Interpretation Act 1987 No 15
Current version for 6 July 2012 to date (accessed 23 May 2013 at 10:05)
Part 2Section 9

9   Meaning of may and shall

(1)  In any Act or instrument, the word “may”, if used to confer a power, indicates that the power may be exercised or not, at discretion.
(2)  In any Act or instrument, the word “shall”, if used to impose a duty, indicates that the duty must be performed.
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