Topic

Health and wellbeing

This page contains different parts of laws about Health and wellbeing.

Related Plain Language Law

Immigration Act 2009

Special rules when there's a big sickness outbreak

Immigration Act 2009

Changes to court appearances during epidemics

338: Modification during epidemic of requirements to bring people before District Court Judge

Immigration Act 2009

Sharing information between immigration and health departments to check health service eligibility

300: Information matching to determine eligibility or liability to pay for services

Immigration Act 2009

Changes to the rules because of the COVID-19 outbreak

Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002

Lifeline utilities must plan to keep working during emergencies and help with emergency planning and advice.

60: Duties of lifeline utilities

Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002

What special powers do emergency helpers have during a disaster?

85: Emergency powers of Civil Defence Emergency Management Groups

Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002

Help with costs if your things get damaged in an emergency

108: Compensation for loss or damage to personal property

Local Government Act 2002

This part explains the rules and duties for local councils about water, parks, and libraries

123: Outline of Part

Local Government Act 2002

Explaining important words used in this part of the law

124: Interpretation

Local Government Act 2002

Councils must check if everyone has safe water to drink

125: Requirement to assess drinking water services

Local Government Act 2002

What to do after checking a community's drinking water

126: Requirements following assessment of community drinking water service

Local Government Act 2002

Rules for deciding when to close a water service

134: Criteria for closure of water service

Local Government Act 2002

How the law about stopping water services changed

194: Power to stop water services

Local Government Act 2002

Rules about getting rid of toilet waste and dirty water from businesses

Local Government Act 2002

Rules about putting poo and other waste into big pipes

195: Discharge of sewage

Local Government Act 2002

Councils had to check their water and cleaning services for the first time by mid-2005

285: First assessment of water and sanitary services

Local Government Act 2002

Signs that tell you where you can't drink alcohol in public

147C: Signage for areas in which bylaws for alcohol control purposes apply

Local Government Act 2002

Food safety rules are more important than local council rules

152A: Effect of Food Act 2014 on bylaws

Local Government Act 2002

This old rule about telling people things during COVID-19 is no longer used

5A: Temporary definition of public notice as result of outbreak of COVID-19

Local Government Act 2002

Making sure people have safe drinking water when there are big problems with water companies

127: Duty to ensure communities have access to drinking water if existing suppliers facing significant problems

Local Government Act 2002

Checking if your area's wastewater and cleaning services are working well

128: Requirement to assess wastewater and other sanitary services

Civil Aviation Act 1990

Rules for medical checks and permissions before new laws start

27Q: Transitional provisions

Income Tax Act 2007

Tax credits for people who pay others to provide ACC-funded rehabilitation services

LB 8: Tax credits related to personal service rehabilitation payments: payers

Income Tax Act 2007

Tax rules for trusts that only support people with disabilities

HC 39: Trustee income: disabled beneficiary trusts

Resource Management Act 1991

This part used to explain who could be part of the group that helps keep people safe from dangerous things, but it's not used anymore.

348: Membership of Commission

Resource Management Act 1991

Rules to keep New Zealand's water clean and safe for different uses

Schedule 3: Water quality classes

Resource Management Act 1991

Farms over a certain size or with specific types of land use must have a special plan to protect freshwater.

217D: Farm must have certified freshwater farm plan if it meets land use threshold

Resource Management Act 1991

This law explains what a farmer must include in their plan to protect water and nature on their farm.

217F: Contents of freshwater farm plan

Resource Management Act 1991

This part helps track efforts to make water cleaner by gathering information about fertiliser sales.

217N: Purpose of this Part

Resource Management Act 1991

This law explains what plant food with nitrogen in it means when talking about how it affects water and nature.

217O: Nitrogenous fertiliser defined

Resource Management Act 1991

People must follow rules about sharing information on fertiliser sales to help protect water.

217P: Obligation to comply with regulations

Resource Management Act 1991

Rules about recording and sharing information when farmers buy fertiliser to help protect water

217Q: Regulations relating to sales information on nitrogenous fertiliser

Resource Management Act 1991

Rules for checking how activities might affect drinking water sources

104G: Consideration of activities affecting drinking water supply source water

Child Support Act 1991

Changes made to a law about helping people hurt in accidents

Building Act 2004

This section explains the rules people must follow when making decisions about buildings to keep everyone safe and happy.

4: Principles to be applied in performing functions or duties, or exercising powers, under this Act

Building Act 2004

A building that is unsafe to live in because it's dirty, damp, or doesn't have clean water or proper toilets.

123: Meaning of insanitary building

Building Act 2004

Rules about paying people who come to talk at special meetings about nurses and midwives

325: Witnesses' fees, allowances, and expenses

Biosecurity Act 1993

This law applies to health problems with unknown causes, like syndromes that might be caused by organisms.

3: Application of Act to syndromes of uncertain origin

Crimes Act 1961

Medical procedures done by doctors to help people

Crimes Act 1961

This law protects doctors from getting in trouble when they do surgery to help someone, as long as they are careful and the surgery makes sense for the patient.

61: Surgical operations

Crimes Act 1961

This section explains when doctors can legally perform surgery without getting in trouble.

61A: Further provisions relating to surgical operations

Crimes Act 1961

Helping a mentally unwell person escape when they're supposed to be kept safe for breaking a rule

122: Assisting escape of mentally impaired person detained for offence

Crimes Act 1961

A mother who kills her young child while mentally unwell due to childbirth can be charged with infanticide instead of murder.

