Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Health Act 1956

Miscellaneous provisions

125: Medical examination of children

You could also call this:

"Doctors or nurses can check you at school to make sure you're healthy and strong."

You can be checked by a doctor or nurse at your school. They want to make sure you are healthy and strong. They can visit your school at any reasonable time to check on you.

If you go to a State school or an early childhood education and care centre, a doctor or nurse can come to check on you without asking first. They will look at what might be affecting your health or how you are growing. They can tell your parents or the people who take care of you if they find something that might be wrong.

If you go to a private school, the school can ask for a doctor or nurse to come and check on you. The school can change its mind and stop the checks at any time. You can find out what a private school and other types of schools mean by looking at the Education and Training Act 2020.

A private school is a school that is registered under section 214 of the Education and Training Act 2020. The doctor or nurse can check on you and tell the people who take care of you if they find something that might be wrong. They do this to help keep you healthy and strong.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

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=DLM308462.

Previous

124: Constitution and powers of boards of appeal, or

"What boards of appeal can and can't do, as part of the Health Act 1956, is no longer a law."

Next

126: Infirm and neglected persons, or

"Help for people who need care and a safe place to live"

Part 7Miscellaneous provisions

125Medical examination of children

  1. In this section,—

    early childhood education and care centre and State school have the meanings given in section 10(1) of the Education and Training Act 2020

      private school means a school registered under section 214 of the Education and Training Act 2020.

      1. Any medical officer employed in the Ministry or other person authorised by the Minister to exercise the powers conferred by this section on an officer so authorised, or any nurse employed by the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children (Incorporated) engaged in work pursuant to a contract in that behalf between the said Society and the Minister, may at all reasonable times enter any State school or early childhood education and care centre and examine the children attending the school or centre, and may notify the parent or guardian of any such child, or any other person whom he reasonably believes to be concerned with the welfare of the child, of any condition which in his opinion is affecting the health or normal development of the child or of any disease or defect from which in his opinion the child may be suffering.

      2. The powers conferred by subsection (2) may be exercised in respect of any private school, and in respect of the children attending there, if application in that behalf is made in writing to the medical officer of health by the controlling authority thereof. Any such application may be revoked in like manner at any time.

      Notes
      • Section 125: replaced, on , by section 3(1) of the Health Amendment Act 1967 (1967 No 78).
      • Section 125(1): replaced, on , by section 668 of the Education and Training Act 2020 (2020 No 38).
      • Section 125(2): amended, on , by section 668 of the Education and Training Act 2020 (2020 No 38).
      • Section 125(2): amended, on , by section 24 of the Education Amendment Act 2018 (2018 No 40).
      • Section 125(2): amended, on , by section 35 of the Health Amendment Act 1993 (1993 No 24).
      • Section 125(2): amended, on , by section 8 of the Health Amendment Act 1979 (1979 No 64).