Town Councils Act 1988 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 4 · Functions and Powers of Town Council
25. Direction to Town Councils for emergency-related measures
Feedback & supportLast amended by an amending law of 2017.
The Minister may, by written direction given to a Town Council —
Town Council
“Town Council”, in relation to a Town, means the Town Council established under section 4 for that Town;
require the Town Council to prepare itself to deal with specified kinds of emergency-related purposes; or
require that —
access be given to specified kinds of services by the Town Council for specified kinds of emergency‑related purposes; or
priority of access be given to specified kinds of services by the Town Council for specified kinds of emergency‑related purposes.
Every direction under subsection (1)(b) must specify the Ministry, department or statutory authority to whom access, or priority of access, must be given.
The manner in which those preparations are to be made or that access, or priority of access, is to be given must be set out in the direction under subsection (1).
The terms and conditions on which the preparations are to be made or that access, or priority of access, is to be given must be set out in the direction under subsection (1).
A Town Council must comply with every direction given to it under subsection (1).
A Town Council that fails to comply with any direction of the Minister given under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000.
In this section, “emergency-related purpose” means a purpose related to the management of —
a public health emergency within the meaning of the Infectious Diseases Act 1976;
a civil defence emergency within the meaning of the Civil Defence Act 1986; or
any other public emergency (natural or otherwise).[21B