Oaths and Declarations Act 1957

2: Interpretation

You could also call this:

"What special words mean in the Oaths and Declarations Act"

Illustration for Oaths and Declarations Act 1957

In the Oaths and Declarations Act 1957, you need to know what some words mean. An audiovisual link is a way for people to talk and see each other from different places. A Commonwealth representative is someone who works for a country in the Commonwealth, like an Ambassador or a Consular Officer. You should understand that a Commonwealth country includes places that are part of the British Commonwealth of Nations. This also includes territories that are looked after by a Commonwealth country and the Republic of Ireland. An oath is a promise that you make for a specific reason, and it can be used in court or other situations. When you hear the term 'person acting judicially', it means someone who is allowed to listen to and examine evidence in New Zealand. A proceeding is a legal process, like a trial or an inquiry, that happens in a court or with someone who is acting judicially. You can find more information about the Act by looking at the related link https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM142521

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM314559.

This page was last updated on 24 December 2025 — View changes

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1: Short Title and commencement, or

"The Oaths and Declarations Act 1957: What It's Called and When It Started"

2A: Requirements relating to oaths, affirmations, and declarations may be met by audiovisual link, or

"You can take an oath or make a promise over a video link"

2Interpretation

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—
audiovisual link means facilities that enable audio and visual communication between people in different places
Commonwealth means the British Commonwealth of Nations; and includes every territory for whose international relations the Government of any Commonwealth country is responsible; and also includes the Republic of Ireland as if that country were a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations
Commonwealth representative means any Ambassador, High Commissioner, Commissioner, Minister, Counsellor, Chargé d'Affaires, Head of Mission, Consular Officer, Pro-consul, Trade Commissioner, or Tourist Commissioner of a Commonwealth country (including New Zealand); and includes any person lawfully acting for any such officer; and also includes any diplomatic secretary on the staff of any such Ambassador, High Commissioner, Commissioner, Minister, Counsellor, Chargé d'Affaires, or Head of Mission
oath means an oath administered or taken for any purpose, whether in judicial proceedings or otherwise
person acting judicially means any person having in New Zealand by law or by consent of parties authority to hear, receive, and examine evidence
proceeding includes any action, trial, inquiry, cause, or matter, whether civil or criminal or otherwise, in any court or before any person acting judicially.

Compare

1908 No 56 s 2
1910 No 17 s 2
1925 No 19 s 3

Notes

Section 2 audiovisual link: inserted, on 27 November 2025, by section 114 of the Statutes Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 74).
Section 2 Commonwealth representative: amended, on 23 October 1963, by section 2 of the Oaths and Declarations Amendment Act 1963 (1963 No 106).