This activity contributes to the health and safety of our communities by ensuring that food and health activities are undertaken in accordance with relevant legislation.  This includes the registration and auditing of food premises, funeral directors, camping grounds, mobile shops and stalls.

Food

Under the Act, food businesses are required to be operating under either a food control plan or one of three levels of national programmes depending on the food sector that a food business belongs to.

Hairdressers & Barbers

On 25 June 2025, council received confirmation from the Te Manatū Waeture | Ministry for Regulation, that the Health (Hairdressers) Regulations 1980 will be revoked from 31 July 2025.

This means that hairdressers and barbers no longer need to register with council, pay the associated fee or go through an inspection process. To find out more please go to beehive.govt.nz

Hairdressers and barbers are still required to follow certain legislation, including but not limited to:

• Health & Safety at Work Act 2015
• Consumer Guarantees Act 1993
• Building Act 2004
• Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act 1990
• Resource Management Act 1991 through the District Plan

Funeral Directors, Mortuaries and Camping Grounds

There are business premises in the community, other than food premises, that have a potential to put public health at risk.  These include camping grounds and premises used by funeral directors and mortuaries.

These premises must be registered under the Health (Registration of Premises) Regulations 1966. These premises are subject to annual registration under the Health Act and are inspected on a regular basis to ensure compliance with legislative requirements relating to each type of business premise.

Food Stalls & Mobile Shops

Any person wanting to run a stall to prepare or handle packaged or unpacked food for retail sale generally needs a licence.  Even if the person has a food premises registration for a fixed premise or manufacturing facility, a separate licence for a stall is needed from the Matamata-Piako District Council.

Mobile food vehicles are a great way to take your food business on the road and be where the customers are.  A mobile shop licence is required by the Matamata-Piako District Council.