Pursuant to sections 11, 12 and 14 of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (HPCAA), the Dietitians Board (“Board”) makes the following notice.

Notice

Title and Commencement

1. This notice may be cited as the Notice of the Scopes of Practice and Related Qualifications Prescribed by the Dietitians Board 2025 and shall come into force on 2 February 2026.
2. This notice has the status of secondary legislation for the purposes of the Legislation Act 2019.
3. The Dietitians Board Notice of Scope of Practice and Related Qualifications Prescribed by the Dietitians Board 2017 (New Zealand Gazette, 9 March 2017, No. 25, page 4707) is revoked.

Scope of Practice: Dietitian, Provisional

The Scope of Practice: Dietitian, Provisional defined as “The practice of dietetics under supervision approved by the Board.”

Prescribed Qualifications for the Scope of Practice: Dietitian, Provisional

The prescribed qualifications for the Scope of Practice Dietitian, Provisional are:

1. Successful completion of an undergraduate and/or nutrition and dietetic qualification of at least four years [overseas] and a minimum of 12 months’ work experience (minimum 20h/pw) while registered by an authority accepted by the Board for registration purposes (published on the Board’s website).
2. Successful completion postgraduate of an undergraduate and/or postgraduate nutrition and dietetic qualification of at least four years [overseas] and a minimum of 12 month’s work experience (minimum 20h/pw) while registered by an authority recognised by the Board for acceptance to sit the Board’s examinations (published on the Board’s website) and a pass in the Board’s examinations.
3. Successful completion of an undergraduate and/or postgraduate nutrition and dietetic qualification of at least four years [overseas] and 3 or more years of subspecialised dietetic experience (within the previous 5 years) while registered by an authority recognised by the Board for registration purposes and (published on the Board’s website).
4. Successful completion of an undergraduate and/or postgraduate nutrition and dietetic qualification of at least four years [overseas] which has been assessed, along with other dietetic training, by a Board appointed assessor as sufficient for the purposes of applying to sit the Board’s examinations and a pass in the Board’s examinations.

Scope of Practice: Dietitian

Dietitians are registered health practitioners who evaluate scientific evidence about food and nutrition and translate it into practical strategies. Dietitians work in partnership with individuals, whānau, communities and populations, in states of health and disease, to support optimal health and well-being.

Dietitians use their dietetic knowledge, skills, and judgement in a variety of contexts, which includes promoting and protecting public health, directing and delivering medical nutrition therapy services, and managing food and health systems. They may perform a variety of functions, including policy development, leadership, management, research, education, and communication roles.

Dietitians with a prescribing endorsement are able to prescribe Special Foods and approved nutrition-related medicines.

Dietitians are accountable for ensuring that their practice is consistent with the Dietitians Board’s competency requirements, Code of Ethics and Conduct, and relevant legislation.

Prescribed Qualifications for the Scope of Practice: Dietitian

The prescribed qualifications for the Scope of Practice Dietitian are:

1. Successful completion of a qualification accredited by the Dietitians Board (published on the Board’s website), or
2. Full accredited Practising Dietitian Status with Dietitians Australia and a minimum of 12 month’s work experience (minimum 20h/pw), or
3. Completion of 12 months of practice with satisfactory supervision reports while registered within the scope of Dietitian, Provisional, and completion of required induction activity(ies) to support safe and equitable care in the New Zealand health environment as published on the Board’s website.

Explanatory Note

The purpose of the new provisional scope of practice and prescribed qualifications (pathways to registration) is to simplify the registration process and reduce the registration barriers for some overseas trained dietitians. The revoked 2017 Prescribed Qualifications required all overseas trained dietitians to complete an assessment of qualifications, examination and supervision requirements in their entirety. The Board consulted on the proposed changes has provided a summary of the consultation responses on its website.

Following the consultation, the Board approved the new Scope of Practice and Prescribed Qualifications at its May 2025 meeting. The Prescribed Qualifications for the Scope of Practice: Dietitian have also been updated. The Scope of Practice: Dietitian is unchanged.

Dated at Wellington this 9th day of December 2025.

CHARLOTTE PROVAN, Registrar, NZ Dietitians Board.