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New Zealand law explained for everyone

Health Act 1956

Administration - Ministry of Health

3B: Director of Public Health

You could also call this:

"The person who advises on public health matters in New Zealand is called the Director of Public Health."

The Director of Public Health is a person who is appointed by the Director-General under the Public Service Act 2020. You can think of the Director of Public Health as an advisor to the Director-General on matters related to public health. The Director of Public Health gives advice on personal health matters and regulatory matters that affect public health.

The Director of Public Health has an important role in helping the Director-General make decisions about public health. This includes advising on things that affect people's personal health and on rules that help keep people healthy. The Director of Public Health is appointed to help the Director-General, and this does not limit any other laws or rules that are already in place.

Nothing in this section limits any other laws or rules that are already in place, so the Director of Public Health works within the existing laws and rules to advise the Director-General on public health matters.

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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=DLM306478.

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3A: Function of Ministry in relation to public health, or

"The Ministry of Health's job is to help keep New Zealanders healthy."

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3C: Director-General to produce annual report on current state of public health, or

"The government writes a yearly report on how healthy New Zealanders are."

Part 1Administration
Ministry of Health

3BDirector of Public Health

  1. There shall be a Director of Public Health, who shall be appointed under the Public Service Act 2020 by the Director-General.

  2. The Director of Public Health shall have the function of advising the Director-General on matters relating to public health, including—

  3. personal health matters relating to public health; and
    1. regulatory matters relating to public health.

      1. Nothing in this section—

      2. limits any other enactment or rule of law.

          Notes
          • Section 3B: inserted, on , by section 13 of the Health and Disability Services Amendment Act 1995 (1995 No 84).
          • Section 3B(1): amended, on , by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
          • Section 3B(3)(b): repealed, on , by section 104 of the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022 (2022 No 30).