4Interpretation

### 4 Interpretation > In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears – > > > ***affected child*** means a child whose safety, psychological wellbeing or interests are affected or likely to be affected by family violence; > > > ***affected person*** means a person against whom family violence is directed; > > > ***Chief Clerk of Petty Sessions*** means the person holding office as the Chief Clerk of Petty Sessions under [section 16 of the](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1959-077#GS16@EN) [Justices Act 1959](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1959-077) ; > > > [*\[Section 4 Amended by No. 72 of 2007, Sched. 1, Applied:28 Apr 2008\]*](/view/html/inforce/2008-04-28/act-2007-072#JS1@Ja12@GC1@EN) ***Director, MPES*** means the Director, Monetary Penalties Enforcement Services appointed under [section 8 of the](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2005-057#GS8@EN) [Monetary Penalties Enforcement Act 2005](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2005-057) ; > > > [*\[Section 4 Amended by No. 21 of 2022, s. 4, Applied:30 Jun 2024\]*](/view/html/inforce/2024-06-30/act-2022-021#GS4@Hpa@EN) ***Director of Corrective Services*** means the Director of Corrective Services appointed under [section 5 of the](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1997-051#GS5@EN) [Corrections Act 1997](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1997-051) ; > > > [*\[Section 4 Amended by No. 21 of 2022, s. 4, Applied:30 Jun 2024\]*](/view/html/inforce/2024-06-30/act-2022-021#GS4@Hpa@EN) ***DPP*** means the Director of Public Prosecutions; > > > ***economic abuse*** means an offence in accordance with [section 8](#GS8@EN) ; > > > ***emotional abuse or intimidation*** means an offence in accordance with [section 9](#GS9@EN) ; > > > [*\[Section 4 Amended by No. 29 of 2016, Sched. 1, Applied:25 Nov 2017\]*](/view/html/inforce/2017-11-25/act-2016-029#JS1@Ja2@GC1@EN) ***external family violence order*** means an order made by a court of New Zealand which has been made to prevent family violence; > > > ***Family Court order*** means an order made under Part 7 of the *Family Law Act 1975* of the Commonwealth; > > > ***family relationship*** means a marriage or a significant relationship within the meaning of the [Relationships Act 2003](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2003-044) , and includes a relationship in which one or both of the parties is between the ages of 16 and 18 and would, but for that fact, be a significant relationship within the meaning of that Act; > > > ***family violence*** means family violence as defined in [section 7](#GS7@EN) ; > > > ***family violence offence*** means any offence the commission of which constitutes family violence; > > > ***FVO*** means a family violence order made under [section 16](#GS16@EN) ; > > > ***harassing*** means doing any one or more of the following actions in respect of a particular person: > > > > > > (a) following the person; > > > > > > > (b) keeping the person under surveillance; > > > > > > > (c) loitering outside the residence or workplace of the person; > > > > > > > (d) loitering outside a place that the person frequents; > > > > > > > (e) entering or interfering with the property of the person; > > > > > > > (f) sending offensive material to the person or leaving offensive material where it is likely to be found by, given to or brought to the attention of the person; > > > > > > > (g) publishing or transmitting offensive material by electronic or any other means in such a way that the offensive material is likely to be found by, or brought to the attention of, the person; > > > > > > > (h) using the internet or any other form of electronic communication in a way that could reasonably be expected to cause the person to be apprehensive or fearful; > > > > > > > (i) contacting the person by postal, telephonic, electronic or any other means of communication; > > > > > > > (j) [*\[Section 4 Amended by No. 21 of 2022, s. 4, Applied:22 Dec 2022\]*](/view/html/inforce/2022-12-22/act-2022-021#GS4@Hpb@EN) making unwelcome contact, directly or indirectly, with the person; > > > ***interim FVO*** means an interim FVO made under [section 23](#GS23@EN) ; > > > ***PFVO*** means a police family violence order made under [section 14](#GS14@EN) ; > > > ***premises*** includes any, or any part of any, of the following (whether a public place or private property): > > > > > > (a) an area of land; > > > > > > > (b) a building or structure (whether movable or immovable), including a residence; > > > > > > > (c) a vehicle, vessel or aircraft; > > > > > > > (d) a caravan or trailer; > > > ***property*** includes everything animate or inanimate that is capable of being owned; > > > [*\[Section 4 Amended by No. 21 of 2022, s. 4, Applied:30 Jun 2024\]*](/view/html/inforce/2024-06-30/act-2022-021#GS4@Hpc@EN) ***rehabilitation program*** means a structured treatment program designed to reduce the likelihood of a person committing family violence; > > > [*\[Section 4 Amended by No. 21 of 2022, s. 4, Applied:30 Jun 2024\]*](/view/html/inforce/2024-06-30/act-2022-021#GS4@Hpd@EN) ***rehabilitation program assessment*** means an assessment of the suitability of a person to take part in a rehabilitation program; > > > ***relevant Family Court order*** means, in relation to an FVO or a PFVO, a Family Court order relating to access between – > > > > > > (a) the person for whose benefit the FVO or PFVO is sought or made or the person against whom the FVO or PFVO is sought or made; and > > > > > > > (b) a child who is a member of the family of either of those persons; > > > ***residential premises*** means residential premises within the meaning of the [Residential Tenancy Act 1997](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1997-082) ; > > > ***residential tenancy agreement*** means a residential tenancy agreement within the meaning of the [Residential Tenancy Act 1997](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1997-082) ; > > > ***risk screening*** means an assessment carried out by a police officer of the likelihood of the repetition or escalation of family violence; > > > ***safety audit*** means an audit carried out by a police officer of the physical and other measures immediately available to enhance the safety of an affected person or affected child and includes the preparation of a plan to implement those measures; > > > [*\[Section 4 Amended by No. 21 of 2022, s. 4, Applied:30 Jun 2024\]*](/view/html/inforce/2024-06-30/act-2022-021#GS4@Hpe@EN) ***serial family violence declaration***, in relation to an offender, means a declaration under [section 29A](#GS29A@EN) that is in force in relation to that offender; > > > [*\[Section 4 Amended by No. 21 of 2022, s. 4, Applied:30 Jun 2024\]*](/view/html/inforce/2024-06-30/act-2022-021#GS4@Hpe@EN) ***serial family violence perpetrator*** means an offender in respect of whom a declaration under [section 29A](#GS29A@EN) is in force; > > > ***spouse or partner*** of a person means another person with whom the person is, or has been, in a family relationship.