The Notifiable Disease Selection Framework

The Notifiable Disease Selection Framework explains how decisions are made about which diseases must be notified to public health authorities in New Zealand. These diseases are listed in the notifiable diseases schedule.

The process for adding, removing or reclassifying diseases on the schedule involves expert assessment, consultation, and ministerial and Cabinet approval. Following this process ensures that notification requirements are justified, proportionate, and effective. It balances the benefits of mandatory reporting – such as improved surveillance, outbreak detection, and public health action – against costs, system capacity, and privacy impacts. The aim is to prioritise diseases where notification will meaningfully improve population health outcomes.