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Oaths and Declarations (Endorsing the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi) Amendment Bill (Consistent) [2015] NZBORARp 69 (23 November 2015)

Last Updated: 10 March 2019

Oaths and Declarations (Endorsing the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi) Amendment Bill

23 November 2015

Hon Christopher Finlayson QC, Attorney-General

Consistency with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990: Oaths and Declarations (Endorsing the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi) Amendment Bill

1. We have considered whether the Oaths and Declarations (Endorsing the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi) Amendment Bill (‘the Bill’), a members’ Bill in the name of Marama Fox MP, is consistent with the rights and freedoms affirmed in the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 (‘the Bill of Rights Act’).
   
2. The Bill adds a new s 4B to the Oaths and Declarations Act 1957 to provide that any person taking an oath under any statute may elect, in addition to the words of the oath, to state that they will perform their duties in accordance with the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. New s 4B provides the form of wording to do so.
   
3. We have concluded that the Bill appears to be consistent with the rights and freedoms affirmed in the Bill of Rights Act.
   

Jeff Orr

Chief Legal Counsel Office of Legal Counsel

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