13Definitions of terms for all legislation

1. In legislation,—

   Act means an Act—

   1. of the Parliament of New Zealand; or
   2. of the General Assembly

   commencement, in relation to any legislation, means the time when the legislation comes into force

   Commonwealth country and part of the Commonwealth mean a country that is a member of the Commonwealth; and include a territory for the international relations of which the member is responsible

   consular officer means a person who has authority to exercise consular functions

   de facto partner means a person who is a party to a de facto relationship (as defined in section 14)

   department, in relation to any legislation, means the department, departmental agency, or interdepartmental venture (as named in Part 1, 2, or 4 of Schedule 2 of the Public Service Act 2020) that, with the authority of the Prime Minister, is responsible for the administration of the legislation

   enactment means the whole or a part of an Act or any secondary legislation

   Gazette means the New Zealand Gazette (or a supplement to the New Zealand Gazette) published or purporting to be published under the authority of the New Zealand Government

   Governor-General in Council or a similar expression means the Governor-General acting on the advice and with the consent of the Executive Council

   legislation has the meaning set out in section 5(1)

   legislation website has the meaning set out in section 5(1)

   maker has the meaning set out in section 5

   Minister, in relation to any legislation, means the Minister of the Crown who, under the authority of a warrant or with the authority of the Prime Minister, is responsible for the administration of the legislation

   Ministry, in relation to any legislation, means the department, departmental agency, or interdepartmental venture (as named in Part 1, 2, or 4 of Schedule 2 of the Public Service Act 2020) that, with the authority of the Prime Minister, is responsible for the administration of the legislation

   month means a calendar month

   New Zealand or similar words referring to New Zealand, when used as a territorial description,—

   1. means the islands and territories within the Realm of New Zealand; but
   2. does not include the self-governing State of the Cook Islands, the self-governing State of Niue, Tokelau, or the Ross Dependency

   North Island or Te Ika-a-Māui, both official alternative names, means the island commonly known as the North Island, and includes the islands adjacent to it

   office includes position

   Order in Council means an order made by the Governor-General in Council

   person includes a corporation sole, a body corporate, and an unincorporated body

   prescribed means prescribed by or under legislation

   presentation exemption has the meaning set out in section 5(1)

   proceeding means a proceeding (whether civil, criminal, disciplinary, or other, at any stage, and interlocutory or main)—

   1. in or before a court or tribunal, or before a person acting judicially; or
   2. of a person or body performing administrative functions, investigative functions, or both

   Proclamation means a Proclamation made and signed by the Governor-General under the Seal of New Zealand and (if it is not legislation) published in the Gazette

   public notification, public notice, or a similar expression in relation to an act, a matter, or a thing, means a notice published—

   1. in the Gazette; or
   2. in 1 or more newspapers circulating in the area to which the act, matter, or thing relates or in which it arises; or
   3. on an Internet site that is administered by or on behalf of the person who must or may publish the notice, and that is publicly available as far as practicable and free of charge

   repeal, in relation to any legislation, includes—

   1. expiry (or any other lapsing or ceasing of effect); and
   2. revocation; and
   3. replacement

   rules of court, in relation to a court, means rules regulating the practice and procedure of the court

   secondary legislation has the meaning set out in section 5(1)

   South Island or Te Waipounamu, both official alternative names, means the island commonly known as the South Island, and includes the islands adjacent to it

   territorial limits of New Zealand, limits of New Zealand, or a similar expression, when used as a territorial description, means the outer limits of the territorial sea of New Zealand

   working day means a day of a week other than—

   1. a Saturday, a Sunday, Waitangi Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day, the Sovereign’s birthday, Te Rā Aro ki a Matariki/Matariki Observance Day, and Labour Day; and
   2. a day in the period commencing with 25 December in a year and ending with 2 January in the following year; and
   3. if 1 January falls on a Friday, the following Monday; and
   4. if 1 January falls on a Saturday or a Sunday, the following Monday and Tuesday; and
   5. if Waitangi Day or Anzac Day falls on a Saturday or a Sunday, the following Monday

   writing means representing or reproducing words, figures, or symbols in a visible and tangible form and medium (for example, in print) (but see Part 4 of the Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017, which provides for meeting written requirements by electronic means).