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Legislation Act 2019

Interpretation and application of legislation - Amendment and repeal

32: Effect of repeal or amendment generally

You could also call this:

"What happens if a law is changed or cancelled: it doesn't affect what already happened."

If a law is repealed or amended, it does not change what happened before the change. You did something, or something happened to you, and that is still valid. The repeal or amendment of a law also does not affect any rights or interests you already had. When a law is repealed or amended, it does not bring back any laws or rules that were already cancelled. The repeal of a law does not revive any old laws that were previously repealed, or any rules of law that were abolished, as shown in the link to a previous law.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM7298282.

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31: References to repeal or amendment extend to other ceasing of effect, or

"What happens when laws are changed or stopped, including when they no longer apply or have limited effect."

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33: Effect of repeal or amendment on existing rights and proceedings, or

"What happens to things that were already happening when a law is changed or cancelled?"

Part 2Interpretation and application of legislation
Amendment and repeal

32Effect of repeal or amendment generally

  1. The repeal or amendment of legislation does not—

  2. affect the validity, invalidity, effect, or consequences of anything done or suffered:
    1. affect an existing right, interest, title, immunity, duty, status, or capacity:
      1. affect an amendment made by the legislation to other legislation:
        1. affect the previous operation of the legislation or anything done or suffered under it:
          1. revive any thing that is not in force or existing at the time the repeal or amendment takes effect.

            1. The repeal of legislation does not revive—

            2. legislation that has been repealed; or
              1. a rule of law that has been abolished.

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