Reprint as at 13 December 2012

Health Act 1956

Public Act1956 No 65
Date of assent25 October 1956
Commencementsee section 1(2)

Note

Changes authorised by section 17C of the Acts and Regulations Publication Act 1989 have been made in this reprint.

A general outline of these changes is set out in the notes at the end of this reprint, together with other explanatory material about this reprint.

This Act is administered by the Ministry of Health.


Contents

Title

1 Short Title and commencement

2 Interpretation

3 Power of Governor-General in Council to amend Schedules

Part 1
Administration

Ministry of Health

3A Function of Ministry in relation to public health

3B Director of Public Health

3C Director-General to produce annual report on current state of public health

3D Director of Public Health may provide advice or reports to Minister

3E Public Health Group

3F Public Health Group to consult

4 Department of Health [Repealed]

5 Director-General of Health [Repealed]

5A Deputy Directors-General and Assistant Directors-General of Health [Repealed]

5B Delegation of powers by Director-General [Repealed]

6 Other officers and employees [Repealed]

6A Part-time deputy medical officers of health [Repealed]

7 Principal functions of Department [Repealed]

7A Medical officers of health and other officers

8 Conservation of public health in areas outside jurisdiction of local authorities

9 Delegation of powers by Minister [Repealed]

9A Advisory committees and subcommittees [Repealed]

10 Annual report [Repealed]

Board of Health

[Repealed]

11 Board of Health [Repealed]

11A Chairman and deputy chairman [Repealed]

12 Remuneration and travelling allowances [Repealed]

13 Meetings and procedure of Board [Repealed]

14 Seal of Board [Repealed]

15 Secretary to Board [Repealed]

16 Functions of Board [Repealed]

17 Board may be appointed as a commission of inquiry [Repealed]

18 Committees of Board [Repealed]

18A Ad hoc subcommittees [Repealed]

Health districts

19 Health districts

20 Medical officer of health for every health district [Repealed]

21 Evidence of authority of medical officer or health protection officer

22 Certain officers to have functions of medical officers of health

22A Powers of departmental officers under Factories and Commercial Premises Act 1981 [Repealed]

Personal information

22B Interpretation

22C Disclosure of health information

22D Duty to provide health information

22E Duty to provide information for purposes of blood collection

22F Communication of information for diagnostic and other purposes

22G Inspection of records

22H Anonymous health information

22I Offence to fail to retain health information [Repealed]

22J Expiry of section 22I

Part 2
Powers and duties of local authorities

23 General powers and duties of local authorities in respect of public health

24 Governor-General may exempt certain local authorities [Repealed]

Sanitary works

25 Local authority to provide sanitary works

26 Appeal against requisition or determination of Board of Health [Repealed]

27 Local authority may raise loans for sanitary works

27A Grants and subsidies for refuse disposal works, sewerage works, and water supplies

Appointment of environmental health officers

28 Appointment of environmental health officers by local authorities

Nuisances

29 Nuisances defined for purposes of this Act

30 Penalties for permitting or causing nuisances

31 Provisions of this Act as to nuisances to be in addition to other rights

32 Provisions of this Act as to nuisances to apply to Crown

33 Proceedings in respect of nuisances

34 Power to abate nuisance without notice

35 Proceedings when nuisance caused by default outside district

Refuse and sanitary services

[Repealed]

