If you’re involved in legal research you’ll appreciate the value of being able to easily access past, current and future versions of legislation from one place.

Now in Westlaw NZ that is exactly what you CAN do. We’ve added a new feature:  FUTURE VERSIONS. This makes searching for comparative versions of legislation literally a one-stop-shop. Here’s screenshots from Westlaw NZ of section 4 of the Building Act 2004 to illustrate.

The current version of legislation

In the screen shot below, the version of section 4 of the Building Act 2004 that applied in August 2016 has been used as an example. The purple CURRENT VERSION bar above section 4 shows when it came into force (13 March 2012). As a future amendment to that section has a known commencement date (13 May 2018), the CURRENT VERSION bar also shows the last date that the current section 4 will apply (12 May 2018).

New feature - the future version of legislation

For an enacted amendment coming into force in the future, the FUTURE AMENDMENT note shows full details of the change – how it is changed (amended), when (13 May 2018), and what (new words for old).

You can see the full revised text of the future version by clicking the link as shown in the screenshot below OR by opening the Future Version tab.

Highlighted by the pink FUTURE VERSION bar, the screen shot below shows the section as it will read when the future amendment comes into force.

The past version of legislation

 Customer feedback

Online Training specialist Patricia Veen reports customers are delighted to have all versions of legislation accessible to them on one screen.  She says it saves them time while simultaneously increasing their efficiency.

Senior Editor Ian Neilson, who has been working closely with the presentation of past, current and future legislation via Westlaw NZ, says the depth and breadth of information now available puts Westlaw NZ  in a class of its own.  Thomson Reuters NZ is the only online legal research provider to offer such a comprehensive service.

For more information

• Westlaw NZ -  legal research platform -  check out the features, find out what products are included, read customer stories, and take a trial.
• Training on Westlaw NZ  - help to get the most out of  your Westlaw NZ subscription
• Discuss getting Westlaw NZ   - talk to an account manager about your legal research needs to find out how Westlaw NZ  could help you