The Medical Council of New Zealand (Māori: Te Kaunihera Rata o Aotearoa) is the peak national standards and assessment body for medical education and training. It is responsible for the registration of doctors and has the power to suspend or remove the right to practise medicine in New Zealand.^[a][1][2] Its responsibilities are defined by the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 and it is funded by practitioner fees paid by all practising doctors in New Zealand.

Medical registration in New Zealand traces its origins to the mid-19th century, with initial attempts made on a provincial level. The New Munster Province, encompassing parts of New South Wales and New Zealand, led the way in 1850. Subsequently, the establishment of medical boards in provinces like Wellington in 1854 marked significant progress in regulating the medical profession. The pivotal moment arrived with the passage of the 1864 Act in Otago, which mandated registration for medical practitioners. This legislation empowered authorities to strike off any practitioner found guilty of misconduct or disreputable behavior. Despite early efforts, progress was not without its challenges. The Medical Practitioners Bill of 1860 faced substantial opposition, notably from proponents of homeopathy. This highlights a longstanding debate surrounding complementary and alternative medicine vis-à-vis conventional medical practices. The historical context underscores the enduring discourse on medical regulation and the integration of diverse medical approaches within New Zealand's healthcare landscape.

The primary objective of this council is to uphold the wellbeing and safety of the public by establishing mechanisms to ensure that healthcare practitioners are proficient and competent to practice their respective professions. It aims to realize this goal by introducing , A uniform accountability framework for all healthcare professions, Defining the scope of practice for each healthcare practitioner based on their competency, Implementing systems to prevent healthcare professionals from practicing beyond their authorized scope, Granting authority to restrict certain activities to specific categories of healthcare practitioners to mitigate the risk of severe or lasting harm to the public, and lastly, Providing safeguards for healthcare practitioners engaged in protected quality assurance activities, and expanding the coverage of this Act to include additional healthcare professions.

Domestic graduates edit

Fitness edit

you will be tasked to answer fitness for registration ,These fitness inquiries serve to ensure that practitioners meet the necessary standards of health, conduct, and competence required for practice in New Zealand. Your cooperation and transparency throughout this process will facilitate the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) in making informed determinations regarding your eligibility to practice medicine in the country.

Proficiency in English edit

Proficiency in English language communication is a crucial aspect of the registration process. For non-native English speakers, a language assessment may be necessary, unless exempted due to substantial work experience in English-speaking environments. Passing either the IELTS English test(7.5 for Speaking and Listening, and 7.0 for Writing and Reading) or the OET Medical Module (minimum of a 'B' grade)with specified minimum scores is mandatory to ensure adequate language proficiency for medical practice in New Zealand

Registration interview edit

A pivotal component of the New Zealand Medical Council's registration process entails attending an interview, conducted by an MCNZ representative in major cities like Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, or Dunedin. During this interview, you will verify your identity, discuss your practice intentions, and present original documents. Additionally, the interviewer will elucidate the supervision requirements pertinent to your registration.^[3]

International medical graduates edit

Conclusion for eligibility to undertake the registration included holding an credited primary medical degree and demonstrating proficiency in English. This may be evidenced by passing either the English, Professional, and Linguistics Assessment Board examination, the Australian Medical Council's multiple-choice question assessment, or the written examination of the United States Medical Licensing Examination within the previous five years. Upon successful completion of the New Zealand Registration Examination, international medical graduates are directed to secure a position as a first-year house officer in an official internship role. Subsequently, upon completing a satisfactory period of supervised practice, they become eligible to apply for full and unrestricted general registration. However International medical graduates addressing from countries recognized by the Council as having healthcare systems equivalent or comparable to that of New Zealand now possess registration pathways that automatically passed the registration examination. Conversely, those from nations not meeting this equivalence criterion may still attain registration by successfully completing the New Zealand Registration Examination.

• Health care in New Zealand
• Cartwright Inquiry

• Official website