Health Act 1956

Quarantine

111: Power to board any ship and inspect

You could also call this:

"Health officers can inspect ships in ports to check for sickness and health risks."

The medical officer of health or a health protection officer can board any ship in a port at any time. They can enter and inspect any part of the ship, and look at the animals and goods on board, as well as the passenger list. They can also inspect the ship's logbook and papers, but only if the Director-General says they can.

If the medical officer of health boards a ship, they can ask someone on board to have a medical examination if they think that person might have an infectious disease. The person must then have the examination.

You can find more information about changes to this law in the Health Amendment Act 1993 and the Health Amendment Act 1982.

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This page was last updated on 24 May 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM307735.

110: Disinfection and fumigation of craft, or

"Keeping boats clean to stop the spread of diseases"

112: Offences, or

"Breaking quarantine rules is against the law"

Part 4Quarantine

111Power to board any ship and inspect

The medical officer of health or health protection officer or any officer of the Ministry of Health or any person acting under the authority of a medical officer of health or a health protection officer may at any time board any ship in any port and enter and inspect any part of the ship, and inspect all animals and goods on board the ship, and the passenger list, and, with the prior authority of the Director-General, inspect the logbook and other ship's papers.
Where the medical officer of health boards any ship under this section he may require any person on board the ship who in his opinion may be suffering from any infectious disease to submit to any prescribed examination, and that person shall submit to such examination accordingly.

Notes

Section 111(1): replaced, on 1 July 1993, by section 30(1) of the Health Amendment Act 1993 (1993 No 24).
Section 111(2): amended, on 1 April 1983, by section 4(2) of the Health Amendment Act 1982 (1982 No 34).