{"id":41636,"date":"2026-04-26T21:52:29","date_gmt":"2026-04-26T21:52:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/nz\/?p=41636"},"modified":"2026-05-21T17:13:24","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T17:13:24","slug":"professional-conduct-for-new-zealand-midwives-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/nz\/professional-conduct-for-new-zealand-midwives-in-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Professional Conduct for New Zealand Midwives in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"41636\" class=\"elementor elementor-41636\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bcb64a4 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"bcb64a4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6911a81 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" 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*\/\r\n.hec-sources{background:#f8f9fb;border:1px solid #dde5e3;border-radius:6px;padding:22px 26px;margin:30px 0}\r\n.hec-sources-label{font-size:12px;font-weight:700;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.8px;color:#5a6c7d;margin-bottom:12px;display:block}\r\n.hec-sources p{font-size:15px;color:#5a6c7d;margin-bottom:14px;line-height:1.7}\r\n.hec-sources ul{margin:0 0 0 18px;line-height:1.9}\r\n.hec-sources li{margin-bottom:6px;color:#5a6c7d;font-size:15px}\r\n.hec-sources a{color:#0a2a5c;text-decoration:underline;font-weight:500}\r\n.hec-sources a:hover{color:#c8102e}\r\n\r\n\/* Mobile *\/\r\n@media(max-width:768px){\r\n.hec-article-title{padding:32px 20px 28px}\r\n.hec-article-title h1{font-size:22px}\r\n.hec-wrapper h2{font-size:20px;margin:32px 0 12px}\r\n.hec-wrapper h3{font-size:18px}\r\n.hec-wrapper h4{font-size:16px}\r\n.hec-wrapper p{font-size:16px}\r\n.hec-wrapper li{font-size:16px}\r\n.hec-wrapper ul{margin-left:18px}\r\n.hec-cta-btn{display:block}\r\n}\r\n@media(max-width:480px){\r\n.hec-article-title h1{font-size:19px}\r\n.hec-wrapper h2{font-size:18px}\r\n.hec-wrapper h3{font-size:16px}\r\n.hec-wrapper p{font-size:15px}\r\n.hec-wrapper li{font-size:15px}\r\n}\r\n<\/style>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"hec-wrapper\">\r\n\r\n<div class=\"hec-article-title\">\r\n<h1>Professional Conduct for New Zealand Midwives in 2026: Midwifery Council and HPCAA Requirements Explained<\/h1>\r\n<div class=\"hec-meta\"><span>Updated for 2026<\/span>&middot;<span>NZ Midwife Conduct Guide<\/span>&middot;<span>~12 min read<\/span><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"hec-intro-box\"><p><strong>Midwifery in Aotearoa is built on partnership, between the midwife and the w&#257;hine in her care, across pregnancy, birth, and the early weeks of parenthood.<\/strong> The Midwifery Council of New Zealand (Te Tatau o te Whare Kahu) is the responsible authority under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (HPCAA), and it sets the professional conduct expectations that every registered midwife must meet. With 2026 bringing intensified attention to cultural safety as continuing competence, digital practice, midwife wellbeing, and continuity-of-care models, the practical importance of knowing and applying these expectations has never been greater. This guide explains what the Midwifery Council requires, how it connects to the HPCAA, what is shifting in 2026, and the practical professional conduct every NZ midwife should be able to evidence.<\/p><\/div>\r\n\r\n<h2>Why Midwifery Conduct Expectations Are Distinctive<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>Midwifery conduct is framed by the continuity, intimacy, and trust of the midwife-woman relationship. A midwife may be present at some of the most significant moments of a woman's life: pregnancy, labour, birth, the first hours and weeks with a newborn. The professional conduct required to sustain that trust is correspondingly significant, and the Midwifery Council's expectations reflect this unique context.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>At the same time, midwifery operates under the same overarching legal framework as other health professions. The HPCAA, the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights, and associated legislation set the statutory conduct baseline. The Midwifery Council's framework translates these obligations into the specific context of maternity care. For a fuller view of how the broader NZ nursing and midwifery regulatory landscape fits together, see our guide on the <a href=\"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/nz\/nursing-council-of-new-zealand-professional-standards-2026\/\">Nursing Council of New Zealand professional standards 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>The Midwifery Council Framework<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>The Midwifery Council of New Zealand regulates midwives under the HPCAA. Its framework includes:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><strong>Scopes of practice,<\/strong> registered midwife and related scopes, each with defined expectations<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>Competencies for entry to the register,<\/strong> and ongoing competencies for practising midwives<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>A code of conduct,<\/strong> setting out professional behaviour expectations<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>Cultural competence