# Rest Home Certification and Audits — Health New Zealand

**Source URL:** https://www.health.govt.nz/regulation-legislation/certification-of-health-care-services/for-residents-and-families/rest-home-certification-and-audits
**Publisher/Organisation:** Health New Zealand (Te Whatu Ora) / Ministry of Health
**Date accessed:** June 2026
**Publication date:** Regularly updated
**Folder/category:** 02 Aged Residential Care
**Source type:** Web capture
**NZ-specific:** Yes
**Reliability rating:** High (official NZ government website)

## Why this source matters

Rest home certification and auditing is how the quality and safety of aged residential care facilities is monitored in New Zealand. This page (from the Health NZ/Ministry of Health) explains the audit process, certification periods, and how to find audit reports — essential knowledge for anyone choosing a rest home or concerned about care quality.

## Summary

All rest homes and aged residential care facilities in New Zealand must be certified by Health New Zealand / Te Whatu Ora to operate. Certification involves regular audits (both announced and unannounced) against the Health and Disability Services Standards. Certification can be for varying periods (1–4 years) depending on performance. Audit reports are publicly available, making them a key tool for families choosing a facility. Complaints about care quality can also be made through the Health and Disability Commissioner (HDC).

## Key facts

- **Certification is mandatory:** All facilities providing aged residential care must hold a current certificate from Health NZ
- **Audit types:**
  - **Surveillance audits:** Annual or more frequent checks (can be unannounced)
  - **Certification audits:** Full audit for initial certification or renewal (typically every 1–4 years)
  - **Provisional audits:** For new facilities or following major changes
- **Audit standards:** Against the Health and Disability Services Standards (NZS 8134:2021 or current version)
- **Auditors:** Independent auditing agencies contracted by Health NZ (not the facility itself)
- **Certification periods:**
  - Up to 4 years for facilities that fully meet standards with no or minor issues
  - 1–2 years for facilities with some non-compliance
  - Shorter periods or provisional certification for facilities with significant issues
- **Finding audit reports:** Search on the Health NZ website using the facility name or location
- **What audits cover:**
  - Clinical care and nursing
  - Staff qualifications and ratios
  - Food and nutrition
  - Infection control
  - Resident rights and advocacy
  - Facility safety and environment
  - Governance and management
- **Complaints pathways:**
  - First: Raise with the facility management
  - Second: Health and Disability Commissioner (HDC)
  - Third: Nationwide Health and Disability Advocacy Service
  - For serious concerns: Health NZ directly or the Aged Care Commissioner

## Practical use cases

- A family choosing a rest home for a parent searches for and reviews the facility's latest audit report
- A resident or family member concerned about care quality uses the audit report to understand official findings
- Someone considering moving a relative between facilities compares audit reports
- A prospective resident wants to know what standards the facility is required to meet

## Relevant excerpts

> "All aged residential care facilities (rest homes) in New Zealand must be certified by Te Whatu Ora / Health New Zealand to operate. Certification is based on regular audits against the Health and Disability Services Standards."

> "Audit reports are available on the Health NZ website. These reports tell you how well a rest home is meeting the required standards for the care and services they provide."

> "Auditors may visit a facility unannounced at any time. This helps ensure that care standards are being met at all times, not just when an audit is expected."

## Related links

- [Health and Disability Services Standards](https://www.health.govt.nz/regulation-legislation/health-and-disability-services-standards)
- [Find a rest home audit report (Health NZ)](https://www.health.govt.nz/regulation-legislation/certification-of-health-care-services/find-audit-report)
- [Health and Disability Commissioner](https://www.hdc.org.nz/)
- [Nationwide Health and Disability Advocacy Service](https://www.advocacy.org.nz/)
- [Aged Care Commissioner](https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/aged-care/aged-care-commissioner)
- [Health NZ - Rest home checklist](https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/aged-care/choosing-rest-home)

## Notes

Audit reports are a matter of public record and can be requested if not easily found online. The certification status of any facility can be verified with Health NZ. The Health and Disability Services Standards were updated in 2021 (NZS 8134:2021). Facilities transitioning between ownership (e.g., sold to a new provider) must recertify.