DEFINITION OF NOVICE
A novice lifter is one who has not competed in an NZPF sanctioned event before. Once they have competed once as a novice they must register with their local association and the NZPF to participate in any further NZPF sanctioned events.
REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
All lifters competing in Regional or a higher level competition MUST be financially affiliated to both their respective regional association and the NZPF. All lifters that are registered to NZPF and compete in NZPF sanctioned events are subject to both in-competition and out-of-competition drug testing. This includes the time at which they qualified for the respective level of competition, where qualifying standards are required. Those who are not financially affiliated cannot claim provincial titles or provincial or national records, or use totals achieved at competitions (when they were not financially affiliated to both the NZPF and their respective regional association) to qualify for higher level competition.
QUALIFYING FOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Lifters seeking to qualify for NZPF National Championships [either Open or Subjunior, Juniors & Masters National Championships] must reach the qualifying total for their age and weight class in an NZPF sanctioned competition within 12 months prior. Note: this does NOT include the previous year's Nationals. They must also be a full financial member at the time of qualifying.
They must lift at the National Championships in the same weight class they qualified in unless they have exceeded the qualifying total in the weight class above - in which case they may lift in that weight class.
In the case of bench only competitions, lifters may use a benchpress completed in a three-lift competition to qualify for the National Benchpress Championships.