178: Infanticide

Crimes Act 1961

This law explains when ending a baby's life before birth is not allowed, except in special cases to protect the mother or during legal abortions.

182: Killing unborn child

Crimes Act 1961

This law makes it illegal to harm a girl's or woman's private parts, except for certain medical reasons.

204A: Female genital mutilation

Crimes Act 1961

Making food, water, or other things people use unsafe on purpose or without being careful

298B: Contaminating food, crops, water, or other products

Crimes Act 1961

Medical services to end a pregnancy

Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012

The goal of this law is to help you buy, supply, and drink alcohol safely and responsibly.

4: Object

Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012

Some alcohol is exempt from the law if it's not meant to be drunk, like perfume or medicine.

9: Exemption for certain alcohol not intended for drinking

Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012

Licences for special events that let you sell alcohol in certain ways.

22: Special licences

Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012

Police and health officials check alcohol licence applications

103: Police, Medical Officer of Health, and inspector must inquire into applications

Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012

People like police and health officers check your alcohol licence application

129: Police, Medical Officer of Health, and inspector must inquire into application

Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012

What the council checks when you apply for a special alcohol licence

142: Criteria for issue of special licences

Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012

Someone else can do a Medical Officer of Health's job if they are qualified and chosen to help.

151: Medical Officer of Health may delegate functions

Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012

People who check if alcohol sellers are following the rules

197: Licensing inspectors

Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012

People must not promote alcohol in a way that is harmful or irresponsible.

Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012

Other important rules about selling and supplying alcohol.

Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012

Licence to sell alcohol can be suspended if you don't follow health and safety rules.

286: Suspension of licence for non-compliance with public health or fire precaution requirements

Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012

How to apply to cancel an alcohol licence

291: Procedure for applications for cancellation of licence

Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012

Rules to control or ban certain alcohol products to keep you safe

400: Regulations banning or restricting certain alcohol products

Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012

Rules for shops to display alcohol information

401: Point-of-sale information regulations

Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012

No off-licences for petrol stations, garages, dairies, or some shops.

36: No off-licences for petrol stations, certain garages, dairies, convenience stores, conveyances, or shops within shops

Dog Control Act 1996

Changing the rules for dog training organisations that help people with disabilities

78D: Regulations amending Schedule 5

Land Transport Act 1998

Using spit or blood samples to learn about drugs and alcohol

209A: Analysing oral fluid or blood specimens for statistical or research purposes related to use of drugs or alcohol

Land Transport Act 1998

Doctors must tell the road safety boss if someone isn't safe to drive

18: Health practitioners to give Director medical reports of persons unfit to drive

Land Transport Act 1998

Driving licence put on hold if you're in hospital for mental health treatment

19: Licences of certain persons subject to Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992 to be suspended

Land Transport Act 1998

Rules for taking blood samples in hospitals after car accidents

73: Who must give blood specimen in hospital or medical centre

Land Transport Act 1998

Rules for collecting samples from car accident patients for research

209: Taking of blood specimens for statistical or research purposes

Land Transport Act 1998

Ministers can ask experts for advice about drug levels and driving safety

167AAB: Ministers may appoint independent experts for purposes of section 167AAA

Animal Welfare Act 1999

What words mean in the Animal Welfare Act

2: Interpretation

Animal Welfare Act 1999

What 'manipulation' of animals means in the Animal Welfare Act

3: Definition of manipulation

Animal Welfare Act 1999

What animals need to be healthy and happy

4: Definition of physical, health, and behavioural needs

Animal Welfare Act 1999

What "research, testing, and teaching" means in the Animal Welfare Act, including work that involves manipulating animals.

5: Definition of research, testing, and teaching

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Animal Care Rules

Animal Welfare Act 1999

You must help ill or injured animals to stop their pain and suffering.

11: Obligation to alleviate pain or distress of ill or injured animals

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Breaking the rules about looking after animals is against the law.

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Rules to protect animals from harm and make sure they are treated kindly

12: Animal welfare offences

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Operations on animals must be done with care.

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Only vets or supervised vet students can do major animal surgeries, others must follow rules

15: Restriction on performance of surgical procedures

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Rules for doing certain surgeries on animals

17: Performance of restricted surgical procedures

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Rules for doing surgery on animals

18: Performance of controlled surgical procedures

Animal Welfare Act 1999

It is against the law to perform operations on animals in a way that hurts them.

Animal Welfare Act 1999

How to safely move animals from one place to another

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Hurting animals while moving them is against the law

23: Other offences in relation to transport of animals, etc

Animal Welfare Act 1999

You can defend yourself if accused of not caring for animals properly, and give evidence to prove it.

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Caring for animals in safari parks

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Rules for looking after wild animals in safari parks

26: Safari parks

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Being cruel to animals is against the law.

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Fighting animals is against the law.

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Rules about traps and devices that can hurt animals.

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Selling some traps and devices is against the law unless you have a good reason

35: Restrictions on sale of traps and devices

Animal Welfare Act 1999

People must check traps to ensure they are not hurting animals.

Animal Welfare Act 1999

What happens if you treat animals badly

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Animal Export Rules

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Rules for sending animals overseas safely

41: Guidelines for issue of animal welfare export certificates

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Checking if it's safe to export animals from New Zealand

43: Consideration of application

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Some animals can be exempt from rules when exported if they won't be harmed

48: Exemptions

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Taking away a power that was given to someone

50: Revocation of delegations

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Exporting animals from New Zealand in a way that keeps them safe and comfortable

52: Animals being exported in accordance with conservation legislation

Animal Welfare Act 1999

This law sets up committees to help animals be treated kindly and with respect.

