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Social Workers Registration Act 2003

Register and Registrar - Registrar

139: Registrar may refuse to act if fine or costs outstanding, or fee not paid

You could also call this:

"The Registrar can say no if you owe money for fines, costs, or fees."

Illustration for Social Workers Registration Act 2003

If you have not paid a fine or costs under the Social Workers Registration Act 2003, the Registrar can refuse to help you with some things. The Registrar can refuse to issue a certificate of registration to you, refer your application for registration to the Board, renew your registration, issue a practising certificate to you, or refer your application for a practising certificate to the Board. This can happen if you owe money.

The Registrar can also refuse to help you if you have not paid a fee for a practising certificate set by the Board. In this case, the Registrar can refuse to issue a practising certificate to you or refer your application for a practising certificate to the Board.

If the Registrar refuses to help you, you can ask the Board to review this decision by making a written application to them. The Board must then review the refusal and either confirm it or tell the Registrar to help you with what you need, such as issuing a certificate or renewing your registration.

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This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM190640.

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138: Registrar to comply with directions of Board, or

"The Registrar must follow the Board's instructions promptly."

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140: Notice of conditions in individual scope of practice, or

"When the Board puts rules on a social worker's job, they tell their employer."

Part 7Register and Registrar
Registrar

139Registrar may refuse to act if fine or costs outstanding, or fee not paid

  1. If a person has not paid a fine imposed on the person under this Act, or any costs or expenses payable by the person by an order under this Act, the Registrar may refuse to—

  2. issue a certificate of registration to the person:
    1. refer to the Board an application for registration made by the person:
      1. renew the person's registration:
        1. issue a practising certificate to the person:
          1. refer to the Board an application for a practising certificate made by the person.

            1. If a person has not paid any fee set by the Board for the issue of a practising certificate, the Registrar may refuse to—

            2. issue a practising certificate to the person:
              1. refer to the Board an application for a practising certificate made by the person.

                1. A person aggrieved by a refusal of the Registrar under subsection (1) may, by written application to the Board, ask the Board to review the refusal; and in that case, the Board—

                2. must promptly review the refusal; and
                  1. must either confirm it or (as the case requires) direct the Registrar to issue a certificate of registration or practising certificate to, or renew the registration of, or refer to the Board the application made by, the person.

                    Notes
                    • Section 139(1): amended, on , by section 23 of the Social Workers Registration Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 17).