standards,<\/strong> with ongoing engagement with Te Tiriti o Waitangi<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>A recertification programme,<\/strong> including Midwifery Standards Review (MSR), compulsory education, and ongoing professional development<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n<p>Together these form the structure within which every registered midwife in NZ practises. Conduct expectations shared with the nursing Code (dignity, partnership, privacy, integrity) are explored further in our companion guide on <a href=\"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/nz\/what-does-the-nursing-council-of-new-zealand-code-of-conduct-require\/\">what does the Nursing Council of New Zealand Code of Conduct require<\/a>, with many of the same principles translated for the midwifery context.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Core Professional Conduct Expectations for NZ Midwives<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<h3>1. Partnership with Women<\/h3>\r\n<p>Midwifery in Aotearoa is built explicitly on the <strong>midwifery partnership model<\/strong>. The midwife and the woman work together as equal partners, sharing information, supporting informed choice, and respecting the woman's autonomy at every stage.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4>What this looks like in practice<\/h4>\r\n<p>Transparent sharing of clinical information; support for informed choice including decisions the midwife may not personally agree with; documenting conversations and choices rather than decisions made \"for\" the woman.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3>2. Informed Consent Across the Continuum<\/h3>\r\n<p>Consent is not a single event in midwifery, it is an ongoing conversation across pregnancy, labour, birth, and the postnatal period. Each significant intervention requires its own discussion, and documentation should capture the flow of those conversations including the timing and the woman's stated preferences.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3>3. Cultural Safety and Te Tiriti o Waitangi<\/h3>\r\n<p>The Midwifery Council has explicit cultural competence and Te Tiriti expectations as continuing competence. For M&#257;ori w&#257;hine and wh&#257;nau, culturally safe maternity care is integral to outcomes, and midwives are expected to engage deeply and continuously with this dimension of practice across Pasifika, Asian, refugee, migrant, and disability communities.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3>4. Professional Boundaries in a Continuity-of-Care Relationship<\/h3>\r\n<p>The continuity of care in midwifery, often across many months, creates unique boundary considerations. Long-term relationships, out-of-hours contact, gifts, social media contact, and community overlap all require careful management while still maintaining the warmth that defines midwifery partnership.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3>5. Safe Practice Within Scope<\/h3>\r\n<p>Registered midwives practise across normal pregnancy and birth, with defined expectations for recognising and escalating when care moves outside the normal scope. Knowing when to consult, refer, and transfer care is a core professional conduct matter, and delay is consistently identified in HDC and Tribunal decisions as a serious concern.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3>6. Honest and Timely Documentation<\/h3>\r\n<p>Midwifery records must capture the continuity, the conversations, the informed choices, the clinical observations, and the care provided. Records are frequently examined in any maternity-related complaint or HDC review. Contemporaneous documentation, not back-filled notes, is the standard.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3>7. Respect for Colleagues and Team-Based Care<\/h3>\r\n<p>Lead maternity carer (LMC) midwifery, hospital midwifery, and obstetric care intersect regularly. Respectful collaboration, clear handover, safe escalation across those interfaces, and constructive engagement when views differ are all conduct expectations.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3>8. Self-Care and Sustainability<\/h3>\r\n<p>Midwifery is emotionally and physically demanding work. The Midwifery Council recognises that self-care and professional sustainability are part of fitness to practise, not optional extras. Burnout and unaddressed fatigue quietly shape clinical behaviour, and protecting wellbeing is part of protecting the women in your care.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Midwifery Conduct Expectations at a Glance<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"hec-table-wrap\">\r\n<table>\r\n<thead>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th>Conduct Area<\/th>\r\n<th>Midwifery Council Expectation<\/th>\r\n<th>2026 Emphasis<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr><td><strong>Partnership<\/strong><\/td><td>Equal partnership with w&#257;hine across the continuum<\/td><td>Documented conversation, not decision-for<\/td><\/tr>\r\n<tr><td><strong>Informed consent<\/strong><\/td><td>Ongoing consent conversations throughout care<\/td><td>Captured in real time, not back-filled<\/td><\/tr>\r\n<tr><td><strong>Cultural safety<\/strong><\/td><td>Deep engagement with Te Tiriti and M&#257;ori maternity outcomes<\/td><td>Continuing competence, not