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Defamation Act 1992

2: Interpretation

You could also call this:

"What special words mean in the Defamation Act 1992"

Illustration for Defamation Act 1992

When you read the Defamation Act 1992, some words have special meanings. A broadcaster is someone who does what section 2 of the Broadcasting Act 1989 says they do. Defamation includes libel and slander. You need to know what some other words mean too. A distributor is someone like a bookseller or a librarian. A Judge is a Judge of the High Court or the District Court, depending on the case. Some other words are defined in the Act. A news medium is something that tells the public news or shows advertisements. A newspaper is a paper that comes out regularly with news or ads. A processor is someone who prints or reproduces something. A working day is most days, but not weekends or public holidays like Waitangi Day or Labour Day. The Act also says that some other parts of the law apply when interpreting it. This includes Part 3 of Schedule 1.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM280692.

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1: Short Title and commencement, or

"The Defamation Act 1992: What It's Called and When It Started"

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3: Application, or

"When This Law Applies to You and the Government"

2Interpretation

  1. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

    broadcaster has the meaning given to it by section 2 of the Broadcasting Act 1989

      defamation includes libel and slander

        distributor includes—

        1. a bookseller; and
          1. a librarian

            Judge, in Parts 2, 3, and 4, means,—

            1. in the case of any proceedings before the High Court, a Judge of that court:
              1. in the case of any proceedings before the District Court, a Judge of that court

                news medium means a medium for the dissemination, to the public or to a section of the public, of news, or observations on news, or advertisements

                  newspaper means a paper—that is published, in New Zealand or elsewhere, periodically at intervals not exceeding 3 months

                  1. containing news or observations on news; or
                    1. consisting wholly or mainly of advertisements—

                      processor means a person who prints or reproduces, or plays a role in printing or reproducing, any matter

                        working day means any day of the week other than—

                        1. a Saturday, a Sunday, Waitangi Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day, the Sovereign’s birthday, Te Rā Aro ki a Matariki/Matariki Observance Day, and Labour Day; and
                          1. if Waitangi Day or Anzac Day falls on a Saturday or a Sunday, the following Monday; and
                            1. a day in the period commencing with 25 December in any year and ending with 15 January in the following year.

                            2. The provisions of Part 3 of Schedule 1 shall also have effect for the purposes of the interpretation of that schedule.

                            Notes
                            • Section 2(1) Judge paragraph (b): amended, on , by section 261 of the District Court Act 2016 (2016 No 49).
                            • Section 2(1) working day paragraph (a): replaced, on , by wehenga 7 o Te Ture mō te Hararei Tūmatanui o te Kāhui o Matariki 2022/section 7 of the Te Kāhui o Matariki Public Holiday Act 2022 (2022 No 14).
                            • Section 2(1) working day paragraph (ab): inserted, on , by section 8 of the Holidays (Full Recognition of Waitangi Day and ANZAC Day) Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 19).