55: Purpose

Animal Welfare Act 1999

A group that helps make decisions about animal welfare in New Zealand.

Animal Welfare Act 1999

A team that helps with animal welfare issues

56: National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee

Animal Welfare Act 1999

The committee's jobs are to help keep animals safe and make sure they are treated well in New Zealand.

57: Functions

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Who is on the team that helps make decisions about animal welfare?

58: Membership

Animal Welfare Act 1999

The National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee's yearly work report to the Minister

60: Annual report

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Rules for the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee

61: Further provisions applying to National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee

Animal Welfare Act 1999

A team that helps make decisions about animal welfare in New Zealand.

62: National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee

Animal Welfare Act 1999

The committee's jobs are to help keep animals safe and advise the government on animal welfare.

63: Functions

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Who is on the National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee

64: Membership

Animal Welfare Act 1999

The National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee's yearly work report to the Minister

66: Annual report

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Rules for the National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee

67: Further provisions applying to National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Animal Care Rules

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Looking after animals: setting rules for their care and treatment

68: Purpose

Animal Welfare Act 1999

What the rules are about to keep animals safe

69: Contents

Animal Welfare Act 1999

The National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee tells the Minister if a new animal welfare rule is a good idea.

74: Recommendation to Minister

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Rules to keep animals safe are available for you to see

77: Availability of codes of welfare

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Checking if animal welfare rules are working and need changes

78: Review of code of welfare

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Animal Research Rules

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Why animals can be used in research and teaching, and how to treat them kindly

80: Purposes

Animal Welfare Act 1999

What this part of the law means for using animals in research, testing, or teaching

81: Effect of this Part

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Rules to protect animals used in research, testing, and teaching

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Rules for using animals in research, testing, and teaching

82: Restrictions on research, testing, and teaching involving use of animals

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Doing research or teaching with animals without approval, if you follow certain rules

84: Power to carry out certain projects

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Rules for using animals like apes and monkeys for research or teaching

85: Restrictions on use of non-human hominids

Animal Welfare Act 1999

The Director-General can cancel an approval if it's not in the best interests of an animal.

86: Revocation of approval

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Rules that guide people to treat animals kindly and fairly when used in research, testing, and teaching.

Animal Welfare Act 1999

What to include in a code of ethical conduct when working with animals

88: Contents of code of ethical conduct

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Applying for Approval to Work with Animals

89: Application for approval

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Getting approval for a code that says how to treat animals fairly and kindly

91: Approval of code of ethical conduct

Animal Welfare Act 1999

How long the Director-General has to decide on a code of ethical conduct

92: Time limits

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Asking to change or cancel animal care rules

95: Application for amendment, suspension, or revocation of code of ethical conduct

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Changing or cancelling animal research rules

96: Amendment, suspension, or revocation

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Groups that help decide if using animals in research and teaching is okay.

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Setting up a team to help look after animals properly

98: Establishment of animal ethics committees

Animal Welfare Act 1999

What an animal ethics committee can and must do to protect animals

99: Functions and powers

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Things to consider when deciding if a project with animals is okay

100: Criteria

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Who is on the animal ethics committee and how are they chosen?

101: Membership

Animal Welfare Act 1999

How an animal ethics committee makes its decisions and works

102: Procedure

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Telling someone in charge about animal welfare rules being broken

103: Report of non-compliance

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Law protects animal ethics committee members who try to do the right thing

104: Protection of members of animal ethics committees

Animal Welfare Act 1999

People check how well groups follow rules when using animals in research and teaching.

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Regular checks to ensure animal welfare codes are being followed

105: Independent reviews

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Checking if animal welfare rules are being followed

106: Purpose

Animal Welfare Act 1999

What time period an independent review covers

107: Period to which independent review relates

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Who can be chosen to review animal welfare independently

109: Accredited reviewers

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Doing your job fairly as an animal welfare reviewer

110: Performance of duties

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Rules for checking how well people care for animals

112: Performance standards

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Checking if people are following the animal welfare rules

114: Review

Animal Welfare Act 1999

How well you follow the animal welfare rules

116: Level of compliance

Animal Welfare Act 1999

The Minister can ask for a review to check if someone is treating animals fairly and following the rules.

117: Power of Minister to commission review

Animal Welfare Act 1999

The Minister can approve using animals for research or testing if it's really necessary.

Animal Welfare Act 1999

The Minister can allow animal research without extra approval if it helps New Zealand.

118: Power of Minister to approve research or testing

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Law helpers

Animal Welfare Act 1999

People and groups who help make sure animals are treated well

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Who can be an approved group to help with animal welfare?

121: Approved organisations

Animal Welfare Act 1999

What the Minister checks before approving an animal welfare organisation

122: Criteria

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Authorities have the power to inspect properties, vehicles, and other places to check on animal welfare.

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Police need a special paper to search places to help keep animals safe

Animal Welfare Act 1999

What happens to things taken by police or inspectors, like animals, under the Animal Welfare Act 1999

136: Disposal of thing seized

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Helping animals that are hurt or sick is a special power that some people have.

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Putting down sick or injured animals to end their suffering

138: Destruction of injured or sick animals (other than marine mammals)

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Putting down sick or hurt animals that can't be helped

139: Destruction of impounded animals that are diseased, injured, or sick

Animal Welfare Act 1999

What happens to animals that are being looked after by approved groups

Animal Welfare Act 1999

What approved organisations must do to care for animals they are looking after

141: Duties of approved organisation

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Telling people about your animal welfare application

146: Notification of application

Animal Welfare Act 1999

What happens when you appeal an animal welfare order

155: Effect of appeal

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Other important rules and details are included here.

