Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Plain Language Act 2022

Schedule 1: Transitional, savings, and related provisions

You could also call this:

“Rules for changing old and new documents to use simple words”

The Plain Language Act 2022 has rules about when documents need to be written in plain language. These rules apply to new documents created after the Act starts and to old documents that are significantly changed. If an old document is changed a lot, the whole document needs to be in plain language, not just the changed parts.

When the Act starts working, government agencies need to do some important things. They must choose people to be in charge of plain language, tell all their workers about the new rules, give training on how to use plain language, and make sure they’re following the Act’s requirements.

Each government agency has to write a report about what they’ve done to follow the Plain Language Act. In their first report, they need to talk about who they chose to be in charge of plain language, how they told their workers about the new rules, what training they gave, and how well they’re following the Act.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS699862.

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Government and voting > Government departments
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15: Other Acts not affected, or

“This law doesn't change how Māori language and sign language laws work”

1Transitional, savings, and related provisions Empowered by s 7

1Provisions relating to this Act as enacted

1When plain language requirements apply

  1. Section 9 applies only to—

  2. each relevant document that is issued on or after commencement; and
    1. each relevant document that was issued before commencement and that is still in effect on commencement, but only on and after the date on which it is substantially revised.

      1. A relevant document is substantially revised when, after commencement, a reporting agency makes changes to the document that are more than minor.

      2. If section 9 applies to a relevant document under subclause (1)(b), it applies to the document as a whole (rather than merely to the amendments that have been made).

      3. Subclause (3) is subject to section 6(5) .

      4. In this clause, commencement means the date on which this Act comes into force.

      2First report under section 12

      1. A reporting agency must include information on the following matters in its first report under section 12 :

      2. its appointment of 1 or more plain language officers:
        1. the actions that it has taken to inform all agency employees about the requirements of this Act:
          1. the training provided to agency employees on the use of plain language:
            1. the agency’s compliance with the requirements of this Act.