The Parliament of New Zealand enacts as follows:

1 Title

This Act is the Oaths and Declarations (Modernization) Amendment Act 2020

2 Commencement

This Act comes into force on the day after the date on which it receives the Royal assent.

3 Purpose

This Act’s purpose is to allow for oaths sworn with the absence of the crown or sovereign and instead sworn to the land and people of Aotearoa New Zealand and to a deity of their choice.

4 Principal Act

The Principal Act refers to Oaths and Declarations Act 1957

5 Interpretation

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,— Land and People of Aotearoa New Zealand means the lands which are currently held under the dominion and control of the Crown or are beholden to New Zealand law in this regard, legally accepted boundaries of New Zealand internationally and those who live within those boundaries and land. Sovereign means the present ruler of New Zealand in the form of the Crown of New Zealand. Deity means a religious figure of supernatural significance within the texts and beliefs of a religious book or series of books.

Part 2 - Promissory Affirmations and Oaths

6 Section 14 Added

It is at the discretion of the person administering the Oath of whether they choose to swear allegiance to the Sovereign;

If the person administering the Oath chooses not to swear allegiance to the Sovereign, they may omit the sentence in sections 18, 19, 20 and 21 which bears allegiance to the Sovereign and instead replace it with one of the following options exactly;

“the Land and People of Aotearoa New Zealand” “The Treaty of Waitangi” “Te Tiriti o Waitangi”

7 Section 15 Added

It is at the discretion of the person administering the Oath of the Deity they swear their Oath to if partaking in an Oath

If the person administering the Oath chooses to swear to a specific Deity aside from a generalized God, they may omit the sentence in sections 18, 19, 20 and 21 which bears allegiance to God and instead replace it with a Deity of their choice.

General Policy Statement:

This bill modernises the oath and declaration requirements by adding the ability to swear with the absence of the crown or sovereign and instead sworn to the land and people of Aotearoa New Zealand and to a deity of their choice

B.1086 - Oaths and Declarations (Modernization) Amendment Bill 2021 is authored by /u/Gregor_The_Beggar (ACT) and is sponsored by u/Purplewave_ (Alliance) on behalf of the government.

Committee will close 14/8/2021 11:59pm NZT