New Zealand Acts

LEGISLATION ACT 2019 - SECT 54

54 When periods start and end

If legislation refers to a period described in the following way, the period must be calculated according to the following corresponding rule:

Item		If the period is described as:		then the period:
1		starting "at" , "on" , or "with" a specified day, act, or event		includes that day or the day of the act or event
2		starting "from" or "after" a specified day, act, or event		does not include that day or the day of the act or event
3		being "within" a specified number of days "of" or "after" a specified day, act, or event		does not include that day or the day of the act or event
4		ending "by" , "on" , "at" , or "with" a specified day, act, or event		includes that day or the day of the act or event
5		continuing "to" or "until" a specified day, act, or event		includes that day or the day of the act or event
6		ending "before" a specified day, act, or event		does not include that day or the day of the act or event
7		a number of days "between" 2 specified events		does not include the days on which the events happen

ExamplesItem 1: If the legislation states that a permission begins on the first day of a financial year, the permission is in force on that day.Item 2: If the legislation states that a variation of an agreement operates from 30 June, the variation starts to operate on 1 July.Item 3: If the legislation states that public notice must be given within 10 days of adopting a constitution and the constitution is adopted on 1 August, the notice must be given by the close of 11 August.Item 4: If the legislation states that a right to make a submission ends on 30 June, the submission may still be made on 30 June.Item 5: If the legislation states that a permission continues until 30 March, the permission is still in force on 30 March.Item 6: If the legislation states that a statement must be filed before the start of the next financial year, the statement must be filed on 30 June, not 1 July.Item 7: If the legislation states that the period between sending a draft decision document to submitters for comments and finalising the decision must be at least 10 working days, do not count the day on which the draft is sent or the day on which the decision is finalised.

Note: 1999 No 85 s 35(1)–(5)