electronic-signatures.md

title: Electronic Signatures excerpt: date: 2024-03-27T14:16:28Z modified: 2025-07-23T11:17:57Z file_type: md permalink: clauses/electronic-signatures.html wpid: 2085 status: publish type: clause jurisdiction:

• Aotearoa New Zealand maintenance-status:
• Not maintained eleventyComputed: clause_child_name: Alysha and Daniel’s Clause clause_summary: This clause requires parties to sign documents electronically, to avoid the need to print copies. It can be used in any commercial agreement.  clause_last_updated_date: 2023-05-23 layout: layouts/clause.njk

Electronic Signatures

Child’s name

Alysha and Daniel’s Clause

Summary

This clause requires parties to sign documents electronically, to avoid the need to print copies. It can be used in any commercial agreement.

What this clause does

Execution of contracts can create considerable and unnecessary amounts of physical paperwork and printing. Paper is energy intensive and has a significant carbon and water footprint. Often, the hard copy signed contract is then scanned to be stored electronically and is not the document that is referred to for ongoing contract management.

Alysha & Daniel's Clause adapts part of [Nico's Clause] 'Coolerplate' Clauses (Climate Aligned Boilerplate) for use in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Clause Content

1. Counterparts and electronic signatures

1.1 [Insert standard counterparts clause]

1.2 This document may be executed by electronic signatures which meet the identification and reliability standards for electronic signatures set out in the Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017.* The parties agree:

(a) to use reasonable endeavours to sign this document by electronic signature to avoid unnecessary printing and physical delivery;

(b) to be bound by those electronic signatures, and that those electronic signatures are reliable; and

(c) where in-person delivery is required, to use non-emitting means of travel to deliver this document wherever practicable.

* New Zealand Parliamentary Counsel Office/Te Tari Tohutohu Pāremata, Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017.