one-off<\/td><\/tr>\r\n<tr><td><strong>Boundaries<\/strong><\/td><td>Managed within continuity relationships; clear professional role<\/td><td>Digital messaging and social media<\/td><\/tr>\r\n<tr><td><strong>Scope<\/strong><\/td><td>Safe practice; timely consultation, referral, or transfer<\/td><td>Delay flagged as conduct concern<\/td><\/tr>\r\n<tr><td><strong>Documentation<\/strong><\/td><td>Records capturing continuity, choices, and clinical care<\/td><td>Contemporaneous, AI-tool awareness<\/td><\/tr>\r\n<tr><td><strong>Teamwork<\/strong><\/td><td>Respectful LMC-hospital collaboration; safe handover<\/td><td>Constructive engagement when views differ<\/td><\/tr>\r\n<tr><td><strong>Self-care<\/strong><\/td><td>Professional sustainability as part of fitness to practise<\/td><td>Wellbeing protection recognised by Council<\/td><\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"hec-course-card\">\r\n<div class=\"hec-course-card-header\">\r\n<h3>Professional Conduct CPD for NZ Midwives<\/h3>\r\n<span class=\"hec-card-sub\">Online CPD aligned to Midwifery Council and HPCAA expectations<\/span>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"hec-course-card-body\">\r\n<ul class=\"hec-card-features\">\r\n<li><span class=\"hec-check\">&check;<\/span> Featured course: <a href=\"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/nz\/courses\/ethics-and-ethical-standards-for-nurses-and-midwives\/\">Ethics and Ethical Standards for Nurses and Midwives<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><span class=\"hec-check\">&check;<\/span> Browse all: <a href=\"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/nz\/ethics-professional-development-courses-nurses-midwives-new-zealand\/\">Ethics &amp; Professional Development Courses for Nurses &amp; Midwives in NZ<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><span class=\"hec-check\">&check;<\/span> Covers partnership, consent, cultural safety, boundaries, documentation<\/li>\r\n<li><span class=\"hec-check\">&check;<\/span> Self-paced, verifiable, certificate-backed<\/li>\r\n<li><span class=\"hec-check\">&check;<\/span> Suitable for MSR, recertification, and fitness-to-practise support<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<h2>How the Midwifery Council Addresses Conduct Concerns<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>Concerns about a midwife may be raised by women or wh&#257;nau, colleagues, employers, the HDC, or the Council itself. The Midwifery Council assesses whether a concern raises fitness-to-practise issues and may resolve matters through education or conditions on practice, refer to a Professional Conduct Committee, or escalate to the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal. Outcomes range from education and supervised practice through to suspension or cancellation of registration.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Documented ongoing CPD in ethics, boundaries, cultural safety, and communication consistently strengthens a midwife's position at every stage of any process, and is regularly recognised as evidence of insight by the Council and the Tribunal.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Midwifery Standards Review (MSR) and Conduct<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>The Midwifery Standards Review is a cornerstone of midwifery recertification. Every practising midwife participates in MSR on a defined cycle. The review considers practice outcomes, reflection, professional development, consumer feedback, and engagement with the competencies. It is both a support mechanism and an accountability process, and professional conduct is central to what is reviewed. For practical guidance on structuring the CPD that feeds into MSR, see our resource on <a href=\"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/nz\/professionalism-cpd-for-new-zealand-nurses-and-midwives\/\">professionalism CPD for New Zealand nurses and midwives<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"hec-callout warning\"><span class=\"hec-callout-label\">Common Conduct Themes in Midwifery Complaints<\/span><p>Communication breakdowns around informed choice; documentation gaps in labour and birth records; boundary concerns in long-term continuity relationships; cultural safety failures; delayed consultation or transfer of care; handover conflicts between LMC and hospital teams; social media or digital messaging boundary slips.<\/p><\/div>\r\n\r\n<h2>A Realistic Look at Midwifery Conduct in Action<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"hec-scenario\">\r\n<span class=\"hec-scenario-label\">Illustrative Scenario<\/span>\r\n<p><strong>Situation:<\/strong> A complaint to the HDC concerns a labour and birth episode where the wh&#257;nau felt informed choice was not respected, that decisions appeared to be made for the w&#257;hine rather than with her, and that records did not reflect the conversations that took place.<\/p>\r\n<p><strong>What the Midwifery Council examines:<\/strong> Contemporaneous records, evidence of partnership and informed-choice discussions, the midwife's response when the concern is shared, MSR engagement, and CPD across cultural safety, partnership, and consent.<\/p>\r\n<p><strong>The defensible midwife:<\/strong> Records capturing the substance of the conversations across the continuum; documented informed-choice discussions for each significant decision; recent CPD in partnership and cultural safety; a thoughtful written response that acknowledges the wh&#257;nau experience. Most often resolvable at an early stage.