This notice is given pursuant to sections 11 and 12 of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (“Act”) and comes into effect on 1 February 2026.

This notice replaces all previous Midwifery (Scope of Practice and Qualifications) Notices.

Scope of Practice of a Midwife

Pursuant to section 11 of the Act, the Midwifery Council specifies the Midwifery Scope of Practice as follows:

1. The primary obligation of a kahu pōkai | midwife is to provide whānau-centred care for wāhine | women and gender diverse people, who are preparing for pregnancy, are pregnant, birthing, and postpartum, and for their pēpi | baby, up to six weeks.
2. A kahu pōkai | midwife works with professional autonomy and is responsible for providing whānau-centred, culturally and clinically safe care to wāhine | women and gender-diverse people in any setting.
3. A kahu pōkai | midwife in Aotearoa New Zealand honours Te Tiriti o Waitangi by embedding the principles of self-determination, equity, and partnership in their practice.
4. A kahu pōkai | midwife understands the concept of mātauranga Māori and other worldviews to provide safe midwifery care that promotes health and wellbeing.
5. A kahu pōkai | midwife draws upon cultural and clinical knowledge and skills, using effective communication, to assess, identify complications, diagnose, plan, provide and evaluate care.
6. A kahu pōkai | midwife identifies and responds to complications that may arise during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period.
7. A kahu pōkai | midwife consults and collaborates effectively with wāhine | women and gender diverse people, and other health professionals and services, making timely referrals as required.
8. Where clinically indicated a kahu pōkai | midwife prescribes treatments and medicines within their own level of education and expertise.
9. Fundamental to a kahu pōkai | midwife’s expertise and knowledge is the understanding, promotion, and facilitation of the physiological processes of pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period that support health and wellbeing.
10. A kahu pōkai | midwife supports the quality and safety of midwifery care through providing continuity of care and evidence-based and reflective practice. This includes undertaking professional development, and through seeking and responding to feedback from wāhine | women and gender diverse people, whānau and health professionals.
11. A kahu pōkai | midwife has an important role in health education, health promotion and preventive health care for the wāhine | women and gender diverse people, with whānau and communities. This includes antenatal and parenting education, breastfeeding, infant feeding and sexual and reproductive health care.
12. A kahu pōkai | midwife may expand their midwifery practice, where appropriate, by undertaking relevant education and gaining expertise.

Whānau-centred care recognises that a person’s well-being is intrinsically linked to their whānau and that supporting the whānau as a whole is essential for achieving positive outcomes for wāhine | women, gender diverse people, and pēpi | baby.

Qualifications Prescribed for Registration in the Midwifery Scope of Practice

Pursuant to section 12 of the Act, the following qualifications are prescribed for registration as a midwife:

1. New Zealand midwifery graduates
1. completion of an approved Bachelor degree in midwifery (minimum of three years duration) provided by an accredited educational provider in New Zealand; and
2. demonstration of the Standards of Competence; and
3. a pass in the National Midwifery Examination set by the Midwifery Council.
2. New Zealand Health Practitioners
1. completion of an approved Master of Clinical Practice (Midwifery) degree, minimum of 2 years duration, provided by an accredited educational provider in New Zealand; and
2. by a person registered with one of the responsible authorities appointed under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 who is in good standing with the relevant registration body; and
3. demonstration of the Standards of Competence; and
4. a pass in the National Midwifery Examination set by the Midwifery Council.
3. Registered midwives applying from all other countries
1. a midwifery qualification, post registration practise in midwifery, post registration midwifery education and midwifery competence portfolio, which, considered as a whole, are deemed by the Midwifery Council as equivalent in content and competencies to the current New Zealand qualifications for registration; and
2. current or past registration as a midwife with a midwifery registration authority in the same country of registration as where that midwife’s initial qualification was completed.

As part of its consideration under paragraph 3(a), and prior to making a decision, the Midwifery Council may, in addition, require an applicant to:

1. attain a pass in an examination set by the Midwifery Council; and/or
2. attain a pass in a clinical assessment specified by the Midwifery Council.

Dated at Wellington this 21st day of October 2025.

SHANNON MASON, Registrar, Midwifery Council.