Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Electricity Act 1992

Disciplinary provisions - Investigations

147: Investigator's powers

You could also call this:

“Investigators can check electrical work and ask questions to make sure it's safe”

When investigating a complaint, an investigator has special powers to help them do their job. They can enter any land or building at a reasonable time to check electrical work. This includes testing electrical work that’s connected (or will be connected) to a power supply. They can ask questions to make sure the electrical work was done safely and properly, following the rules that were in place when the work was done. They can also do other things they need to do to investigate.

The investigator can also ask people for documents or information. They can write to someone and ask them to show documents or give information within a certain time. The investigator can make copies of these documents.

If the investigator wants to enter someone’s home, they have to follow special rules.

When someone is asked to give information or documents to an investigator, they have the same rights as people who give evidence in court. This means they don’t have to say or show things that might get them in trouble.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM283161.

Topics:
Work and jobs > Workplace safety Business > Industry rules
Previous

146: Investigation of complaint, or

"How complaints are looked into and what happens next"

Next

147A: Secretary must supply warrant of authority, or

"Secretary must give investigators a special card to show they can do their job"

Part 11 Disciplinary provisions
Investigations

147Investigator's powers

  1. An investigator, for the purpose of investigating a complaint,—

  2. may, at any reasonable time, enter and re-enter any land or premises and—
    1. inspect and test any prescribed electrical work on that land or those premises that is, or is intended to be, connected to a power supply:
      1. make any inquiries that are reasonably necessary to determine whether or not any prescribed electrical work on that land or those premises has been carried out in a competent and safe manner and in accordance with enactments relating to electrical supply or prescribed electrical work that were in force at the time the work was done; and
        1. generally do any other things on that land or those premises that are reasonably necessary to enable the investigation to be carried out; and
        2. may, by written notice served on any person, require that person to—
          1. produce for inspection, within any reasonable period that the investigator may specify, any document or class of document in the possession or under the control of the person:
            1. provide, within any reasonable period that the investigator may specify, any information or class of information that the investigator may require; and
            2. may take copies of, or extracts from, any of the documents referred to in paragraph (b).

              1. Subsection (1)(a) applies in respect of dwellinghouses subject to section 147C.

              2. Every person who is required to supply information or documents to an investigator has the same privileges in relation to the supply of the information or documents as witnesses have in any court.

              Notes
              • Section 147: substituted, on , by section 13 of the Electricity Amendment Act 2006 (2006 No 70).
              OSZAR »