36 Local authorities to make provision for removal of refuse, etc [Repealed]

37 Further provisions as to removal of refuse, etc [Repealed]

38 Right of local authority to use portion of reserve for depot [Repealed]

Buildings

39 Requirements of dwellinghouses as to supply of water and sanitary conveniences

40 Sanitary requirements for business premises [Repealed]

41 Owners or occupiers may be required to cleanse premises

42 Local authority may require repairs and issue closing order

43 Appeal against closing order

44 Issue of closing order by medical officer of health

45 Determination of closing order

46 Closing order for premises owned by local authority

47 Failure to comply with closing order

48 Local authority may require demolition [Repealed]

49 District Court may make demolition order [Repealed]

50 Issue of requisition by medical officer of health [Repealed]

51 Enforcement of demolition order [Repealed]

52 Offences in respect of requisition or demolition order [Repealed]

53 Restriction on use of materials for building [Repealed]

53A Mortgagee may do acts required of owner

53B Provisions where owner is a trustee

53C Advances by local authority to owners

Offensive trades

54 Restrictions on carrying on offensive trade

55 Appeal against decision of local authority or medical officer of health

56 Local authority to notify medical officer of health of registered chemical works [Repealed]

Animals

57 Local authority may restrict keeping of animals [Repealed]

58 Restrictions on establishment of stock saleyards

59 Appeal against decision of local authority or medical officer of health

Pollution of watercourses, etc

60 Pollution of water supply

61 Control of watercourses, etc

62 Supply of water from polluted source

63 Powers of Director-General as to polluted water supply

Bylaws

64 Bylaws

65 General provisions as to bylaws

65A Effect of Building Act 2004 on bylaws

66 Penalties for breach of bylaws

67 Mode of making bylaws

68 Copies of bylaws to be available

Duties and powers of harbour boards

[Repealed]

69 Duties and powers of harbour boards [Repealed]

Part 2A
Drinking water

69A Purpose

Application of this Part

69B This Part generally to apply on commencement

69C Application of sections 69S to 69ZC generally

69D Application of sections 69S to 69ZC to bulk suppliers

69E Application of sections 69S to 69ZC to water carriers

69F Bulk suppliers, networked suppliers, water carriers, and designated ports or airports may elect earlier compliance

Interpretation

69G Interpretation

69H All practicable steps

69I Part binds the Crown

Registration of drinking-water suppliers and certain self-suppliers

69J Drinking-water register

69K Applications for registration

69L Renewal of registration by water carriers

69M Duty to update details on register

69N Removal from register

Drinking-water standards

69O Minister may issue, adopt, amend, or revoke drinking-water standards

69P Minister must consult before issuing, adopting, or amending drinking-water standards

69Q Drinking-water standards must be notified and made available

69R Commencement of drinking-water standards

Duties of drinking-water suppliers and temporary drinking-water suppliers

69S Duty of suppliers in relation to provision of drinking water

69T Duties where risk to water is actual or foreseeable

69U Duty to take reasonable steps to contribute to protection of source of drinking water

69V Duty to take all practicable steps to comply with drinking-water standards

69W Duty to take reasonable steps to supply wholesome drinking water

69X Duties in relation to new water sources

69Y Duty to monitor drinking water

69Z Duty to prepare and implement public health risk management plan

69ZA Medical officer of health may require preparation and implementation of public health risk management plan

69ZB Duration of plans

69ZC Review and renewal of plans

69ZD Duty to keep records and make them available

69ZE Duty to investigate complaints

69ZF Duty to take remedial action if drinking-water standards breached

69ZG Duty to provide reasonable assistance to drinking-water assessors, designated officers, and medical officers of health

69ZH Duty to provide information to territorial authority

69ZI Temporary supplier to notify medical officer of health of source and quality of raw water

69ZJ Powers of medical officer of health relating to temporary drinking-water suppliers

Drinking-water assessors and designated officers

69ZK Director-General may appoint drinking-water assessors

69ZL Functions of drinking-water assessors

69ZM Drinking-water assessors accountable to Director-General for performance of functions

69ZN Functions of designated officers

69ZO Powers of designated officers

69ZP Powers of drinking-water assessors and designated officers

69ZQ Ancillary powers

69ZR Restrictions on exercise of powers

69ZS Requirement for warrant to enter dwellinghouse

69ZT Standard conditions applying where warrant executed

69ZU Drinking-water assessors and designated officers must produce identification

69ZV Inventory of things seized to be provided

69ZW Review of decisions of drinking-water assessors

69ZX Register of drinking-water assessors

Recognised laboratories

69ZY Director-General may recognise laboratories

69ZZ Compliance tests must be carried out by recognised laboratory

Emergency powers

69ZZA Minister may declare drinking-water emergency

69ZZB Maximum duration of drinking-water emergency declaration

69ZZC Drinking-water emergency may be declared or continued even if other emergency declared

69ZZD Special powers of designated officers during drinking-water emergency

69ZZE Compensation for property requisitioned or destroyed

69ZZF Actions taken under emergency powers may be exempted from requirements of Part 3 of Resource Management Act 1991

69ZZG Effect of exemption

Compliance orders

69ZZH Medical officer of health may issue compliance order

69ZZI Compliance with compliance order

69ZZJ Form and content of compliance order

69ZZK Appeals

69ZZL Stay of compliance order pending appeal

69ZZM Variation and cancellation of compliance order

69ZZN Appeals against decision on change or cancellation of compliance order

Contamination of water supplies and sources

69ZZO Contamination of raw water or pollution of water supply

69ZZP Local authority may be required to warn users of self-supplied building water supplies about contamination

