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Part 2Key roles and health documents
Ministerial powers

61Minister may appoint Crown observers

  1. The Minister may make an appointment under this section if the Minister considers it desirable for the purpose of assisting in improving the performance of Health New Zealand.

  2. The Minister may—

  3. appoint 1 or more persons to be a Crown observer of Health New Zealand; and
    1. require the Crown observer to attend—
      1. any board meeting or board committee meeting of the health entity; or
        1. any executive level meeting of the health entity at a national or regional level.

        2. The person in charge of a meeting described in subsection (2)(b) must—

        3. permit the Crown observer to attend; and
          1. provide the Crown observer with copies of all notices, documents, and other information that are provided to those attending the meeting.

            1. The Crown observer’s functions are to—

            2. observe the meeting’s decisions and decision-making processes; and
              1. assist those at the meeting in understanding the policies and wishes of the Government so that they can be appropriately reflected in decisions of the meeting; and
                1. advise the Minister on any matter relating to the health entity or the board, or its performance.

                  1. The appointment of a person as a Crown observer is on terms and conditions agreed between the Minister and the person.

                  2. A Crown observer may provide to the Minister any information, other than personal information, that the Crown observer obtains in the course of acting as such.

                  3. Subsection (6) is subject to the Privacy Act 2020.

                  Compare
                  Notes
                  • Section 61(1): replaced, on , by section 31(1) of the Pae Ora (Disestablishment of Māori Health Authority) Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 5).
                  • Section 61(2)(a): amended, on , by section 31(2) of the Pae Ora (Disestablishment of Māori Health Authority) Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 5).