Explanatory note

This note is not part of the order, but is intended to indicate its general effect.

This order, which comes into force at 4 pm on 29 April 2009, adds forms of non-seasonal influenza capable of being transmitted between human beings to the lists of notifiable and quarantinable diseases in Schedule 1 of the Health Act 1956.

The immediate effects of the order are—

• to enable the use in relation to such forms of non-seasonal influenza of the various powers to deal with notifiable or quarantinable diseases given by that Act; and

• to extend to such forms of non-seasonal influenza the various duties concerning notifiable or quarantinable diseases imposed by that Act.

In addition, however, it has the effect of making any such form of non-seasonal influenza a disease in respect of which it would be possible, if there were a serious enough outbreak in New Zealand, for the Prime Minister to issue a notice under section 5 of the Epidemic Preparedness Act 2006 declaring that he or she is satisfied that the effects of the outbreak are likely to disrupt or continue to disrupt essential governmental and business activity significantly.

While such a notice was in force, there would be available to the Government significant powers under that Act to make regulations modifying temporarily the effect of other statutes.