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Oaths and Declarations Act 1957

Oaths, affirmations, and declarations in general - Use of audiovisual links

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

You could also call this:

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

Illustration for Oaths and Declarations Act 1957

You can take an oath or make an affirmation or declaration using an audiovisual link. This means you do not have to be in the same room as the person helping you. You cannot do this by audio only, you need to be seen. You must be able to see and hear each other. If you need to sign a document, the person helping you must see you sign it over the audiovisual link. Then you must send them the signed document, or a photo of it, so they can sign it too. The person helping you must get the document as soon as possible after you sign it. They need to sign the document after they get it from you.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS1559205.

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Crime and justice > Courts and legal help
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2: Interpretation, or

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

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3: Form in which oath may be administered, or

"How to Take an Oath"

Part 1Oaths, affirmations, and declarations in general
Use of audiovisual links

2ARequirements relating to oaths, affirmations, and declarations may be met by audiovisual link

  1. Where this Part requires an oath to be taken, or an affirmation or a declaration to be made, in the presence of the person administering the oath or affirmation or taking the declaration (the administrator), that requirement may be met using an audiovisual link (subject to subsections (2) and (3)).

  2. The oath or affirmation may not be administered, and the declaration may not be made, by audio communication only.

  3. If the oath, affirmation, or declaration is, or is required to be evidenced, in a document,—

  4. the administrator must be satisfied that the person taking the oath, or making the affirmation or declaration, signed the document concerned in the course of the audiovisual link; and
    1. as soon as practicable after signing the document, the person must send the signed document (or a photograph or scan of the signed document) to the administrator for the administrator to sign.

      Notes
      • Section 2A: inserted, on , by section 115 of the Statutes Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 74).