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Rules about what happens when someone breaks animal welfare laws

Animal Welfare Act 1999

More rules about what happens when someone does something wrong to animals

Employment Relations Act 2000

Rules for being fair and honest in public health jobs

Employment Relations Act 2000

Rules for fair treatment and good behaviour in public health workplaces

100D: Code of good faith for public health sector

Employment Relations Act 2000

The Governor-General can change the rules for being fair in public hospitals if important people agree.

100E: Amendments to or replacement of code of good faith for public health sector

Employment Relations Act 2000

Rules for being fair and respectful at work in the public health sector

Schedule 1B: Code of good faith for public health sector

Employment Relations Act 2000

Covid-19 vaccination rules at work are no longer part of the law

238A: Provisions relating to COVID-19 vaccinations

Employment Relations Act 2000

Rules about COVID-19 vaccinations at work, which are no longer in effect.

Schedule 3A: Provisions relating to COVID-19 vaccinations

Health and Safety at Work Act 2015

This provision explains the main goals of the law for keeping people safe at work

3: Purpose

Health and Safety at Work Act 2015

Rules for dangerous equipment apply even outside the workplace

12: Application of Act to prescribed high-risk plant

Health and Safety at Work Act 2015

This part explains the important words used in the law about safety at work

16: Interpretation

Health and Safety at Work Act 2015

What counts as a workplace under health and safety law

20: Meaning of workplace

Health and Safety at Work Act 2015

Explaining what counts as a serious work-related injury or illness

23: Meaning of notifiable injury or illness

Health and Safety at Work Act 2015

Regulator can appoint doctors to assist with workplace health and safety

181: Appointment of health and safety medical practitioners

Health and Safety at Work Act 2015

Medical experts can visit and check workplaces for health and safety reasons

183: Powers of entry and inspection of health and safety medical practitioners

Health and Safety at Work Act 2015

Health and safety medical practitioners and their assistants are protected from legal action while doing their job

186: Immunity of health and safety medical practitioners and persons assisting health and safety medical practitioners

Health and Safety at Work Act 2015

Doctors must report work-related illnesses and injuries to workplace safety regulators

199: Requirement of medical officer of health to notify regulator of work-related notifiable disease or hazardous substances injury

Health and Safety at Work Act 2015

How health and safety medical practitioners can lose their job

182: Suspension and ending of appointment of health and safety medical practitioners

Social Security Act 2018

Help for People Who Need Financial Support

Social Security Act 2018

This law helps people in need by giving money and support

3: Purpose of this Act

Social Security Act 2018

A work gap is when you can't work as much as usual because you're sick or hurt

21: What is work gap

Social Security Act 2018

Jobseeker support: extra money for people who are struggling financially

25: Jobseeker support: discretionary grant on ground of hardship

Social Security Act 2018

You need a doctor's note to get jobseeker support for health reasons

27: Jobseeker support: on ground of health condition, injury, or disability: application must include certificate

Social Security Act 2018

MSD might ask you to see a doctor if you apply for jobseeker support because of health reasons

28: Jobseeker support: on ground of health condition, injury, or disability: medical examination

Social Security Act 2018

Money for people who can't work much or can't see at all

Social Security Act 2018

Rules for getting money to help if you can't work much or can't see

34: Supported living payment: on ground of restricted work capacity or total blindness: requirements

Social Security Act 2018

When you can't work much because of a long-lasting health problem or disability

35: When person has restricted work capacity

Social Security Act 2018

You can't get support if you caused your own work problems or blindness on purpose

36: Supported living payment: on ground of restricted work capacity or total blindness: ineligibility

Social Security Act 2018

Medical check-up for people who can't work much or are blind and want financial help

37: Supported living payment: on ground of restricted work capacity or total blindness: medical examination

Social Security Act 2018

Special payment rules for couples when one person is in long-term care

38: Supported living payment: on ground of restricted work capacity or total blindness: payment not apportioned in specified cases

Social Security Act 2018

Helping people with health problems try working while keeping their support payment

39: Supported living payment: on ground of restricted work capacity: encouraging open employment

Social Security Act 2018

Rules for getting money to care for someone at home full-time

40: Supported living payment: on ground of caring for another person: requirements

Social Security Act 2018

You need a doctor's note to get money for caring for someone full-time

41: Supported living payment: on ground of caring for another person: application must include certificate

Social Security Act 2018

MSD can ask for a medical check when you apply to get paid for caring for someone at home

42: Supported living payment: on ground of caring for another person: medical examination

Social Security Act 2018

Extra help for young people in tough times

53: Youth payment: discretionary grant on ground of hardship

Social Security Act 2018

Help for people who can't earn enough money

63: Emergency benefit: discretionary grant on ground of hardship

Social Security Act 2018

Extra money during a big sickness in New Zealand

64: Emergency benefit: grant during epidemic in New Zealand

Social Security Act 2018

When the government can say no or change your housing cost help

69: Accommodation supplement: refusal, reduction, or cancellation of grant in certain circumstances

Social Security Act 2018

Allowance for children with serious disabilities who live at home or in special care

78: Child disability allowance: discretionary grant

Social Security Act 2018

What counts as a child with a serious disability needing constant care

79: Meaning of child with a serious disability

Social Security Act 2018

MSD may ask for a doctor's note when you apply for money to help with your child's disability

