Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Telecommunications Act 2001

Preliminary - General

3: Purpose

You could also call this:

"This law helps control how phone and internet services are provided to you in New Zealand."

Illustration for Telecommunications Act 2001

The main purpose of the Telecommunications Act 2001 is to regulate the supply of telecommunications services. You can think of telecommunications services as things like phone and internet connections. This Act is in place to oversee how these services are provided to you. The Act does not limit the Resource Management Act 1991, which is a separate law. This means the Telecommunications Act 2001 and the Resource Management Act 1991 work together, but the Telecommunications Act 2001 does not restrict what the Resource Management Act 1991 can do.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM124968.

Topics:
Money and consumer rights > Consumer protection
Previous

2: Commencement, or

"When the Telecommunications Act 2001 becomes a law and starts working"

Next

4: Overview, or

"Introduction to the Telecommunications Act 2001: a law about how phone and internet services work in New Zealand."

Part 1Preliminary
General

3Purpose

  1. The main purpose of this Act is to regulate the supply of telecommunications services.

  2. To avoid doubt, nothing in subsection (1) or in any other provision of this Act limits the Resource Management Act 1991.

Notes
  • Section 3(2): amended, on , by section 6 of the Resource Management (Natural and Built Environment and Spatial Planning Repeal and Interim Fast-track Consenting) Act 2023 (2023 No 68).