Citizenship Act 1977

2: Interpretation

You could also call this:

"What special words mean in the Citizenship Act 1977"

When you read the Citizenship Act 1977, some words have special meanings. The term 'alien' refers to a person who is not a New Zealand citizen, a Commonwealth citizen, a British protected person, or an Irish citizen. The 'Armed Forces' has the meaning given to it by section 2 of the Defence Act 1990.

You work in the 'Crown service under the New Zealand Government' if you work for the New Zealand Government or a New Zealand trust territory, and this includes working in the State Services, as defined in section 5 of the Public Service Act 2020. An 'employee' is someone who works for the Government, and this includes a chief executive, with the meaning given to it by section 5 of the Public Service Act 2020. The 'Minister' refers to the Minister of Internal Affairs.

'New Zealand' includes some other places like the Cook Islands and Niue. A 'New Zealand overseas representative' is someone who represents New Zealand in another country. If something is 'prescribed', it means it is set out in regulations made under this Act or by the Minister. A 'protected State' is a place that the Sovereign has declared to be protected, and this is for the purposes of the British Nationality Act 1948 (UK).

When the Act talks about a 'Commonwealth country', it also means the territories that country is responsible for. If you were born on a ship or plane, you are considered to have been born in the place where the ship or plane was registered. You are considered to be of 'full capacity' if you are not of unsound mind.

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This page was last updated on 29 September 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM443689.

Topics:

Immigration and citizenship > Becoming a citizenGovernment and voting > Government departments

1: Short Title and commencement, or

"What the law is called and when it started"

3: Special provisions relating to parentage, or

"Who is considered a parent under New Zealand law"

2Interpretation

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—
alien means a person who does not have the status of a New Zealand citizen, a Commonwealth citizen (British subject), a British protected person, or an Irish citizen
Armed Forces has the meaning given to it by section 2 of the Defence Act 1990
Crown service under the New Zealand Government means the service of the Crown under the Government of New Zealand or under the Government of a New Zealand mandated territory or New Zealand trust territory, whether that service is in any part of the Sovereign's realms and territories or elsewhere; and includes employment in any of the State Services, as that term is defined in section 5 of the Public Service Act 2020
employee has the meaning given to it by section 5 of the Public Service Act 2020, except that it includes—
1. any chief executive
Minister means the Minister of Internal Affairs
New Zealand includes the Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau, and the Ross Dependency
New Zealand overseas representative means a diplomatic or consular representative for New Zealand or a representative of the Government of New Zealand in any other country; and includes a High Commissioner for New Zealand in any other country
prescribed means prescribed by regulations made under this Act or by the Minister
protected State means a State or territory that is declared by the Sovereign by Order in Council to be a protected State for the purposes of the British Nationality Act 1948 (UK); and includes the New Hebrides and Canton Island
protectorate means a State or territory that is declared by the Sovereign by Order in Council to be a protectorate for the purposes of the British Nationality Act 1948 (UK)
Secretary means the Secretary for Internal Affairs.
References in this Act to a Commonwealth country include references to every territory for the international relations of which that country is responsible.
For the purposes of this Act,—
a person born aboard a registered ship or aircraft shall be deemed to have been born in the place in which the ship or aircraft was registered:
a person born aboard an unregistered ship or aircraft of the Government of a country shall be deemed to have been born in that country:
a person shall be deemed to be of full capacity if he is not of unsound mind.

Notes

Section 2(1) Armed Forces: inserted, on 18 November 1992, by section 2(2) of the Citizenship Amendment Act 1992 (1992 No 104).
Section 2(1) Crown service under the New Zealand Government: editorial change made by the PCO, on 30 October 2024, under sections 86(1) and 87(a) of the Legislation Act 2019 (2019 No 58).
Section 2(1) Crown service under the New Zealand Government: amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
Section 2(1) Crown service under the New Zealand Government: amended, on 18 November 1992, by section 2(1) of the Citizenship Amendment Act 1992 (1992 No 104).
Section 2(1) employee: inserted, on 18 November 1992, by section 2(2) of the Citizenship Amendment Act 1992 (1992 No 104).
Section 2(1) employee: amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
Section 2(1) employee paragraph (b): repealed, on 25 January 2005, by section 19(1) of the State Sector Amendment Act (No 2) 2004 (2004 No 114).
Section 2(1) ordinarily resident: repealed, on 21 April 2005, by section 3 of the Citizenship Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 43).
Section 2(1) protected state: editorial change made by the PCO, on 30 October 2024, under sections 86(1) and 87(a) of the Legislation Act 2019 (2019 No 58).
Section 2(1) protectorate: editorial change made by the PCO, on 30 October 2024, under sections 86(1) and 87(a) of the Legislation Act 2019 (2019 No 58).