80: Child disability allowance: MSD may require medical certificate

Social Security Act 2018

The government might ask your child to see a doctor before giving you money to help with their disability

81: Child disability allowance: MSD may require medical examination

Social Security Act 2018

How the government pays money to help with a child who has a disability

82: Child disability allowance: payment

Social Security Act 2018

Child disability allowance can't be paid with most other benefits or pensions

83: Child disability allowance: not payable with other assistance or pension

Social Security Act 2018

What counts as a disability in this law

84: Meaning of disability

Social Security Act 2018

Extra money for disability costs if you need it

85: Disability allowance: discretionary grant

Social Security Act 2018

Expenses not covered by disability allowance for people in care homes

86: Disability allowance: excluded expenses

Social Security Act 2018

MSD can change or stop your disability allowance if you get similar help elsewhere

87: Disability allowance: refusal, reduction, or cancellation of grant in certain circumstances

Social Security Act 2018

You might need to see a special doctor before getting disability money

88: Disability allowance: medical examination

Social Security Act 2018

Extra money for couples when one partner is in hospital or care

89: Special disability allowance: entitlement in special circumstances

Social Security Act 2018

Rules for getting help with funeral costs when someone dies

90: Funeral grant: general eligibility and definitions

Social Security Act 2018

Temporary extra money to help with basic costs when you're struggling

95: Temporary additional support: purpose

Social Security Act 2018

Rules for getting extra money when you're short on cash

96: Temporary additional support: requirements

Social Security Act 2018

This part explains important words used in the rules about extra money help

98: Interpretation

Social Security Act 2018

Minister can write a notice when overseas diseases stop visitors from going home

99: Overseas epidemics affecting visitors to New Zealand: Minister may give overseas epidemic management notice

Social Security Act 2018

Help for visitors stuck in New Zealand because of sickness in their home country

100: Special assistance for visitors affected by overseas epidemics

Social Security Act 2018

Special help programmes created by the Minister

101: Approved special assistance programmes

Social Security Act 2018

This rule about special help notices no longer exists

102: Special assistance: status of, and access to, notices

Social Security Act 2018

A quick overview of what you need to know

Social Security Act 2018

This part explains the duties of MSD and people who get benefits

104: What this Part does

Social Security Act 2018

Making sure people know what they need to do

Social Security Act 2018

Rules that people getting money from the government must follow

Social Security Act 2018

You must tell us if something important in your life changes

Social Security Act 2018

Tell someone if you're going to leave New Zealand

Social Security Act 2018

Things you must do when your ability to work is checked

Social Security Act 2018

Work ability checks for some benefit receivers

116: Persons subject to work ability assessment

Social Security Act 2018

Who doesn't need to do a work test for their payment

117: Persons not subject to work ability assessment

Social Security Act 2018

A check-up to see how well you can work and what help you might need

118: Work ability assessment

Social Security Act 2018

Work preparation tasks for some people getting supported living payments

123: Persons subject to work-preparation obligations if sufficient capacity to comply

Social Security Act 2018

Making sure your kids are signed up with a doctor and get their health checks

134: Health care enrolment and compliance with core health checks

Social Security Act 2018

Rules about school, health checks, and words used in child education law

137: Definitions and attendance: regulations made under section 430

Social Security Act 2018

Who needs to follow work rules when getting government help

140: Persons subject to work-test obligations

Social Security Act 2018

Rules for working while on jobseeker support due to health reasons

141: Jobseeker support: work capacity determination and work test

Social Security Act 2018

You must take and pass a drug test when asked for work or training

147: Obligation to undertake and pass drug test

Social Security Act 2018

How MSD can use your drug test result

150: Use of drug test result

Social Security Act 2018

Explaining what words mean in rules about testing for drugs

152: Definitions for drug-testing provisions

Social Security Act 2018

Ways to be excused from doing things the law says you should do

Social Security Act 2018

How to ask for and manage breaks from your duties when getting social security help

160: Procedure for grant of exemption

Social Security Act 2018

Young parents receiving payments must follow rules about parenting and childcare

164: Obligations of young person granted young parent payment

Social Security Act 2018

Help for young parents aged 16-19 who are with someone getting a benefit

167: Young person aged 16 to 19 years who has dependent child and who is spouse or partner of specified beneficiary

Social Security Act 2018

What certain words mean in this part of the law about young people, their partners, and benefits

169: Interpretation

Social Security Act 2018

Different types of things you must do

Social Security Act 2018

This part explains things that can change your benefit

183: What this Part does

Social Security Act 2018

Things you need to do before you can get help from the government

Social Security Act 2018

Things that can lower your benefit: money you get for injuries or damages

Social Security Act 2018

Money from benefits might be reduced if you also get payments for lost earnings due to an accident

198: Loss of earnings compensation under Accident Compensation Act 2001

Social Security Act 2018

When you can get other benefits even if you receive money for being a veteran

200: Exceptions to rule that veteran’s entitlement excludes any other benefit

Social Security Act 2018

How being a refugee or protected person can change your benefit

Social Security Act 2018

How being in the hospital can change your benefit

Social Security Act 2018

How your benefit changes if you're in hospital for a long time

206: Hospitalisation

Social Security Act 2018

Your partner's benefit may increase if you're in hospital for a long time

207: Benefit of spouse or partner increased after 13th week of hospitalisation

Social Security Act 2018

Rules about benefits for people getting help with alcohol or drug problems

Social Security Act 2018

Rules for people getting benefits while in addiction treatment

208: Beneficiary resident in institution for treatment of alcoholism or drug addiction

