Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Legislation Act 2019

Drafting and publishing of legislation - Correcting errors and making other editorial changes

86: Power to make editorial changes

You could also call this:

"The boss of the law helpers can let them make small changes to laws without changing what they mean."

The Chief Parliamentary Counsel can let the PCO make some changes to a version of the legislation, as mentioned in section 87. You can think of the PCO as a group that helps with legislation. The Chief Parliamentary Counsel is in charge of this group.

When the PCO makes changes, sections 87 and 89 do not allow them to change the meaning of any legislation. This means the changes cannot alter what the legislation actually does. The legislation has to stay the same in terms of what it means.

The PCO can still make changes if they are allowed by section 38 or other legislation. This section does not limit what the PCO can do in those cases. You can look at section 38 to learn more about when the PCO can make changes.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM7298378.

Topics:
Government and voting > Government departments
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85: Interpretation, or

"Understanding special words used in the law"

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87: Editorial changes, or

"Changes to make laws easier to understand"

Part 3Drafting and publishing of legislation
Correcting errors and making other editorial changes

86Power to make editorial changes

  1. The Chief Parliamentary Counsel may authorise the PCO to make changes referred to in section 87 to a version of the legislation.

  2. Sections 87 and 89 do not permit any change to the text of a provision of any legislation that, if enacted, would change the effect of the provision.

  3. Nothing in this section limits the authority to make changes in reliance on the application of section 38 or any other legislation.

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