26Oaths, affirmations and declarations.N.I.
(1)Where any enactment passed or made after the commencement of this Act authorises or requires evidence to be taken on oath, or authorises or directs an oath to be made, taken or administered, the oath may be administered, and a certificate or acknowledgment of its having been made, taken or administered may be given, by anyone authorised by the enactment to take the evidence, or by a judge of any court, a notary public, or a commissioner for oaths or justice of the peace having authority or jurisdiction in the place where the oath is administered.
(2)In every enactment, the words “oath” and “affidavit” shall, F1..., include affirmation and declaration; and the word “swear” shall, F1..., include affirm and declare.
(3)A reference in an enactment to a statutory declaration shall be construed as a reference to a declaration made by virtue of the Statutory Declarations Act, 1835M1.
(4)A power conferred by an enactment upon a [F2lay magistrate or] justice of the peace to administer any oath or affirmation, or to take any affidavit or declaration, may be exercised by a notary public or a commissioner for oaths.