Legislation and its interpretation

This project examined ways to make legislation as understandable and accessible as practicable and to ensure that it is kept under review in a systematic way.

Purpose of reference

1. To propose ways of making legislation as understandable and accessible as practicable and of ensuring that it is kept under review in a systematic way.
2. To ascertain what changes, if any, are necessary or desirable in the law relating to the interpretation of legislation.

Reference

With these purposes in mind, the Commission is asked to examine and review:

1. the language and structures of legislation;
2. arrangements for the systematic monitoring and review of legislation;
3. the law relating to the interpretation of legislation;
4. the provisions of the Acts Interpretation Act 1924 and related legislation; and to recommend changes, as appropriate, to the relevant law and practice. 

Legislation and its Interpretation: The Acts Interpretation Act 1924 and Related Legislation (NZLC PP1, 1987)

The Commission's Preliminary Paper, Legislation and its Interpretation: The Acts Interpretation Act 1924 and Related Legislation (NZLC PP1, 1987).

Legislation and its Interpretation (NZLC PP8, 1988)

The Commission's Preliminary Paper, Legislation and its Interpretation (NZLC PP8, 1988).

A New Interpretation Act: To Avoid “Prolixity and Tautology” (NZLC R17, 1990)

The Commission's Report, A New Interpretation Act: To Avoid "Prolixity and Tautology" (NZLC R17, 1990).

The Commission’s recommendations were implemented in part by Regulations (Disallowance) Act 1989 and Acts and Regulations Publications Act 1989, and reflected in the Interpretation Act 1999.

There was no requirement for the Government to present a formal response to Commission reports before April 2009.

See Official Government response process | Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC).