Midwifery in New Zealand 

The Midwivery Council recognises that it is unlikely a midwife trained in a country other than New Zealand will meet all competencies required of midwives in New Zealand. The Council considers each case individually but it is likely that midwives trained overseas will have conditions placed on their scope of practice until such time as they have attended an approved competence programme. 

The conditions will be some or all of the following. That the midwife:

• May not work in sole practice as a Lead Maternity Carer; and
• May not prescribe any medications; and
• Completes an approved competence programme within 18 months of the issue of their first practising certificate. This competence programme will include the following modules:
  • New Zealand maternity system
  • Midwifery Partnership
  • Cultural Safety
  • Treaty of Waitangi
  • Pharmacology and prescribing

Interim Practising Certificates

Overseas qualified midwives with some or all of the above conditions will be issued with an interim practising certificate until all courses have been completed. An interim practising certificate shows the conditions of practise on the reverse side.

 What "May not work in sole practice as a Lead Maternity Carer" means.

The Council encourages newly registered overseas qualified midwives to initially take a position as an employed midwife as part of their introduction to midwifery in New Zealand.  However, if such midwives choose to practise immediately as an independent midwife, they may not work alone but must practise in association, or in partnership, with other midwives.  The partner midwives must be available to provide collegial support and guidance and must be willing and able to provide professional back-up and help with the New Zealand maternity system and prescribing as required.  They do not need to act in a supervisory role.     

How to apply for an Interim Practising Certificate.

If you are an overseas qualified midwife with conditions on your scope, your application for an interim practising certificate, which will be sent to you with advice of registration, must include evidence of your planned employment arrangements including a letter from your proposed employer, group practice or midwifery partnership outlining the support that will be given to you.

How to obtain an Annual Practising Certificate

Details of approved courses for overseas qualified midwives are listed in the Registration Competence Programme for Overseas Midwives page under Education elsewhere on this website.  Verification of successful completion of the required courses should be sent to the Council.  When midwives have completed all courses and sent verification to the Council they can either:

• apply at that time for a change of scope and an annual practising certificate without conditions, or
• wait until the start of the following practising certificate year when an annual practising certificate without conditions will be issued.