The Parliament of New Zealand enacts as follows:
This Act is the COVID-19 Public Health Response Amendment Act (No 2) 2020.
This Act comes into force on the day after the date on which it receives the Royal assent.
This Act amends the COVID-19 Public Health Response Act 2020 (the principal Act).
In section 5(1), replace the definition of Minister with:
Minister means the Minister who, under the authority of any warrant or with the authority of the Prime Minister, is responsible for the administration of this Act
Replace section 9(1)(c) with:
the Minister—
must have consulted the Prime Minister, the Minister of Justice, and the Minister of Health; and
may have consulted any other Minister that the Minister (as defined in this Act) thinks fit; and
Replace section 14(3) with:
(3)
However, the Minister or Director-General (as the case may be) need not comply with the 48-hour time limit in subsection (2) if satisfied that—
the order should come into force urgently to prevent or contain the outbreak or spread of COVID-19 (but in that case must comply with subsection (2)(a) and (b) as soon as practicable); or
the effect of the order is only to remove or reduce requirements imposed by a COVID-19 order.
In section 33A(1), replace “the Minister of Health” with “the Minister (as defined in this Act)”.
“the Minister of Health”
“the Minister (as defined in this Act)”
1 December 2020
Introduction (Bill 3–1), first reading, second reading, third reading
7 December 2020
Royal assent
This Act is administered by the Ministry of Health.