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Health Act 1956

Administration - Personal information

22B: Interpretation

You could also call this:

"What special words mean in the Health Act 1956"

When you read this part of the Health Act 1956, some words have special meanings. You need to know what these words mean to understand the law. The law says what these words mean.

The word "agency" means the same as in section 7(1) of the Privacy Act 2020. The word "document" means the same as in section 2 of the Official Information Act 1982. The word "Health Benefits Limited" means the same as in section 2(1) of the Health Sector (Transfers) Act 1993.

The law also explains what "health information" means. It is information about you, like your medical history, any disabilities you have, and services you get. It can also be information you give when you donate part of your body. In some cases, it is information from testing or examining the part of your body that you donated.

You are an "individual" if you are a person, even if you have passed away. A "representative" is someone who acts for you, like a parent if you are under 16, or someone who helps you if you cannot make decisions. The word "services" means the same as in section 4 of the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM306584.

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22A: Powers of departmental officers under Factories and Commercial Premises Act 1981, or

"What departmental officers can and can't do in workplaces is no longer part of this law."

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22C: Disclosure of health information, or

"Who can see and share your health information"

Part 1Administration
Personal information

22BInterpretation

  1. In this section and sections 22C to 22H, unless the context otherwise requires,—

    agency has the same meaning as in section 7(1) of the Privacy Act 2020

      document has the same meaning as in section 2 of the Official Information Act 1982

        Health Benefits Limited has the same meaning as in section 2(1) of the Health Sector (Transfers) Act 1993

          health information, in relation to an identifiable individual, means—

          1. information about the health of that individual, including that individual's medical history:
            1. information about any disabilities that individual has, or has had:
              1. information about any services that are being provided, or have been provided, to that individual:
                1. information provided by that individual in connection with the donation, by that individual, of any body part, or any bodily substance, of that individual:
                  1. for the purposes of section 22E and for that purpose only, information—
                    1. derived from the testing or examination of any body part, or any bodily substance, donated by an individual; or
                      1. otherwise relating to any part or substance so donated, or relating to the donor and relevant (whether directly or indirectly) to the donation

                      individual means a natural person, and includes a deceased natural person

                        representative, in relation to any individual, means,—

                        1. where the individual is dead, that individual's personal representative:
                          1. where the individual is under the age of 16 years, that individual's parent or guardian:
                            1. subject to paragraphs (a) and (b), where the individual is unable to give his or her consent or authority, a person appearing to be lawfully acting on the individual's behalf or in that individual's interests

                              services has the same meaning as in section 4 of the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022.

                              Notes
                              • Section 22B: replaced, on , by section 2 of the Health Amendment Act (No 2) 1993 (1993 No 32).
                              • Section 22B: amended, on , by section 111(1) of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 (2000 No 91).
                              • Section 22B agency: amended, on , by section 217 of the Privacy Act 2020 (2020 No 31).
                              • Section 22B Crown health enterprise: repealed, on , by section 5(4) of the Health and Disability Services Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 74).
                              • Section 22B disability services: repealed, on , by section 111(1) of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 (2000 No 91).
                              • Section 22B funder: repealed, on , by section 111(1) of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 (2000 No 91).
                              • Section 22B Health Benefits Limited: inserted, on , by section 111(1) of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 (2000 No 91).
                              • Section 22B Health Funding Authority: repealed, on , by section 111(1) of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 (2000 No 91).
                              • Section 22B health information paragraph (c): amended, on , by section 111(1) of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 (2000 No 91).
                              • Section 22B health services: repealed, on , by section 111(1) of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 (2000 No 91).
                              • Section 22B hospital and health service: repealed, on , by section 111(1) of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 (2000 No 91).
                              • Section 22B Public Health Commission: repealed, on , by section 3(3) of the Health and Disability Services Amendment Act 1995 (1995 No 84).
                              • Section 22B purchaser: repealed, on , by section 5(4) of the Health and Disability Services Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 74).
                              • Section 22B regional health authority: repealed, on , by section 5(4) of the Health and Disability Services Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 74).
                              • Section 22B services: inserted, on , by section 111(1) of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 (2000 No 91).
                              • Section 22B services: amended, on , by section 104 of the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022 (2022 No 30).