Health Act 1956

Management of infectious diseases - Directions - General provisions concerning directions and notices

92N: Written directions and notices to be served on individual

You could also call this:

"Getting important health messages: how you're told about directions and notices"

When you get a direction or notice under this Part, it must be in writing and given to you. If you are under 16 or cannot make decisions for yourself, the direction or notice will be given to your parent, guardian, or the person in charge of you. The person giving the direction or notice must make sure you know about it as soon as possible.

If it is not possible to give the direction or notice to you in person, other steps will be taken to make sure you know about it. You will be told about the direction or notice in a way that works for you. A notice does not include an urgent public health order or a court order, which are different types of instructions.

When a direction or notice is given, it is done according to the rules set out in the Health (Protection) Amendment Act 2016. This means that the rules for giving directions and notices were updated on 4 January 2017. You can find more information about these rules by looking at the Health (Protection) Amendment Act 2016.

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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=DLM7086325.

92M: Director-General may require copies of directions given under this Part, or

"The boss of health can ask for reports on orders given to keep people healthy."

92O: Duration of directions, or

"How long directions from a medical officer of health last"

Part 3AManagement of infectious diseases
Directions: General provisions concerning directions and notices

92NWritten directions and notices to be served on individual

A direction or notice under this Part must be in writing and must be served on the individual to whom it is given.
If the person to whom the direction or notice relates is under the age of 16 years or lacks legal capacity, a medical officer of health or a health protection officer must serve the direction or notice on the parent, guardian, or other person in charge of the person to whom the direction or notice relates.
However, if it is not reasonably practicable in the circumstances to serve the direction or notice on the individual in person, alternative steps must be taken to bring the direction to the attention of the individual as soon as possible.
In this section, notice does not include an urgent public health order or a court order.

Notes

Section 92N: inserted, on 4 January 2017, by section 11 of the Health (Protection) Amendment Act 2016 (2016 No 35).