Social Security Act 2018

Explaining who and what section 213 covers

214: Beneficiary and offence defined for section 213

Social Security Act 2018

You usually can't get benefit payments when you're outside New Zealand

219: General rule: benefit not payable while beneficiary absent from New Zealand

Social Security Act 2018

When someone has a good reason for not following the rules

Social Security Act 2018

MSD's mistake can be a valid reason for not following a rule

249: Good and sufficient reason for non-compliance: default by MSD

Social Security Act 2018

Reasons you might not have to do a drug test for a job

250: Good and sufficient reason for failure to comply with drug-testing obligation

Social Security Act 2018

A test that shows if someone has used drugs

Social Security Act 2018

What happens when you ask for a second drug test after failing the first one

258: Effect of request for evidential drug test

Social Security Act 2018

How to fix things if you don't follow drug-testing rules

263: How person recomplies after failure to comply with drug-testing obligation

Social Security Act 2018

Failing a drug test when trying to fix past mistakes counts as your third strike

265: Failure of drug test for purposes of recompliance constitutes third failure

Social Security Act 2018

Who pays for drug tests when you're trying to follow the rules again

266: Costs of drug testing for purposes of recompliance

Social Security Act 2018

What happens if young people don't follow the rules

Social Security Act 2018

Youth payment cancellation doesn't stop disability allowances

274: Effect of cancellation of youth payment on disability allowance or child disability allowance

Social Security Act 2018

You can still get disability money if your young parent payment stops

285: Effect of cancellation of young parent payment on disability allowance or child disability allowance

Social Security Act 2018

How you can meet your responsibilities

Social Security Act 2018

Rewards given to encourage good behavior

Social Security Act 2018

How you can ask for help from the government

Social Security Act 2018

Special rules for getting benefits during an epidemic

299: Exception during epidemic

Social Security Act 2018

Getting temporary help while waiting for the right benefit

302: Immediate provisional grant, and later backdating of other benefit

Social Security Act 2018

Checking if your benefit amount is correct

304: Review of entitlement and rate payable

Social Security Act 2018

MSD can change your benefit if they think a different one suits you better

308: Another benefit more appropriate

Social Security Act 2018

Benefits can change if you have certain insurance payments

310: Certain benefits granted, or granted at rate, not taking into account certain insurance payments

Social Security Act 2018

When benefits start to be paid

Social Security Act 2018

What happens if you get ACC money but your claim is later denied

312: If applicant paid, but claim fails for, ACC weekly compensation

Social Security Act 2018

Waiting periods for some benefits before they start

313: Benefits subject to stand down

Social Security Act 2018

When and how payments stop for people getting help

Residential Tenancies Act 1986

Landlords must give tenants important information and a clean room when they move into a boarding house.

66H: Landlord’s obligations at start of tenancy

Residential Tenancies Act 1986

Landlords must keep boarding houses clean, safe, and in good repair, following rules to protect tenants.

66I: Landlord’s ongoing obligations

Residential Tenancies Act 1986

The Tribunal can talk to and send complaints to the Health and Disability Commissioner if a landlord who provides health services does something wrong.

83A: Referral of complaints to Health and Disability Commissioner

Residential Tenancies Act 1986

Rules about making homes healthy and safe for people to live in

138B: Healthy homes standards

Residential Tenancies Act 1986

Rules about harmful things in houses and how to clean them up

138C: Regulations in respect of contaminants and contaminated premises

Residential Tenancies Act 1986

The boss can create plans to check if homes meet health rules

123CA: Programmes of inspections to monitor and assess compliance with healthy homes standards

Residential Tenancies Act 1986

Rules about tenancies during COVID-19 (no longer in effect)

Schedule 5: Provisions relating to COVID-19

Fair Trading Act 1986

Rules for keeping people safe when getting services

35: Safety standards in respect of services

Accident Compensation Act 2001

This law explains the main goals of helping people who get hurt

3: Purpose

Accident Compensation Act 2001

This Act explains how accident compensation works in New Zealand

4: Overview

Accident Compensation Act 2001

This law applies to everyone, including the government

5: Act to bind the Crown

Accident Compensation Act 2001

What words mean in this law about accidents and injuries

6: Interpretation

Accident Compensation Act 2001

Getting quick medical help for covered injuries

7: Acute treatment

Accident Compensation Act 2001

This explains when you are protected if you get hurt

8: Cover

Accident Compensation Act 2001

Work payments not counted for Work Account levy

12: Earnings as an employee: Work Account levy payable under section 168

Accident Compensation Act 2001

Explaining who counts as a spouse in accident compensation cases

18: Spouse (and spouse in relation to deceased claimant)

Accident Compensation Act 2001

What kinds of accidents and injuries are covered by the law and how to get help

Accident Compensation Act 2001

An introduction to the rules that come next

Accident Compensation Act 2001

This part explains important words used in the law about accidents and injuries

19: Key terms in this Part

Accident Compensation Act 2001

The main ideas about how accident cover works

Accident Compensation Act 2001

ACC covers most injuries in New Zealand, but not all mental injuries

20: Cover for personal injury suffered in New Zealand (except mental injury caused by certain criminal acts or work-related mental injury)

Accident Compensation Act 2001

Help for mental harm from certain crimes

21: Cover for mental injury caused by certain criminal acts

Accident Compensation Act 2001

Help for mental injuries from crimes before July 1992

21A: Cover under Accident Rehabilitation and Compensation Insurance Act 1992 for mental injury caused by certain criminal acts