<\/p>\r\n<p><strong>The vulnerable midwife:<\/strong> Sparse records, decisions documented without accompanying discussion, defensive response, no recent partnership or cultural safety CPD. The same starting point escalates to formal review and conditions on practice.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<h2>Practical Steps for NZ Midwives<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<h4>Document conversations, not just decisions<\/h4>\r\n<p>Records that reflect the partnership dialogue protect you and honour the woman's experience. Brief substance is enough; absence is not.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4>Treat consent as continuous<\/h4>\r\n<p>Revisit as pregnancy and labour evolve; document significant discussions as they occur. Real-time capture survives scrutiny; reconstruction rarely does.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4>Engage with Te Tiriti o Waitangi each year<\/h4>\r\n<p>Genuine ongoing reflective engagement, not a one-off module. Document at least one cultural safety reflective activity annually.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4>Manage continuity boundaries consciously<\/h4>\r\n<p>Warm professionalism is the goal, not either coldness or personal entanglement. Digital and social media contact carries the same standard as in-person.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4>Escalate when scope shifts<\/h4>\r\n<p>Timely consultation, referral, or transfer is a conduct expectation. Delay is consistently identified as a serious concern in HDC and Tribunal decisions.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4>Prioritise your own sustainability<\/h4>\r\n<p>Professional wellbeing is foundational to safe practice under the Council's framework. Support yourself as you would support a colleague.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Your Practical Midwifery Conduct Checklist<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"hec-checklist\">\r\n<span class=\"hec-checklist-title\">Do this each year to evidence Midwifery Council alignment<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Confirm your APC is current and renewal is diarised well ahead<\/li>\r\n<li>Re-read current Midwifery Council code and competencies at the start of each practising year<\/li>\r\n<li>Document partnership conversations and informed choices contemporaneously across the continuum<\/li>\r\n<li>Complete at least one Te Tiriti o Waitangi or cultural safety reflective activity each year<\/li>\r\n<li>Include at least one boundaries or wellbeing-focused activity in annual CPD<\/li>\r\n<li>Maintain MSR-ready evidence (practice outcomes, reflection, consumer feedback, professional development)<\/li>\r\n<li>Escalate scope concerns, consult, refer, or transfer without delay when indicated<\/li>\r\n<li>Audit your social media and any public-facing online presence annually<\/li>\r\n<li>Keep a single organised digital folder of CPD certificates, reflective notes, and MSR documentation<\/li>\r\n<li>If a concern is raised, seek qualified advice early from your indemnity provider, NZCOM, or a healthcare-experienced lawyer<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"hec-callout success\"><span class=\"hec-callout-label\">A High-Return Habit<\/span><p>Spend 15 minutes a week reflecting on one recent episode of care with a midwifery conduct lens: partnership, informed choice, cultural safety, documentation, boundaries, scope, sustainability. Over a year, this habit builds the strongest evidence of insight and engagement the Midwifery Council recognises.<\/p><\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"hec-takeaways\">\r\n<h3>Key Takeaways<\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Midwifery Council conduct expectations are shaped by the partnership model and the continuity of maternity care<\/li>\r\n<li>The HPCAA provides the legal foundation; the Council translates it into midwifery-specific professional standards<\/li>\r\n<li>Core conduct themes include partnership, ongoing consent, cultural safety, scope, and sustainability<\/li>\r\n<li>2026 sharpens application around digital boundaries, AI-tool awareness, scope delay, and wellbeing<\/li>\r\n<li>Midwifery Standards Review is central to recertification and incorporates professional conduct review<\/li>\r\n<li>Documented CPD in professional conduct protects practitioners and honours the women in their care<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"hec-faq-section\">\r\n<h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<details class=\"hec-faq-item\">\r\n<summary>Who regulates midwives in New Zealand?<\/summary>\r\n<div class=\"hec-faq-answer\"><p>The Midwifery Council of New Zealand (Te Tatau o te Whare Kahu) regulates midwives under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003. It sets scopes, competencies, a code of conduct, cultural competence standards, and the recertification framework.<\/p><\/div>\r\n<\/details>\r\n\r\n<details class=\"hec-faq-item\">\r\n<summary>What is the midwifery partnership model?<\/summary>\r\n<div class=\"hec-faq-answer\"><p>The midwifery partnership model positions the midwife and the woman as equal partners in care. It emphasises information sharing, informed choice, and respect for the woman's autonomy throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postnatal period.