Offences

69ZZQ Offence to supply or transport water if not registered

69ZZR Offences against sections in this Part

69ZZS Strict liability and defence to offences

69ZZT Offences involving deception

69ZZU Time for laying information

69ZZV Penalties

69ZZW Additional penalty for certain offences for commercial gain

69ZZX Liability of principal for acts of agents

Miscellaneous

69ZZY Regulations

69ZZZ Protecting water supplies from risk of back-flow

69ZZZA Keeping, inspection, and copying of registers

69ZZZB Director-General must publish annual report

69ZZZC Statements by Director-General

69ZZZD Protection of persons performing or exercising functions, duties, or powers under this Part

69ZZZE Relationship between this Part and other enactments

Part 3
Infectious and notifiable diseases

70 Special powers of medical officer of health

71 Powers of medical officer of health on outbreak of infectious disease

71A Power of constables to assist medical officer of health in relation to infectious diseases

72 Offences relating to obstructing medical officer of health or people assisting medical officer of health

73 Medical officer of health may cause sanitary works to be undertaken

74 Medical practitioners to give notice of cases of notifiable disease

74AA Medical laboratories to give notice of cases of notifiable disease

74A National Cervical Screening Register [Repealed]

74B Medical laboratories may be required to give notice of cases of disease during epidemic

74C Priorities for medicines

74D Redirection of aircraft

75 Duty of occupier of premises as to infectious disease

76 Duty of master of vessel in harbour as to infectious disease

77 Medical officer of health may enter premises

78 Director-General of Health may order post-mortem examination

79 Isolation of persons likely to spread infectious disease

80 Offences in respect of infectious or communicable diseases

81 Power of local authority to disinfect premises

82 Medical officer of health may order premises to be disinfected

83 Infected articles may be destroyed

84 Establishment of mortuaries and disinfecting stations

85 Notice of death from infectious disease

86 Duties of local authorities as to burials

87 Compensation for persons injuriously affected

87A Communicable diseases occurring in animals

Venereal disease

88 Persons suffering from venereal disease to undergo treatment

89 Duty of medical practitioner as to patient suffering from venereal disease

90 Treatment of children

91 Persons other than medical practitioners treating venereal disease

92 Infecting any person with venereal disease

Part 3A
Trading in human blood and controlled human substance

[Repealed]

92A Interpretation [Repealed]

92B Trading in own blood or controlled human substance prohibited [Repealed]

92C Collection of blood or controlled human substance [Repealed]

92D Charging for administered blood or controlled human substance [Repealed]

92E Exemptions [Repealed]

92F Unauthorised advertising prohibited [Repealed]

92G Liability of employers, principals, and directors [Repealed]

92H Appointed entities to collect and distribute blood and controlled human substances [Repealed]

92I Exemption from Part 2 of Commerce Act 1986 [Repealed]

92J Protection of appointed entities [Repealed]

92K Exemption from Part 2 of Commerce Act 1986 [Repealed]

92L Protection of trustees of blood transfusion trust [Repealed]

Part 4
Quarantine

93 Port health officers [Repealed]

94 Places of inspection for ships

95 Infected places

96 Ships and aircraft liable to quarantine

97 People liable to quarantine

97A People liable to quarantine to comply with directions and supply information

97B Detention of craft and people

97C Lifting of detention of craft

97D Powers and duties of medical officer of health or health protection officer in relation to quarantinable diseases

