20 May 2022
It was announced today by HON AUPITO WILLIAM SIO, Associate Minister of Health, that the inaugural Chinese Medicine Council of New Zealand (CMCNZ) has been appointed . This brings the Chinese medicine profession in under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance (HPCA) Act (2003) – the first time a profession from outside the western medical model has been included.
The President of Acupuncture New Zealand, Ms Robin Kerr, welcomes the new Chinese Medicine Council of New Zealand (NZCMC) and sends congratulations to those appointed to the Council.
“This is a very significant step for our profession and an assurance to the public that acupuncture and Chinese medicine are an accepted and important part of the New Zealand health care system. The HPCA Act is all about ensuring the safety of the public. People can be reassured that they are in safe hands if they choose to see a practitioner who is registered with the new Council. With the changing demographic of the New Zealand population it is increasingly important that we are able to provide culturally appropriate health care. By bringing Chinese medicine in under the HPCA Act, we are not only bringing the principles of Te Tiriti into play but also acknowledging the importance of our increasingly diverse population.”
It is expected that the new Council will meet for the first time in the next few weeks and begin the process of registering practitioners from throughout New Zealand.
For further comment contact Robin Kerr via the Acupuncture NZ Wellington office 04 387 7672