Interpretation Act 1999

Before its repeal, this Act was administered by: Ministry of Justice
  • repealed
  • Interpretation Act 1999: repealed, on 28 October 2021, by section 6 of the Legislation (Repeals and Amendments) Act 2019 (2019 No 59).

Part 5 Meaning of terms and expressions in legislation

29 Definitions

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

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)

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)

1 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 legislative instrument or a disallowable instrument for the purposes of the Legislation Act 2012:

(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

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; and

(e)

if Waitangi Day or Anzac Day falls on a Saturday or a Sunday, the following Monday

writing means representing or reproducing words, figures, or symbols in a visible and tangible form and medium (for example, in print).

Compare: 1924 No 11 s 4

Section 29 committed for trial: repealed, on 1 July 2013, by section 413 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 (2011 No 81).

Section 29 de facto partner: inserted, on 26 April 2005, by section 3 of the Interpretation Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 13).

Section 29 regulations paragraph (e): replaced, on 5 August 2013, by section 77(4) of the Legislation Act 2012 (2012 No 119).

Section 29 summary conviction: repealed, on 1 July 2013, by section 413 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 (2011 No 81).

Section 29 writing: substituted, on 21 November 2003, by section 38 of the Electronic Transactions Act 2002 (2002 No 35).

Section 29 working day paragraph (d): replaced, on 1 January 2014, by section 8 of the Holidays (Full Recognition of Waitangi Day and ANZAC Day) Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 19).

Section 29 working day paragraph (e): inserted, on 1 January 2014, by section 8 of the Holidays (Full Recognition of Waitangi Day and ANZAC Day) Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 19).