Welcome to the Midwifery Council of New Zealand

Haere mai ki te Tatau o te Whare Kahu 

View Full Painting

Warm Pacific Greetings

The Midwifery Council of New Zealand was established through the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act (HPCAA) 2003. The inaugural Midwifery Council members were appointed by the Minister of Health, the Honourable Annette King, on the 16th December 2003 and the Council held its first meeting in Wellington on 12th February 2004.

The primary responsibility of the Midwifery Council of New Zealand is to protect the health and safety of women and babies during the childbirth process by providing mechanisms to ensure that midwives are competent and fit to practise midwifery.

The Midwifery Council took over the responsibility for the regulation of midwives from the Nursing Council of New Zealand on the 18th September 2004.

Functions of the Midwifery Council of NZ can be found from the menu About Us.

Recertification Programme Consultation

Under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act, midwives are required to demonstrate their competence to practise. The Recertification Programme is one of the mechanisms the Council uses to satisfy itself that midwives are maintaining and enhancing their competence, thereby ensuring that the safety of the public is protected.  The Council is consulting on various aspects of the current programme and is recommending some changes.  Please click here to access the discussion document and survey form.   Responses should be returned to the Council by Wednesday 12 June.

Suspended Midwives/Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal

Click here for a list of recently suspended midwives and a summary of decisions concerning midwives by the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal.