Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Plain Language Law homepage

This site uses plain language to explain the laws of Aotearoa New Zealand.


This page lists all the acts that we have a plain language explanation for.

You can read about how we do this, or more about this project.

All acts

Immigration Act 2009

Rules for entering and staying in New Zealand

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Income Tax Act 2007

Explaining income, tax rules, and how to pay what you owe

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Fencing Act 1978

Updating the rules for shared property fences

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Resource Management Act 1991

Updating rules for how we use land, air, and water in New Zealand

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Building Act 2004

Keeping buildings safe, healthy, and eco-friendly for everyone

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Companies Act 1993

Updating rules to make companies work better and fairer

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Crimes Act 1961

Updating and combining laws about crimes and offences in New Zealand

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Employment Relations Act 2000

Creating fair and respectful workplaces for everyone

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Health and Safety at Work Act 2015

Protecting workers and creating safer workplaces

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Residential Tenancies Act 1986

Rules for renting homes and solving renting problems

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Privacy Act 2020

Protecting your personal information and giving you control over it

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