<\/p><\/div>\r\n<\/details>\r\n\r\n<details class=\"hec-faq-item\">\r\n<summary>What is Midwifery Standards Review (MSR)?<\/summary>\r\n<div class=\"hec-faq-answer\"><p>MSR is a cornerstone of midwifery recertification in New Zealand. Every practising midwife participates on a defined cycle; the review considers practice outcomes, reflection, professional development, and consumer feedback.<\/p><\/div>\r\n<\/details>\r\n\r\n<details class=\"hec-faq-item\">\r\n<summary>What happens if a midwife faces a professional conduct concern?<\/summary>\r\n<div class=\"hec-faq-answer\"><p>The Midwifery Council assesses the concern and may resolve it through education or conditions on practice, refer to a Professional Conduct Committee, or escalate to the HPDT. Outcomes range from advice to cancellation of registration, with targeted CPD often recommended as part of remediation.<\/p><\/div>\r\n<\/details>\r\n\r\n<details class=\"hec-faq-item\">\r\n<summary>Does online CPD count for midwifery recertification?<\/summary>\r\n<div class=\"hec-faq-answer\"><p>Yes. Verifiable online CPD that is documented, assessed, and relevant to your scope of practice contributes towards Midwifery Council recertification expectations including MSR engagement.<\/p><\/div>\r\n<\/details>\r\n\r\n<details class=\"hec-faq-item\">\r\n<summary>What is new in the 2026 midwifery conduct landscape?<\/summary>\r\n<div class=\"hec-faq-answer\"><p>Sharper application around digital and social media boundaries within continuity relationships, AI-assisted documentation safety, scope-delay as conduct concern, cultural safety as continuing competence, and recognition of midwife wellbeing as a fitness-to-practise foundation.<\/p><\/div>\r\n<\/details>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"hec-cta-box\">\r\n<h3>Strengthen Your Midwifery Professional Conduct<\/h3>\r\n<p>Online CPD aligned to Midwifery Council and HPCAA expectations. Self-paced, verifiable, with a certificate ready for your MSR portfolio.<\/p>\r\n<a class=\"hec-cta-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/healthcareethicscourses.com\/nz\/ethics-professional-development-courses-nurses-midwives-new-zealand\/\">View NZ Nurse &amp; Midwife CPD &rarr;<\/a>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"hec-sources\">\r\n<span class=\"hec-sources-label\">Authoritative External Sources for Further Reading<\/span>\r\n<p>For the most current and authoritative detail on the regulators, legislation, and frameworks discussed in this article, refer directly to the publishers below:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.midwiferycouncil.health.nz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Midwifery Council of New Zealand (Te Tatau o te Whare Kahu)<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legislation.govt.nz\/act\/public\/2003\/0048\/latest\/DLM203312.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (legislation.govt.nz)<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hdc.org.nz\/your-rights\/the-code-and-your-rights\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights (HDC)<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.privacy.org.nz\/privacy-act-2020\/codes-of-practice\/hipc2020\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Health Information Privacy Code 2020 (Office of the Privacy Commissioner)<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hpdt.org.nz\/decisions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal, Published Decisions<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nursingcouncil.org.nz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nursing Council of New Zealand (Te Kaunihera Tapuhi o Aotearoa)<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"hec-callout muted\"><span class=\"hec-callout-label\">Important Disclaimer<\/span><p>This article is published by Healthcare Ethics Courses for educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal, clinical, or regulatory advice. Standards and recertification requirements are updated periodically. Always refer to current Midwifery Council of New Zealand publications and seek qualified guidance from your indemnity provider, NZCOM, or a suitably experienced lawyer for matters specific to your practice.<\/p><\/div>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\r\n{\r\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\r\n  \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\r\n  \"mainEntity\": [\r\n    {\r\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\r\n      \"name\": \"Who regulates midwives in New Zealand?\",\r\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\r\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\r\n        \"text\": \"The Midwifery Council of New Zealand (Te Tatau o te Whare Kahu) regulates midwives under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003.\"\r\n      }\r\n    },\r\n    {\r\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\r\n      \"name\": \"What is the midwifery partnership model?\",\r\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\r\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\r\n        \"text\": \"The midwifery partnership model positions the midwife and the woman as equal partners in care. 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