Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Public Works Act 1981

Irrigation

196: Interpretation

You could also call this:

“Explaining important words used in the irrigation law”

In this part of the law about irrigation, there are some important words you need to know:

Development period means the first seasons when water is supplied, as decided by the government.

Headworks are the big structures that collect, store, and move water for irrigation. This includes things like dams and large pipes that bring water to the irrigation area.

An irrigation district is an area set up by the government for irrigation.

Land, when talking about someone who uses or pays for irrigation, means all the land that person uses in the irrigation area. The government decides how much land this needs to be.

The Minister means the person in charge of agriculture for the country.

An occupier is the person who is actually using the land. If no one is using it, it means the person who owns the land.

A season is a period of time, no longer than a year, that the government decides on. They say when it starts.

Water supply works are all the things built to supply water for irrigation. This includes channels that bring water to land in the irrigation area, even if some of these are outside the irrigation area.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM48137.

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"Rules for government-owned irrigation projects"

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197: Minister may construct and maintain water supply works, or

"The government can build and take care of water pipes for farms"

Part 19 Irrigation

196Interpretation

  1. In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires,—

    development period means the initial seasons of supply as specified by Order in Council under section 208

      headworks means any works required for the impoundment, storage, taking, tapping, or withdrawal of water for any irrigation scheme, or the supply of water to any of those works, or the conveyance of water from any of those works to the off-farm distribution works in any irrigation district

        irrigation district means an irrigation district constituted by Order in Council under section 208

          land, in relation to any occupier or ratepayer in any irrigation district or proposed irrigation district, means all land occupied by that person in the district or proposed district which aggregates not less than such area as may be specified by Order in Council under section 208

            Minister means the Minister of Agriculture

              occupier, in relation to any land, means the person in actual possession of the land or, if there is no such person, means the owner in fee simple of the land

                season means such period, not exceeding 1 year, as may be specified by Order in Council under section 208 as commencing on a day specified in that order

                  water supply works means any water supply works constructed under this Act or any former Public Works Act relating to irrigation, including any races for the supply of water to any land in any irrigation district, whether or not such works are wholly in an irrigation district.

                  Compare
                  • 1975 No 138 s 3
                  Notes
                  • Section 196 Minister: inserted, on , by section 53(1) of the Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43).
                  • Section 196 National Authority: repealed, on , by section 53(2) of the Public Works Amendment Act 1988 (1988 No 43).