About us Mō mātou

About the Ministry of Health and the New Zealand health system. 

Regulation & legislation Ngā here me ngā ture

Health providers and products we regulate, and laws we administer.

Strategies & initiatives He rautaki, he tūmahi hou

How we’re working to improve health outcomes for all New Zealanders.

Māori health Hauora Māori

Increasing access to health services, achieving equity and improving outcomes for Māori.

Statistics & research He tatauranga, he rangahau

Data and insights from our health surveys, research and monitoring.

Office of Radiation Safety Christmas holiday closedown 2024/2025

We will be closed for the holiday period from the end of the day, Monday 23 December 2024 and re-open on Wednesday 8 January 2025.  

Find out about key dates for licence and consent applications over this period. 

The purpose of the legislation is to establish a framework to protect the health and safety of people and protect the environment from the harmful effects of ionising radiation while allowing for its safe and beneficial use. The legislation also enables New Zealand to meet some of its international obligations relating to protection, radiation safety and security, and nuclear non-proliferation. For information about non-ionising radiation, including on 5G networks, please visit Non-ionising fields on Health New Zealand's website.

Key requirements of the Radiation Safety Act 2016

The legislation requires the following:

  • Managing entities of radiation sources must hold a Source licence authorising them to manage and control those sources.
  • Managing entities must register controlled radiation sources with the Office of Radiation Safety.
  • Individual users of radiation sources must hold a Use licence unless their use is otherwise authorised by the Act or regulations.
  • Consent is required for anyone who wishes to import or export radioactive material.

In this section Kei tēnei wāhanga

  • Managing entities of radiation sources

    The Ministry of Health’s Office of Radiation Safety administers the Radiation Safety Act 2016 and the Radiation Safety Regulations 2016 on behalf of the New Zealand Government.

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  • Using an ionising radiation source

    This page provides information on use licences and provides a link to information on the situations where a use licence is not required.

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  • Buy/sell & import/export radiation sources

    Check the requirements for the sale, purchase or disposal of radiation sources under the Radiation Safety Act 2016. Importers and exporters of radioactive material must obtain consent from the Office of Radiation Safety (or comply with the Regulations).

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  • Codes of practice

    Codes of practice are issued in accordance with sections 86 to 90 of the Radiation Safety Act 2016 (the Act). Codes of practice are secondary legislation and form part of the radiation safety requirements established by the Act. 

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  • Information and guidance

    The Office of Radiation Safety has prepared information sheets on various topics around ionising radiation, and guidance for dealing with radiation sources in New Zealand.

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  • Consultants and service providers

    Contact details for the radiation consultants and service providers that have been made known to the Office of Radiation Safety (ORS).

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  • Role of the Office of Radiation Safety

    The Office of Radiation Safety is the regulatory body which administers radiation safety legislation. This section describes the functions of the office and links to other organisations promoting radiation safety.

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  • Environmental radioactivity monitoring programme

    The Ministry of Health’s environmental radioactivity monitoring programme analyses trends in environmental radioactivity in the region and warns of any influx in radioactivity.

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  • Radiation Safety Advisory Council (RSAC)

    The Radiation Safety Advisory Council is an advisory group established under section 80 of the Radiation Safety Act 2016.

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  • Radiation Safety Fees and Regulations Review 2021

    Manatū Hauora – the Ministry of Health’s Office of Radiation Safety (ORS) administers the Radiation Safety Act 2016 and the Radiation Safety Regulations 2016.

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  • Contact details

    Contact details for the Ministry of Health's Office of Radiation Safety.

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