What’s disposal?

Disposal is the final action concerning the fate of records, for example, destruction or transfer to archives. Under the Public Records Act 2005 (the Act), no-one may dispose of a public record without authorisation from the Chief Archivist, Archives New Zealand.

There are several types of disposal that the Chief Archivist can authorise:

  1. transferring control of the public record to the Chief Archivist
  2. transferring control of the public record to another public office
  3. destroying or altering the public record
  4. selling the public record, and
  5. discharging the public record (which means cancelling the status of a public record under certain circumstances) (section 25 of the Act)

Information for public offices can be viewed at Records Appraisal and Disposal.
Information for local authorities can be viewed at Advice for local authorities.