New Zealand Legislation: Acts

3 Purpose

• (1) The principal purpose of this Act is to ensure that there is adequate statutory power for government agencies—

  • (a) to try to prevent the outbreak of epidemics in New Zealand; and

  • (b) to respond to epidemics in New Zealand; and

  • (c) to respond to certain possible consequences of epidemics (whether occurring in New Zealand or overseas).

  (2) This Act also has the following purposes:

  • (a) to ensure that certain activities normally undertaken by people and agencies interacting with government agencies can continue to be undertaken during an epidemic in New Zealand:

  • (b) to enable the relaxation of some statutory requirements that might not be capable of being complied with, or complied with fully, during an epidemic.