Copyright Act 1994

Acts permitted in relation to copyright works - Libraries and archives

50: Interpretation

You could also call this:

"What special words mean in the Copyright Act"

When you read sections 51 to 56C, you need to know what some words mean. An archive can be Archives New Zealand or the National Library. It can also be a collection of documents that are important to history or the public. When you see the words 'prescribed library', it means a library like the National Library. It can also be a library that is part of a school, government department, or local council. If someone is acting on behalf of the librarian, you should include them when you read about the librarian. You can find more information about what an archive is by looking at the Official Information Act 1982 and the Public Records Act 2005. You can also find information about prescribed libraries in the Parliament Act 2025 and the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM345976.

This page was last updated on 3 December 2025 — View changes

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49: Things done for purposes of examination, or

"Using copyright material for exams is allowed"

51: Copying by librarians of parts of published works, or

"Librarians can copy parts of books and music for you to use for research or study"

Part 3Acts permitted in relation to copyright works
Libraries and archives

50Interpretation

In sections 51 to 56C, unless the context otherwise requires,—
archive—
1. means—
  1. Archives New Zealand (Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga); or
  2. the National Library; or
  3. the sound archive maintained by Radio New Zealand Limited; or
  4. the film archive maintained by Television New Zealand Limited; or
  5. the film archive maintained by the New Zealand Film Archive Incorporated; or
  6. any collection of documents (within the meaning of section 2 of the Official Information Act 1982) of historical significance or public interest that is in the custody of and being maintained by a body, whether incorporated or unincorporated, that does not keep and maintain the collection for the purpose of deriving a profit; and
2. includes, in relation only to its holding of public archives (within the meaning of section 4 of the Public Records Act 2005), an approved repository within the meaning of that section of that Act
prescribed library means—
1. the National Library; or
2. the Parliamentary Service, to the extent that it provides library, information, research, and reference services under section 123(1)(e) of the Parliament Act 2025; or
3. every law library provided and maintained under section 375(1) of the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006 or provided and maintained by the New Zealand Law Society; or
4. a library maintained by an educational establishment, government department, or local authority; or
5. a library of any other class of library prescribed by regulations made under this Act, not being a library conducted for profit.
In sections 51 to 56C, every reference to the librarian of a prescribed library or the archivist of an archive shall be read as including a person acting on behalf of the librarian or archivist.

Notes

Section 50(1): amended, on 31 October 2008, by section 30 of the Copyright (New Technologies) Amendment Act 2008 (2008 No 27).
Section 50(1) archive paragraph (a)(i): substituted, on 21 April 2005, by section 67(1) of the Public Records Act 2005 (2005 No 40).
Section 50(1) archive paragraph (b): substituted, on 21 April 2005, by section 67(1) of the Public Records Act 2005 (2005 No 40).
Section 50(1) prescribed library paragraph (b): replaced, on 13 November 2025, by section 51 of the Parliament (Repeals and Amendments) Act 2025 (2025 No 63).
Section 50(1) prescribed library paragraph (c): substituted, on 1 August 2008, by section 348 of the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006 (2006 No 1).
Section 50(1) prescribed library paragraph (c): amended, on 7 July 2010, by section 4 of the Copyright Amendment Act 2010 (2010 No 55).
Section 50(2): amended, on 31 October 2008, by section 30 of the Copyright (New Technologies) Amendment Act 2008 (2008 No 27).