The Nursing Council of New Zealand no longer issues verifications or practising certificates for midwives. These may be obtained from the Midwifery Council of New Zealand.

The Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 established the separate Midwifery Council. It has jurisdiction over the education, registration, discipline and competence of all midwives in New Zealand.  The Midwifery register was transferred from the Nursing Council to the Midwifery Council on 18 September 2004.

The Midwifery Council and the Nursing Council will issue practising certificates separately for each profession.

• If you are practising nursing you must have a nursing practising certificate from the Nursing Council.

 
• If you are practising midwifery you must have a midwifery practising certificate from the Midwifery Council.

• If you hold dual registration as both a nurse and a midwife, but you are practising nursing, you must have a nursing practising certificate and you can choose whether to apply to the Midwifery Council for a midwifery practising certificate.

• If you hold dual registration as both a nurse and a midwife, but you are practising midwifery, you must have a midwifery practising certificate and can choose whether to apply to the Nursing Council for a nursing practising certificate.

• If you hold dual registration and consider you are practising nursing and midwifery you must have two practising certificates, one for nursing and one for midwifery respectively.

Please note that under section 8 of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 it is illegal to practise as a health professional without a current practising certificate issued by the responsible authority for that profession in which you are practising. 

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