97E Surveillance of certain people liable to quarantine

97F Children and people under disability

97G Offences against this Part

98 Continuance of liability to quarantine

99 Restrictions applying while ship liable to quarantine

100 Quarantine signal for ships

101 Inspection of ship or aircraft liable to quarantine

102 Ship's declaration of health

103 Aircraft declaration [Repealed]

104 Offences under last 2 preceding sections [Repealed]

105 Ship arriving from infected place

106 Ship with quarantinable disease on board

107 Grant of pratique

108 Persons suffering from quarantinable disease

109 Infected baggage, cargo, or stores

110 Disinfection and fumigation of craft

111 Power to board any ship and inspect

112 Offences

112AA Sections 70 and 71 and this Part operate independently

Part 4A
National Cervical Screening Programme

112A Purpose

112B Interpretation

Operation of NCSP

112C Appointment of persons to operate NCSP

112D Objectives of NCSP

112E Enrolment in NCSP

112F Duties of NCSP manager that relate to enrolled women

112G Procedure to prevent or cancel enrolment in NCSP

112H Duties of NCSP manager when women cancel enrolment in NCSP

112I Procedure to re-enrol in NCSP

112J Certain information held by NCSP must not be disclosed

112K Delegation of functions and powers

Duties to provide information to women and to NCSP

112L Duties of persons taking specimens for screening tests

112M Duty of persons performing colposcopic procedure

112N Duty of laboratories where specimens are analysed

Review of NCSP and duty of Director-General to report

112O Establishment of NCSP review committee

112P Work of review committee

112Q Review committee's access to information

112R Report by review committee

112S Duty of Director-General to report

Screening programme evaluators

112T Meaning of evaluate

112U Director-General may designate screening programme evaluators

112V Criteria for designating employees of Ministry

112W Criteria for designating persons who are not Ministry employees

112X Power of screening programme evaluators to access specimens and health information

112Y Duties of screening programme evaluators

112Z Duties of persons to whom evaluation material is supplied by screening programme evaluator

112ZA Screening programme evaluator may publish non-identifiable information obtained during evaluation

Duties to provide information to screening programme evaluators

112ZB Duty of health practitioners

112ZC Duty of persons who hold specimens

112ZD Duty of hospitals

Miscellaneous

112ZE Screening programme employees may retain, access, use, and disclose information to perform functions

112ZF Regulations

112ZG Incorporation of standards by reference in regulations

112ZH Effect of amendments to, or replacement of, standards incorporated by reference in regulations

112ZI Proof of standards incorporated by reference

112ZJ Effect of expiry or revocation of standards incorporated by reference

112ZK Requirement to consult

112ZL Access to standards incorporated by reference

112ZM Acts and Regulations Publication Act 1989 not applicable to standards incorporated by reference

112ZN Application of Regulations (Disallowance) Act 1989 to standards incorporated by reference

112ZO Application of Standards Act 1988 not affected

112ZP Offences

Part 5
Air pollution

[Repealed]

113 Commencement of this Part [Repealed]

114 Inspection of chemical works [Repealed]

115 Duties of occupier of chemical works [Repealed]

116 Duties of occupiers of fertiliser works and sulphuric acid works [Repealed]

Part 6
Regulations

117 Regulations as to public health

118 Regulations as to quarantine

119 Regulations as to noxious substances and gases and dangerous goods

120 Regulations as to registration

120A Regulations as to homes and day-care centres for aged persons

120B Regulations as to camping grounds

120C Regulations as to housing improvement and overcrowding

121 Regulations as to qualifications of environmental health officers appointed by local authorities

121A Regulations as to retention of health information

122 Special provisions as to regulations

Part 7
Miscellaneous provisions

123 Powers of Director-General on default by local authority

123A Mandamus

124 Constitution and powers of boards of appeal

125 Medical examination of children

126 Infirm and neglected persons

126A Persons attempting to commit suicide [Repealed]

126B Blood transfusions [Repealed]

127 Attendance of medical officer of health at meetings of local authorities

128 Power of entry and inspection

128A Building Act 2004

129 Protection of persons acting under authority of Act

130 Expenses of local authorities

131 Service of documents

132 Procedure in respect of charges on land

132A Bursaries

133 Obstruction of officers

134 Failure to disclose name of owner or occupier

135 Interference by owner or occupier

136 General penalty for offences

137 Offences punishable on summary conviction

137A Incorporation of material by reference into regulations and compliance documents

137B Effect of amendments to, or replacement of, material incorporated by reference

137C Proof of material incorporated by reference

137D Effect of expiry of material incorporated by reference

137E Requirement to consult

137F Access to material incorporated by reference

137G Acts and Regulations Publication Act 1989 not applicable to material incorporated by reference

137H Application of Regulations (Disallowance) Act 1989 to material incorporated by reference

138 Other Acts not affected

139 Consequential amendments

140 Repeals and savings

Schedule 1
Infectious diseases

Schedule 2
Diseases notifiable to medical officer of health (other than notifiable infectious diseases)

Schedule 3
Offensive trades

Schedule 4
Chemical works

[Repealed]

Schedule 5
Noxious or offensive gases

[Repealed]

Schedule 6
Enactments amended

Schedule 7
Enactments repealed

Schedule 8
Regulations and notices revoked

Health (National Cervical Screening Programme) Amendment Act 2004

Health (Drinking Water) Amendment Act 2007

Human Tissue Act 2008

Reprint notes


An Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to public health