Accident Compensation Act 2001

When you can get cover for injuries that happen outside New Zealand

22: Cover for personal injury suffered outside New Zealand (except mental injury caused by certain criminal acts or work-related mental injury)

Accident Compensation Act 2001

No injury cover for visitors while travelling on planes, ships, or other transport in New Zealand

23: Cover for personal injury suffered by persons not ordinarily resident in New Zealand: exclusions while travelling to, around, and from New Zealand

Accident Compensation Act 2001

No cover for slow work injuries from before April 1974 outside New Zealand

24: Cover for personal injury caused by work-related gradual process, disease, or infection: exclusion for events occurring outside New Zealand before 1 April 1974

Accident Compensation Act 2001

Important words about getting help after an accident

Accident Compensation Act 2001

What counts as an accident when you get hurt

25: Accident

Accident Compensation Act 2001

What counts as getting hurt or injured under the law

26: Personal injury

Accident Compensation Act 2001

Mental health problems that doctors think are serious

27: Mental injury

Accident Compensation Act 2001

Getting hurt at work or while doing job-related tasks

28: Work-related personal injury

Accident Compensation Act 2001

When you get hurt at work and in a car: deciding what type of injury it is

29: Personal injury that is both work-related and motor vehicle injury

Accident Compensation Act 2001

Work injuries that happen slowly over time

30: Personal injury caused by work-related gradual process, disease, or infection

Accident Compensation Act 2001

A group that helped with slow-developing work health problems no longer exists

31: Ministerial advisory panel on work-related gradual process, disease, or infection

Accident Compensation Act 2001

When medical care hurts you: Understanding treatment injuries

32: Treatment injury

Accident Compensation Act 2001

What counts as medical treatment when you're injured

33: Treatment

Accident Compensation Act 2001

Rules for injuries from medical mistakes before July 2005

34: Cover for personal injury caused by medical misadventure before 1 July 2005

Accident Compensation Act 2001

When you can get help if you're hurt in a car accident

35: Motor vehicle injury

Accident Compensation Act 2001

When injuries happened that matter for this part

Accident Compensation Act 2001

When the law says you have a mental injury

36: Date on which person is to be regarded as suffering mental injury

Accident Compensation Act 2001

When the law says you got hurt at work over time

37: Date on which person is to be regarded as suffering personal injury caused by work-related gradual process, disease, or infection

Accident Compensation Act 2001

When your injury from medical care is officially recognised

38: Date on which person is to be regarded as suffering treatment injury

Accident Compensation Act 2001

Rules for helping people who get hurt and how to ask for help

Accident Compensation Act 2001

Rules about how ACC should treat people who make claims

Accident Compensation Act 2001

What 'Corporation' means in some parts of the ACC law

39: Meaning of Corporation

Accident Compensation Act 2001

The Code explains how ACC should treat you and what you can do if they don't

40: Purpose of Code

Accident Compensation Act 2001

The rules in the Code are important for all parts of the Act

41: Code applies generally

Accident Compensation Act 2001

ACC makes a draft set of rules for people's rights, talking to others the Minister chooses

42: Corporation to prepare draft Code in consultation with persons nominated by Minister

Accident Compensation Act 2001

The government asks for people's ideas about new rules for accidents

43: Public consultation on draft Code after agreement by Minister

Accident Compensation Act 2001

The Minister checks and approves the rules for ACC claimants

44: Approval of Code by Minister

Accident Compensation Act 2001

ACC must follow and promote the Code of Claimants' Rights

45: Corporation's obligations in respect of Code

Accident Compensation Act 2001

This rule about how laws apply to ACC rights is no longer part of the law

46: Application of Legislation Act 2012 to Code

Accident Compensation Act 2001

How the Code can be changed by the Minister

47: Amendments to Code

Accident Compensation Act 2001

How ACC handles claims and treats people who make them

Accident Compensation Act 2001

You need to tell ACC about your injury to get help

48: Person to lodge claim for cover and entitlement

Accident Compensation Act 2001

Treatment provider can make a claim for you if you say it's okay

49: Treatment provider lodging claim on behalf of person

Accident Compensation Act 2001

ACC's duties after you make a claim

50: Responsibilities of Corporation after claim lodged

Accident Compensation Act 2001

When ACC gets your claim form, they count it as officially received

51: When claim is lodged and received

Accident Compensation Act 2001

How to make a claim for accident compensation

52: Manner of making claim

Accident Compensation Act 2001

When you need to tell ACC about your injury or ask for help

53: Time for making claim

Accident Compensation Act 2001

ACC must make fair choices about your claim quickly

54: Responsibility of Corporation to make reasonable decisions in timely manner

Accident Compensation Act 2001

Your duties when asking ACC for help after an accident

55: Responsibilities of claimant to assist in establishment of cover and entitlements

Accident Compensation Act 2001

How ACC checks and decides on your claim for help after an accident

56: Steps Corporation takes to action claims for cover

Accident Compensation Act 2001

What ACC does when you make a tricky claim

57: Steps Corporation takes to action complicated claims for cover

Accident Compensation Act 2001

What happens if ACC doesn't decide on your claim in time

58: Effect of failure to meet time limits

Accident Compensation Act 2001

Choices about what help you can get

Accident Compensation Act 2001

ACC accepting money doesn't guarantee your cover

59: Decision on cover independent of acceptance of levy

Accident Compensation Act 2001

ACC decides if you can get help for certain work injuries

60: Decision on claim for Schedule 2 injury

Accident Compensation Act 2001

How ACC decides if they'll cover your hearing loss from noisy work

61: Decision on claim for noise-induced hearing loss caused by work-related gradual process

