8. Meeting of Council---(1) The first meeting of the Council shall be
 held in the month of May in the year 1979, or as soon as practicable
 thereafter, at a time and place to be appointed by the Minister.

   (2) Subsequent meetings shall be held at least once in every financial
 year, at such times and places as the Council or the chairman from time
 to time appoints.

   (3) The chairman shall call a special meeting within one month after
 being required in writing by not less than 3 members to do so.

   (4) The secretary shall give to every member not less than 7 days'
 notice in writing of each meeting, and of the business to be transacted
 at the meeting.

   (5) No business may be transacted at a special meeting unless it is
 specified in the notice required under subsection (4) of this section.

   (6) Notwithstanding subsection (4) of this section, an inadvertent
 failure to comply with that subsection shall not invalidate the
 proceedings at a meeting that is not a special meeting.

   (7) Notwithstanding subsections (4) and (5) of this section, any
 business may be transacted at an ordinary or special meeting if all the
 members who are for the time being in New Zealand agree to its
 transaction at that meeting.

   (8) At every meeting, 9 members shall be a quorum.

   (9) At every meeting, the chairman shall preside.

   (10) Where for any reason neither the chairman nor (during a vacancy
 in the office of chairman or in the absence of the chairman) the deputy
 chairman is able to preside at a meeting, the members present shall
 elect one of their number to preside at that meeting.

   (11) Where a matter that is of special interest to a professional
 college of medical practitioners that participates in the appointment of
 members to the Colleges Liaison Committee is being discussed at a
 meeting of the Council, any members of that professional college (not
 exceeding 3 in number) may---
   (a) Attend the meeting; and
   (b) With the leave of the Council, speak at the meeting---

 but no person who attends pursuant to this subsection may vote on any
 question before the meeting.

   (12) Where a matter that is of special interest to a body (other than
 the Colleges Liaison Committee) that has power to nominate a member of
 the Council is being discussed at a meeting of the Council, any members
 of that body (not exceeding 3 in number) may---
   (a) Attend the meeting; and
   (b) With the leave of the Council, speak at the meeting---

 but no person who attends pursuant to this subsection may vote on any
 question before the meeting.

   (13) Every question before a meeting shall be decided by a majority of
 the votes of the members present at the meeting.

   (14) On every question before a meeting, the person presiding shall
 have a deliberative vote, and in the case of an equality of votes he
 shall also have a casting vote.

   (15) A resolution signed, or assented to by letter or telegram, by
 every member for the time being in New Zealand shall have the same
 effect as a resolution passed at a meeting.

   (16) Subject to this Act, the Council may regulate its procedure in
 such manner as it thinks fit.