Legislation and key documents

Key documents

National action plans

• National Action Plan – version 3.0 as of 22 April 2020 (extended) [PDF, 510 KB]
• National Action Plan – version 2.0 as of 1 April 2020 [PDF, 1.6 MB]

Guidance on the use of CDEM Act key powers

• Guidance on the use of CDEM Act key powers during the COVID-19 related state of national emergency – updated 9 April 2020 [PDF, 1.1 MB]

Response and resurgence plans

• Stamp it Out: Our plan to respond to new COVID-19 cases in the community — July 2020 [PDF, 49 KB]
• Rapid response to cases of COVID-19 in the community — August 2020 [PDF, 48 KB]

Proactively released information

The Government publicly released documents relating to decisions as part of its response to COVID-19. The release includes the papers, minutes and key advice for the decisions the Government has made relating to COVID-19 up to 10 August 2020.

Proactively released documents

The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet also proactively released briefings on behalf of Hon Peeni Henare, Minister of Civil Defence.

Briefings on the State of National Emergency for COVID-19 (external link)

Key legislation

Existing legislation

• Health Act 1956 (external link)
• Epidemic Preparedness Act 2006 (external link)
• Civil Defence and Emergency Management Act 2002 (external link)

Legislation produced in response to COVID-19

• COVID-19 Public Health Response Act 2020 (external link)
• COVID-19 Public Health Response Amendment Act 2020 (external link)
• COVID-19 Public Health Response Amendment Act 2021 (external link)
• COVID-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Act 2020 (external link)
• COVID-19 Response (Further Management Measures) Legislation Act 2020 (external link)
• COVID-19 Response (Further Management Measures) Legislation Act (No 2) 2020 (external link)
• COVID-19 Response (Requirements For Entities—Modifications and Exemptions) Act 2020 (external link)
• COVID-19 Response (Taxation and Other Regulatory Urgent Measures) Act 2020 (external link)
• COVID-19 Response (Taxation and Social Assistance Urgent Measures) Act 2020 (external link)
• COVID-19 Response (Urgent Management Measures) Legislation Act 2020 (external link)
• Immigration (COVID-19 Response) Amendment Act 2020 (external link)
• Imprest Supply (Third for 2019/20) Act 2020 (external link)
• Overseas Investment (Urgent Measures) Amendment Act 2020 (external link)
• Remuneration Authority (COVID-19 Measures) Amendment Act 2020 (external link)
• Social Security (COVID-19 Income Relief Payment to be Income) Amendment Act 2020 (external link)

Health Act notices

Several orders have been produced under the Health Act 1956 for New Zealand’s COVID-19 response. These have now been revoked or replaced by orders made under COVID-19 Public Health Response Act 2020.

• COVID-19 Public Health Response Act 2020 (external link)
• More information about the previous Orders at Parliamentary Counsel Office website (external link)

Section 70

To underscore the importance of individuals following the advice they have been given by the public health units or the national contact tracing team, a Section 70 of the Health Act 1956 can be issued.

A Section 70 order enables an authorised Medical Officer of Health to require those in the order to meet public health requirements to undergo testing and to isolate until they receive their result. Any time a person receives a direction from a medical officer of health they must comply with it.

Current section 70 orders on the Ministry of Health website (external link)