Veterinarians Act 2005

If you need more information about this Act, please contact the administering agency: Ministry for Primary Industries

Version as at 28 October 2021

Coat of Arms of New Zealand

Veterinarians Act 2005

Public Act
 
2005 No 126
Date of assent
 
21 December 2005
Commencement
 
see section 2
Note

The Parliamentary Counsel Office has made editorial and format changes to this version using the powers under subpart 2 of Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019.

Note 4 at the end of this version provides a list of the amendments included in it.

This Act is administered by the Ministry for Primary Industries.

Contents

1Title
2Commencement
Part 1
Preliminary provisions
3Purpose
4Interpretation
5Act binds the Crown
Part 2
Registration and practising certificates
Subpart 1—Registration
6Entitlement to registration
7Entitlement to registration as specialist
8Recognition of institutions and academic qualifications
Disqualification from registration
9Disqualification from registration
Procedure for registration
10Application for registration
11Consideration of application
Registration (other than limited or provisional registration)
12Council to register applicant or decline application
Limited registration
13Scopes of practice for limited registration
14Application for limited registration
Provisional registration
15Provisional registration
16Change from provisional to full registration
Cancellation of registration
17Cancellation of registration
18Amendment to specialist’s registration
19Surrender of certificate of registration if registration cancelled or suspended
20Effect of cancellation or suspension of registration
Offences relating to registration
21Offences relating to registration
Register of veterinarians and other registered persons
22Register of veterinarians and other registered persons
23Alterations to register
Subpart 2—Practising certificates
24Application for practising certificate
25Consideration of application
26Council to issue certificate or decline application
27Content of certificate
28Expiry of certificate
28AExtension of expiry date of certificate on application for new certificate
29Surrender of certificate if certificate is cancelled or suspended
30Effect of cancellation or suspension of practising certificate
Offences relating to practising certificates
31Offences relating to practising certificates
Subpart 3—Unlawful use of title
32Unlawful use of title of veterinarian
33Unlawful use of title of specialist
Part 3
Disciplinary proceedings and medical and competence assessments
Subpart 1—Preliminary provisions
34Interpretation
35Procedure for making decisions
36Legal assessors
37Evidence and privilege
Subpart 2—How disciplinary process works
38Complaints about specified person
39Council-referred matter about specified person
Complaints assessment committee investigations
40Investigation by complaints assessment committee
41Power to call for information or documents
42Compliance with requirement to provide information or document
43Decision of complaints assessment committee
Interim suspension
44Interim suspension pending medical assessment
45Interim suspension pending disciplinary hearing or competence assessment
Mediation
46Resolution of complaint by mediation
Disciplinary hearings
47Procedure for hearing
48Council has powers of Commission of Inquiry
49Disciplinary hearing to be in public
50Grounds for discipline of specified person
Subpart 3—How specified person may be disciplined
Penalties
51Penalties
52Non-payment of fines or costs
Decisions and orders
53Provisions relating to decisions and orders
54Publication
Subpart 4—Medical and competence assessments
Medical assessments
55Medical assessments
56Interim suspension by Council pending medical assessment
57Consequences of medical assessment
Competence assessments
58Competence assessments
59Council may require specified person to make practice records available
60Consequences of competence assessment
Part 4
Conditions of practice and appeals
Conditions of practice
61Conditions of practice
62When conditions effective
63When conditions expire or removed
Appeals
64Right of appeal
65Notice of right of appeal
66Actions to have effect pending determination of appeal
67Procedure on appeal
68Court’s decision final
69Court may refer matter back for reconsideration
70Orders as to costs
71Orders as to publication of names
72Appeal on question of law
Part 5
Veterinary Council of New Zealand
73Veterinary Council of New Zealand
74Council is body corporate
Functions of Council
75Functions of Council
76Capacity and powers
77Composition of Council
78Further provisions as to Council and its members
Committees of Council
79Council may appoint committees
80Membership and chairperson of committees
81Committees to regulate own procedure
82Complaints assessment committees
83Judicial committees
84Procedure of judicial committees
Reporting by Council
85Obligation to prepare annual report
86Annual report
Part 6
Miscellaneous provisions
87Protection for members of Council and others
88Approved and prescribed matters to be notified and available for inspection
89Application of Legislation Act 2012 to Gazette notices [Repealed]
89ANotification of convictions
Evidence
90Certificate of Council to be conclusive evidence
91Information from institutions may be sufficient evidence of facts
92Power of Council to supply evidence for registration overseas
Financial
93Payment and application of charges, fees, fines, and other money
94Crown not liable for debts of Council
References to veterinarians in other enactments
95References to veterinarians in other enactments
Service of documents
96Service of documents
Fees
97Council may prescribe fees
98Principles guiding prescribing of fees
99Consultation with veterinarians and other registered persons on fee increases
100Further provisions relating to fees
Regulations
101Regulations
Amendment to Privacy Act 1993
102Amendment to Schedule 2 of Privacy Act 1993
Repeals and revocations
103Repeal of Veterinarians Act 1994
104Revocations
105Consequential amendments
Transitional provisions relating to existing veterinarians
106People entitled to retain registration
107Annual retention certificates issued under 1994 Act to continue in full force
Other transitional provisions
108Existing matters and existing proceedings
109Membership of Council
Schedule 1
Further provisions applying to Council and its members
Schedule 2
Consequential amendments to other enactments
Notes