Legislation and Professional Guidelines

Safe, accountable animal healthcare requires practitioners to understand the law, meet professional standards and use sound judgement.

This page explains how these requirements fit together and where to find information relevant to your work.

Understanding different requirements

Legislation establishes legal duties, restrictions and conditions. These may apply to practitioners, employers, animal owners or people in charge of animals.

Professional standards set expectations for practitioners within a particular regulatory or professional framework. Their application depends on the issuing body, the document and the practitioner’s status.

Clinical guidelines support decisions about care. Consider their evidence, intended audience and relevance to the patient and setting.

Workplace policies describe how work is organised and delivered within an organisation. They may set additional conditions, but cannot authorise something prohibited by law.

When explaining a requirement, identify its source. A professional recommendation or workplace rule should not be presented as legislation.

Checking requirements for an activity

There is no single list that answers every question about what a veterinary nurse, technician, technologist or allied practitioner may do.

Before undertaking an activity, consider:

  • The activity and context: the procedure, species, purpose and circumstances.

  • The law: whether the activity is restricted and whether conditions apply to who performs it.

  • Veterinary involvement: whether authorisation, direction or supervision is required, and the source of that requirement.

  • Your competence: whether you have the knowledge, skills and judgement to perform it safely and respond to complications.

  • Professional and workplace requirements: the standards and arrangements relevant to your role.

Permission to perform an activity does not necessarily include authority to initiate it. Equally, veterinary delegation should not be assumed to be the source of authority for every animal healthcare activity.

Read about roles, authority and accountability.

  • The Animal Welfare Act 1999 establishes duties concerning animal care and welfare and includes restrictions on significant surgical procedures.

    The Animal Welfare (Care and Procedures) Regulations 2018 contain more detailed requirements for particular activities. Depending on the procedure, these may address competence, pain relief, veterinary involvement and duties of owners or people in charge.

    Read the provision that applies to the particular procedure and species. Requirements for one activity should not automatically be applied to another.

  • The Veterinarians Act 2005 establishes the statutory framework for regulating veterinarians. It should not be read as a complete statement of the responsibilities or permitted activities of every animal healthcare profession.

    The Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Act 1997, associated instruments and product conditions govern veterinary medicines. Requirements concerning authorisation, supply and use depend on the medicine and its controls. Other medicines and controlled-drug legislation may also apply.

  • Depending on your role and workplace, relevant legislation may also include:

    • Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.

    • Privacy Act 2020.

    • Radiation Safety Act 2016.

    • Biosecurity Act 1993.

    • Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996.

    • Dog Control Act 1996.

    • Medicines Act 1981.

    • Misuse of Drugs Act 1975.

    • Employment Relations Act 2000.

    • Resource Management Act 1991.

    Environmental requirements, local bylaws and other legislation may also apply. This is a starting point rather than an exhaustive list.

    Search New Zealand Legislation · Read the Privacy Commissioner’s guidance

  • Acts are primary legislation passed by Parliament. Regulations and other secondary legislation are made under authority provided by legislation and often contain detailed operational requirements.

    When checking a provision:

    • Use the version in force for the relevant date.

    • Read definitions, exceptions and related provisions.

    • Check commencement dates; a published change may not yet be in force.

    • Use a consolidated version incorporating amendments where available.

    The New Zealand Legislation website provides Acts and much secondary legislation. Some instruments are published by the administering agency or in the New Zealand Gazette.

    Official guidance can help explain a provision, but should be read alongside the legislation.

  • AVPRC’s voluntary regulatory framework sets expectations for registrants’ conduct, competence and continuing professional development.

    Registrants must meet the applicable requirements to maintain their standing. These are professional requirements within AVPRC’s framework; registration does not itself create statutory authority to perform restricted activities.

    Use the following pages for current guidance:

  • Professional titles should accurately describe a practitioner’s qualifications and registration status.

    When checking eligibility for AVPRC registration or a particular designation, refer to the approved qualifications and requirements for that category. These may include recognised historical and overseas qualifications.

    Use the registration designation appropriate to your AVPRC record and current practising status. A professional title or registration designation does not, by itself, authorise an activity restricted by law.

  • Qualifications provide evidence of assessed learning. Current competence also depends on experience, continuing development and familiarity with the work being undertaken.

    AVPRC recommends additional support and supervision when a practitioner:

    • Has not practised for more than three consecutive years.

    • Moves into work involving species or skills outside their original qualification or previous experience.

    Identify learning needs and arrange appropriate preparation, support and assessment before undertaking unfamiliar work. The support required should reflect the practitioner’s circumstances and the activity.

    AVPRC’s Graduate Day-1 Competencies describe expected capabilities on completion of approved programmes. They can help identify learning needs, but do not establish an individual’s current competence for every activity.

  • A scope of practice describes the areas of work and activities associated with a profession or practitioner. Its meaning depends on the context: it may describe professional capabilities, workplace responsibilities or boundaries established by legislation.

    For veterinary nurses, technicians, technologists and allied animal healthcare practitioners, determining what someone can undertake requires consideration of:

    • Their education, training and current competence.

    • The legal requirements applying to the activity.

    • Applicable professional standards.

    • The setting, available support and workplace arrangements.

    A qualification or competency document provides evidence of preparation for practice. It does not, by itself, authorise every activity it describes. Equally, a workplace restriction should not be treated as a legal restriction on an entire profession.

    Some activities require veterinary authorisation, direction or supervision. These requirements must be identified for the particular activity rather than assumed to apply to all practice.

    When developing or extending a role, identify the relevant requirements, any additional learning or assessment needed, and who will be responsible for decisions, care and follow-up.

    Explore roles and responsibilities · View graduate competencies

  • Professional guidance supports informed decisions about conduct and care. Check who issued a document, when it was reviewed, which professions it addresses and whether it describes legal requirements, professional expectations or recommendations.

    Professional guidance

    Clinical resources

    The February 2024 collection is a dated reference list. Check the original publisher for subsequent updates.

    International clinical guidance should be considered alongside current evidence, New Zealand requirements and the circumstances of the patient.

  • Professional responsibilities continue in online discussions, messaging, email and social media.

    Protect confidential information, respect professional boundaries and communicate accurately and respectfully. Consider whether a person or case could be identified even if names are omitted.

    Professional respect allows constructive disagreement and the raising of concerns. Use appropriate channels, focus on evidence and avoid personal attacks or unsupported allegations.

    Read the AVPRC Code of Conduct.

Need help?

For questions about AVPRC’s professional requirements, email info@avprc.org.nz.

For a question about a particular legal provision, consult the administering agency or seek advice appropriate to the situation.

Updated September 2026