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Electricity Act 1992

Administration - Electrical Workers Registration Board

153: Meetings to be held in public

You could also call this:

“Board meetings are usually open, but some things can be kept private”

The Electrical Workers Registration Board usually holds its meetings in public. However, the Board can decide to discuss things privately when making decisions or answering questions during their proceedings.

If the Board thinks it’s necessary to protect someone’s interests or for the public good, they can do several things. They can have part or all of a hearing in private. They can stop people from sharing reports about what happened in the meeting, whether it was public or private. They can also stop people from sharing documents from the hearing. The Board can even stop people from sharing names or details about people involved in the proceedings or anyone else.

If someone asks the Board to do any of these things, that request is heard in private. But other people involved in the case can be there and share their thoughts about it.

When a hearing is private, the Board can let someone attend if they think that person has a good reason to be there.

If the Board decides to keep something private or stop information from being shared, that decision stays in place until they say otherwise or until a court changes it after someone appeals.

If you don’t follow the Board’s orders about keeping information private, you’re breaking the law. You could be fined up to $5,000 if you’re found guilty.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM283303.

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Part 13 Administration
Electrical Workers Registration Board

153Meetings to be held in public

  1. Except as provided in this section, every meeting of the Board shall be in public.

  2. The Board may deliberate in private as to its decision in any matter or as to any question arising in the course of any proceedings before it.

  3. If the Board is of the opinion that it is proper to do so, having regard to the interests of any person and to the public interest, it may, of its own motion or on the application of any party to the proceedings,—

  4. order that the whole or any part of a hearing shall be held in private:
    1. make an order prohibiting the publication of any report or account of any part of any proceedings before it, whether held in public or in private:
      1. make an order prohibiting the publication of the whole or any part of any documents produced at any hearing:
        1. make an order prohibiting the publication of the name or any particulars of the affairs of—
          1. any person who is the subject of proceedings before it:
            1. any other person.

            2. Every application to the Board under subsection (3) shall be heard in private, but the other parties to the proceedings shall be entitled to be present and to make submissions with regard to the application.

            3. In any case where a hearing of the Board is held in private, the Board may allow any particular person to attend the private hearing if it is satisfied that the person has a special and proper interest in the matter to be heard.

            4. Unless reversed or modified in respect of its currency by the court on an appeal under Part 12, an order made under any of paragraphs (b) to (d) of subsection (3) shall continue in force until such time as may be specified in the order, or, if no time is specified, until the Board, in its discretion, revokes it on the application of any party to the proceedings in which the order was made.

            5. Every person commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 who, without lawful excuse, acts in contravention of any order made by the Board under any of paragraphs (b) to (d) of subsection (3).

            Notes
            • Section 153(6): amended, on , by section 16(1) of the Electricity Amendment Act 2006 (2006 No 70).
            • Section 153(7): amended, on , by section 413 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 (2011 No 81).
            • Section 153(7): amended, on , by section 16(2) of the Electricity Amendment Act 2006 (2006 No 70).