Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017

Contracts legislation - Illegal contracts

70: Interpretation

You could also call this:

“Words used in this law and what they mean”

In this part of the law, you’ll find explanations for some important words. These explanations help you understand what these words mean when you read them in this law.

The word “enactment” means any part of a law. It also includes any notice, consent, approval, or direction that someone gives because a law lets them do that.

“Property” is another important word. It means many different things. It includes land, money, goods, and things you can take legal action about. It also includes goodwill and anything valuable, whether it’s real or not, and whether it’s in New Zealand or somewhere else. Property also includes things like obligations, rights to use land owned by someone else, and any kind of ownership or benefit from property. This benefit could be something you have now or might get in the future, or it could depend on something happening first.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM6844159.

Topics:
Business > Industry rules Business > Fair trading Money and consumer rights > Consumer protection
Previous

69: This subpart does not apply in certain circumstances, or

"Sometimes this part of the law doesn't count for certain agreements"

Next

71: Illegal contract defined, or

"What makes a contract illegal?"

Part 2 Contracts legislation
Illegal contracts

70Interpretation

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

    enactment—

    1. means any provision of any legislation; and
      1. includes any provision of any notice, consent, approval, or direction that is given by any person under a power conferred by any legislation

        property—

        1. means land, money, goods, things in action, goodwill, and every valuable thing, whether real or personal, and whether situated in New Zealand or elsewhere; and
          1. includes obligations, easements, and every description of estate, interest, and profit, present or future, vested or contingent, arising out of or incidental to property.

          Compare
          Notes
          • Section 70 enactment paragraph (a): amended, on , by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
          • Section 70 enactment paragraph (b): amended, on , by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).