Revision programme
The Legislation Act 2012 introduced a mechanism for systematically revising the presentation of some New Zealand statutes to make them more accessible. After being revised, they are introduced as revision Bills into Parliament for re-enactment.
The revision powers that can be applied, and the revision process, are set out in subpart 3 of Part 2 of the Act.
A revision programme sets out the statutes to be revised over each three-year period coinciding with a Parliamentary term.
Revision programme for 2018–2020
The revision programme for 2018–2020 was presented to the House of Representatives on 4 April 2018.
- View the 2018–2020 revision programme »
- View the earlier draft programme and consultation document (now closed) »
Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017
The Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017 was the first Bill under the 2015–2017 revision programme to be drafted and introduced to the House. It was enacted on 1 March 2017, and came into force on 1 September 2017.
The Act re-enacted in one statute, in an up-to-date and accessible form, the following:
- Carriage of Goods Act 1979
- Contracts (Privity) Act 1982
- Contractual Mistakes Act 1977
- Contractual Remedies Act 1979
- Electronic Transactions Act 2002
- Frustrated Contracts Act 1944
- Illegal Contracts Act 1970
- Mercantile Law Act 1908 (other than Part 5)
- Minors’ Contracts Act 1969
- Sale of Goods Act 1908
- Sale of Goods (United Nations Convention) Act 1994
- Wages Protection and Contractors’ Liens Act Repeal Act 1987
These Acts were repealed when the Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017 came into force.
The Act does not make any substantive changes to the law. It applies to contracts regardless of whether they are entered into before or after the Act came into force.
Schedule 3 of the Act contains a comparative table of the old and the corresponding new provisions.
About the Contract and Commercial Law Bill
The Bill was introduced on 19 May 2016, following certification under section 33 of the Legislation Act 2012.
- View the Attorney-General's media statement on the passing of the Bill »
- View the Attorney-General's media statement announcing the Bill's introduction »
- View the revision Bill certification document »
An exposure draft of the Bill was released for public submissions from 21 October to 7 December 2015. Eight submissions were received.
Revision programme for 2015–2017
The revision programme for the 51st Parliament was presented to the House of Representatives on 8 December 2014.