Accident Compensation Act 2001

ACC may ask doctors for help when deciding about treatment injury claims

62: Decision on claim for treatment injury

Accident Compensation Act 2001

ACC must tell you about your right to challenge their decisions

63: Corporation must tell claimant about review rights

Accident Compensation Act 2001

ACC must tell you their decision about your claim

64: Corporation must give notice of decisions

Accident Compensation Act 2001

ACC can fix mistakes in its decisions

65: Corporation may revise decisions

Accident Compensation Act 2001

ACC must save your claim information for a long time

66: Corporation must keep claims files

Accident Compensation Act 2001

What You Get When You're Hurt: Help and Money from ACC

Accident Compensation Act 2001

What you can get and other important things to know

Accident Compensation Act 2001

You can get help for accidents if you're hurt and qualify

67: Who is entitled to entitlements

Accident Compensation Act 2001

ACC gives you benefits according to this law

68: Corporation provides entitlements in accordance with this Act

Accident Compensation Act 2001

The types of help you can get if you're hurt in an accident

69: Entitlements provided under this Act

Accident Compensation Act 2001

Your and ACC's duties when helping you recover from an injury

70: Claimant's and Corporation's obligations in relation to rehabilitation

Accident Compensation Act 2001

Employers must help injured workers return to work

71: Employer's obligations in relation to rehabilitation

Accident Compensation Act 2001

What you need to do when you make a claim

Accident Compensation Act 2001

Things you must do when ACC helps you

72: Responsibilities of claimant who receives entitlement

Accident Compensation Act 2001

Things you can get and other important stuff about getting care

Accident Compensation Act 2001

How ACC helps pay for urgent medical care after an accident

73: Payment of treatment providers for acute treatment

Accident Compensation Act 2001

Rules for who can decide if you need urgent accident treatment

74: Limits on treatment providers in decisions on acute treatment

Accident Compensation Act 2001

A personal plan to help someone get better after an accident

Accident Compensation Act 2001

ACC decides if you need a plan to help you recover after an injury

75: Corporation to determine need for rehabilitation plan

Accident Compensation Act 2001

Getting help before and after agreeing on your rehabilitation plan

76: Provision of rehabilitation before and after individual rehabilitation plan agreed

Accident Compensation Act 2001

Figuring out what you need to get better and putting it in a plan

77: Assessment of needs and content of plan

Accident Compensation Act 2001

Keeping your recovery plan up to date

78: Individual rehabilitation plan must be updated

Accident Compensation Act 2001

Social rehabilitation helps people become more independent after an accident

79: Purpose of social rehabilitation

Accident Compensation Act 2001

Helping people get back to work after an accident

80: Purpose of vocational rehabilitation

Accident Compensation Act 2001

Help for getting back to normal life after an accident

Accident Compensation Act 2001

ACC's responsibility to provide important help for your recovery after an injury

81: Corporation's liability to provide key aspects of social rehabilitation

Accident Compensation Act 2001

ACC can give extra help for your recovery if you need it

82: Corporation may provide other social rehabilitation

Accident Compensation Act 2001

When you can start getting help to recover after an accident

83: Date of entitlement to social rehabilitation

Accident Compensation Act 2001

Checking what help you need after getting hurt

84: Assessment and reassessment of need for social rehabilitation

Accident Compensation Act 2001

Help for getting back to work after an accident

Accident Compensation Act 2001

ACC must help you return to work after an injury

85: Corporation liable to provide vocational rehabilitation

Accident Compensation Act 2001

Deciding if you can get help to return to work

86: Matters to be considered in deciding whether to provide vocational rehabilitation

Accident Compensation Act 2001

Things ACC thinks about when deciding if you need help to go back to work

87: Further matters to be considered in deciding whether to provide vocational rehabilitation

Accident Compensation Act 2001

You can get help to return to work again if your injury situation changes

88: Vocational rehabilitation may start or resume if circumstances change

Accident Compensation Act 2001

Checking what help you need to return to work after an injury

89: Assessment of claimant's vocational rehabilitation needs

Accident Compensation Act 2001

A trained expert checks how your injury affects your work

90: Occupational assessor

Accident Compensation Act 2001

How the job expert checks what work you can do after getting hurt

91: Conduct of initial occupational assessment

Accident Compensation Act 2001

Assessor writes report about what jobs you might be able to do after your injury

92: Report on initial occupational assessment

Accident Compensation Act 2001

A special doctor checks if you can work after an injury

93: Medical assessor

Public Service Act 2020

Change to the New Zealand Food Safety Authority rules

131: Amendment to State Sector (New Zealand Food Safety Authority) Order 2010

Racing Industry Act 2020

TAB NZ pays a special tax to help people with gambling problems

101: TAB NZ must pay problem gambling levy

About this project

What is this project?

This project is an experiment to take difficult language, and make it easier to read and understand for everyone.

How do we do this?

What's our process for taking the law and turning it into plain language?

Why is the law written like it is?

Laws are often hard to read. They use a lot of words and language we don't usually use when we talk.

Should we use AI for this?

What are the good and bad sides of using AI?

Is this information the actual law?

We hope that this information will help people understand New Zealand laws. But we think that it's important you talk to someone who understands the law well if you have questions or are worried about something.

You can talk to Community Law or Citizen's Advice Bureau about your rights.

Remember that AI can make mistakes, and just reading the law isn't enough to understand how it could be used in court.