Health

Certain businesses are required to be licensed under the Health Act. These include:

• Food
• Hairdressers
• Camp Grounds
• Funeral Directors
• Offensive Trade Operations
• Amusement Devices

Premises are inspected regularly and registered annually.

Prospective owners of new businesses are encouraged to prepare a plan of their proposed venture and discuss it with the Environmental Health Officer before starting. This could save you time and money further on in the construction process.

Council's Health and Safety Bylaw 2013 can be accessed here.

Hairdressers

All hairdressing premises are required to comply with the Health (Hairdressing) Regulations 1980.

Basic requirements of the premises are:

• All wet areas must be continuously smooth, impervious to water and readily cleanable.
• Ventilation and lighting must be adequate
• There must be hot and cold running water and separate sinks for hand washing, shampooing, utensil washing and any other needs
• You must organise the management of your premises i.e. cleaning, building maintenance, pest control and chemical storage

Renewing Your Certificate of Registration

We will send you a renewal application form before your certificate of registration expires. When you receive it, promptly check the details, complete the form and return it to the Ruapehu District Council. Your renewal form will advise on how you can pay for your registration renewal and the applicable fees.

Taking Over an Existing Premises

If you take over an existing premises that is currently registered, you need to fill out the registration form and pay the change of occupier fee. It is important that you do this as soon as possible after taking over the premises.

Camp Grounds

All camp grounds are required to comply with the Camping Ground Regulation 1985.

Basic requirements of the premises are:

• Space requirements for each site and number of ablution, laundry and kitchen facilities dependant on the number of people it can hold
• Paths and sites must be well marked and lit
• Water must be available and facilities must be maintained
• Organise the management of keeping records, pest control, building maintenance and cleaning

Registration is renewed each year before the 30 June, or if the business changes ownership.

Premises are inspected on an annual basis unless a complaint is received, then an inspection is conducted outside the annual basis.

Funeral Directors

All Funeral Homes are required to comply with the Health (Burial) Regulation 1946.

Requirements for the premises are:

• Mortuary surfaces are required to be continuously smooth, impervious to water, readily cleanable and lightly coloured
• Floors must be covered to the walls and permanent fixtures, graded and drained to the sewer.
• Lighting and ventilation must be adequate
• Mortuary tables must be graded and drained
• There must be hot and cold running water and a wash basin must be within the area and separate from other sinks
• Staff toilet facilities should be provided
• Organise the management of cleaning practises, personal hygiene policies, pest control, building maintenance and safe chemical storage

Registration is renewed each year before/by 30 June, or if the business changes ownership.

Premises are inspected on an annual basis unless a complaint is received, then an inspection is conducted outside the annual basis.

Offensive Trade Operations

If you intend doing any of the following activities you must be registered with Council as an Offensive Trade:

• Refuse Collection
• Bone crushing or boiling
• Tallow melting
• Tanning
• Fish Processing
• Blood or offal, bone, hide, hoof or skin treating
• Used bottle or collection storage
• Flax pulping
• Septic tank desludging
• Dag crushing
• Fellmongering
• Wool scouring
• Animal slaughter for other human consumption
• Textile manufacturing

Registration is renewed each yeat before/by 30 June, or if the business changes ownership.

Premises are inspected on an annual basis unless a complaint is received, then an inspection is conducted outside the annual basis.

Complete an application for health and registration and submit to Council's Environmental Health Officer (EHO) who will then contact you for an opening inspection. You may not open until registration has been made and the EHO has approved the opening of the premises.

An application fee is required to be submitted with the application, please refer to the Fees and Charges for the appropriate fee.

Amusement Devices

All mechanical amusement devices at events such as ferris wheels, roller coasters, dodgem cars and bumper cars, must have a Certificate of Registration issued by Worksafe New Zealand.

Before an amusement device is operated, the owner must apply to Ruapehu District Council for a permit to operate (an Amusement Device Permit). A copy of the certificate of registration issued by Worksafe New Zealand must accompany the application, unless we already hold one on file for the device.

General Conditions for Amusement Device Applications

The general conditions for amusement device applications are:

• Applications must be accompanied by a current Certificate of Registration and the application fee.
• Applications must be received at least five (5) working days in advance of the event.
• Fees for permit applications are non-refundable.
• Applications are not transferable to other dates outside those on the original application.
• Rides should not commence before the permit has been issued.
• No application fees will be accepted onsite on the day of the event, i.e. if you have not applied before the event then you do not operate.

Apply for a Permit

• Permit to Operate an Amusement Device

Find out more

For more information please view:

• Guide for owners and operators of amusement devices (Worksafe New Zealand website)
• Legislation regarding amusement devices (New Zealand Legislation website)

If you require any further information on the above licence types, please contact Council's Environmental Health Officer - Phone: 07 895 8188 - Email: Health and Liquor Team.