority is to maintain the local authority's capacity to achieve or promote any outcome that the local authority determines to be important to the current or future well-being of the community; and includes—

    • (a) any asset or group of assets listed in accordance with section 90(2) by the local authority; and

    • (b) any land or building owned by the local authority and required to maintain the local authority's capacity to provide affordable housing as part of its social policy; and

    territorial authority means a city council or a district council named in Part 2 of Schedule 2

    unitary authority means a territorial authority that has the responsibilities, duties, and powers of a regional council conferred on it under—

    • (a) the provisions of any Act; or

    • (b) an Order in Council giving effect to a reorganisation scheme

    wastewater has the meaning given to wastewater services in section 124

    water race means the land occupied by a water channel (other than a main river)—

    • (a) constructed—

      • (i) by or under the authority of a local authority:

      • (ii) in, upon, or through land for the supply of water; and

    • (b) to be used—

      • (i) solely or principally for farming purposes; or

      • (ii) in the case of an existing water race, for any other purpose for which water from that water race may be used at the commencement of this section; and

    • (c) includes—

      • (i) a branch of a water race taken or made through land for the purpose of supplying water as referred to in paragraph (b); and

      • (ii) an alteration, extension, or widening of a water race or branch water race, whether done by the local authority or by any person with the approval of the local authority; and

      • (iii) a flood or other bank, or a dam, sluice, flume, bridge, gauge, meter, reservoir, or other waterworks relating to, or forming part of, a water race; and

      • (iv) buildings and machinery, pipes, and other materials on the land and within the limits of a water race or relating to, or used in connection with, a water race

    waterworks, in relation to the provision of water supply, includes—

    • (a) rivers, streams, lakes, waters, and underground waters, and rights relating to these; and

    • (b) land, watershed, catchment, and water collection areas; and

    • (c) if vested in a local government organisation, or acquired, constructed, or operated by, or under the control of, a local government organisation,—

      • (i) reservoirs, dams, bores, tanks, and pipes; and

      • (ii) buildings, machinery, and appliances

    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.

    (2) The meaning given to the term community by subsection (1) does not apply in relation to—

    • (b) the definition of the term long-term plan; or

    • (c) any of the provisions of Parts 2 and 6; or

    • (e) any other provisions of this Act in respect of which the context otherwise requires.

    (3) If a local authority or a council-controlled organisation is required under this Act to make a document publicly available, it must take reasonable steps to—

    • (a) ensure that the document or a copy of the document is accessible to the general public; and

    • (b) publicise both the fact that the document is available and the manner in which copies of the document may be obtained.

    Section 5(1) affected: inserted, on 5 December 2012, by section 5(9) of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2012 (2012 No 93).

    Section 5(1) affected area: inserted, on 5 December 2012, by section 5(9) of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2012 (2012 No 93).

    Section 5(1) bylaw: inserted, on 28 June 2006, by section 4(1) of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2006 (2006 No 26).

    Section 5(1) capital project: inserted, on 28 June 2006, by section 15(1) of the Local Government (Rating) Amendment Act 2006 (2006 No 28).

    Section 5(1) Commission: replaced, on 5 December 2012, by section 5(1) of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2012 (2012 No 93).

    Section 5(1) community facilities: substituted, on 28 June 2006, by section 4(2) of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2006 (2006 No 26).

    Section 5(1) community facilities: amended, on 5 December 2012, by section 5(2) of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2012 (2012 No 93).

    Section 5(1) community infrastructure: amended, on 5 December 2012, by section 5(3) of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2012 (2012 No 93).

    Section 5(1) community outcomes: replaced, on 5 December 2012, by section 5(4) of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2012 (2012 No 93).

    Section 5(1) development contribution: amended, on 5 December 2012, by section 5(5) of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2012 (2012 No 93).

    Section 5(1) development contribution policy: amended, on 5 December 2012, by section 5(6) of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2012 (2012 No 93).

    Section 5(1) equity security: inserted, on 27 November 2010, by section 4(2) of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2010 (2010 No 124).

    Section 5(1) generally accepted accounting practice paragraph (a): amended, on 1 July 2011, by section 12 of the Financial Reporting Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 22).

    Section 5(1) generally accepted accounting practice paragraph (b): amended, on 1 July 2011, by section 12 of the Financial Reporting Amendment Act 2011 (2011 No 22).

    Section 5(1) good-quality: inserted, on 5 December 2012, by section 5(9) of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2012 (2012 No 93).

    Section 5(1) long-term council community plan: repealed, on 27 November 2010, by section 49 of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2010 (2010 No 124).

    Section 5(1) long-term plan: inserted, on 27 November 2010, by section 49 of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2010 (2010 No 124).

    Section 5(1) lump sum contribution: inserted, on 28 June 2006, by section 15(1) of the Local Government (Rating) Amendment Act 2006 (2006 No 28).

    Section 5(1) natural hazard: inserted, on 27 November 2010, by section 4(2) of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2010 (2010 No 124).

    Section 5(1) network assets of Watercare Services Limited: repealed, on 1 November 2010, by section 113(1) of the Local Government (Auckland Transitional Provisions) Act 2010 (2010 No 37).

    Section 5(1) network infrastructure: amended, on 5 December 2012, by section 5(7) of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2012 (2012 No 93).

    Section 5(1) remuneration and employment policy: inserted, on 5 December 2012, by section 5(9) of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2012 (2012 No 93).

    Section 5(1) reorganisation proposal: repealed, on 5 December 2012, by section 5(10) of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2012 (2012 No 93).

    Section 5(1) reorganisation scheme: repealed, on 5 December 2012, by section 5(10) of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2012 (2012 No 93).

    Section 5(1) reserve fund: inserted, on 27 November 2010, by section 4(2) of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2010 (2010 No 124).

    Section 5(1) significance paragraph (a): replaced, on 5 December 2012, by section 5(8) of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2012 (2012 No 93).

    Section 5(1) waterworks: substituted, on 1 November 2010, by section 113(1) of the Local Government (Auckland Transitional Provisions) Act 2010 (2010 No 37).

    Section 5(2)(b): amended, on 27 November 2010, by section 49 of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2010 (2010 No 124).