Publications

Date: 30 April, 2025

Te Ao Māramatanga (New Zealand College of Mental Health Nurses) welcomes this opportunity to provide a submission about the proposed review of regulation of health professions in New Zealand. It is the view of Te Ao Māramatanga that health professions are well regulated and the regulatory bodies have sound processes in place for involvement of the public in regulatory matters.

We have concerns that any move to increase public involvement should not be at the expense of the core function of regulatory bodies to ensure the safety of the public, confidence in health services, and best outcomes for consumers. Regulators need to ensure that the competency standards remain contemporary, evidence- based and thus link to the healthcare system. We are concerned at any move to use regulatory processes to advance government fiscal targets as that is not something that is an ethical focus for a regulatory body. We question whether the processes of professional regulation are currently impeding access to health services as no evidence has been provided that this is the case. Access to services is more likely to be responsive to funding of services, or indeed an employment freeze, than to the regulatory context.

We welcome feedback on College submissions. Members, stakeholders, and the public are invited to share comments, perspectives, or additional considerations to support informed advocacy and sector engagement.

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