Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

This page is about a bill. That means that it's not the law yet, but some people want it to be the law. It could change quickly, and some of the information is just a draft.

Referendums Framework Bill

Preliminary provisions

5: Interpretation

You could also call this:

"What special words mean in this law"

Illustration for Referendums Framework Bill

When you read this proposed law, some words have special meanings. The 1993 Act refers to the Electoral Act 1993. You will also see the term general election, which means either the first or second general election after this law starts.

Some other words are defined too, like referendum, which is a vote that is declared as a referendum under section 8. Other terms like ballot box, ballot paper, poll, and polling have the same meaning as they do in the 1993 Act.

When you see a question being asked in a referendum, it can also mean a proposal or issue being put to voters. If a word is defined in the 1993 Act and not in this law, it will have the same meaning as it does in the 1993 Act.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS1028626.

Topics:
Government and voting > Elections
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4: Purpose, or

"This law is about letting you vote on important issues at the same time as a general election."

Next

6: Transitional, savings, and related provisions, or

"Special rules to help when the law changes"

Part 1Preliminary provisions

5Interpretation

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

    1993 Act means the Electoral Act 1993

      general election means—

      1. the first general election after the commencement of this Act; or
        1. the second general election after the commencement of this Act

          referendum means a referendum that an Act or an Order in Council made under section 8 declares to be a referendum for the purposes of this Act.

          1. The terms ballot box, ballot paper, poll, and polling mean the same in this Act as they do in the 1993 Act.

          2. A reference to a question to be put to electors in a referendum, unless the context otherwise requires, includes a reference to a proposal or an issue as it is to be put to electors in a referendum.

          3. Unless the context otherwise requires, a term that is defined in the 1993 Act and not otherwise defined in this Act has the meaning given in that Act.