Under the Children's Act 2014 and the Education and Training Act 2020, Police vets must be done for:
- non-teaching and unregistered employees (who are not children’s workers) who work at the school during normal operating hours
- contractors and their employees who may have unsupervised access to children during normal operating hours.
A Police vet is valid for 3 years.
Apply for a Police vet
The New Zealand Police website sets out the process for applying for a Police vet.
Police vetting service – New Zealand Police
Police vetting applications may take up to 20 business days to process.
A Police vet must be updated by the employer at least every 3 years.
Police vets by the Teaching Council
The Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand (Teaching Council) is responsible for Police vetting registered teachers, principals and relief teachers. This is part of the process to hold a practicing certificate or Limited Authority to Teach (LAT).
Registered teachers are expected to disclose any new convictions and serious matters to the Teaching Council. The Teaching Council will not share the content of Police vets with schools.
Your school is responsible for making sure the teaching staff you employ are Police vetted by the Teaching Council.
Find a registered teacher – Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand
Keep information confidential
All Police vetting information must be kept confidential and managed by your school in accordance with the:
You cannot share a Police vet with other agencies or accept a Police vet from them.
