Story: Health practitioners
In 2010 around 13,000 doctors and 47,000 nurses worked in New Zealand’s health-care system, alongside many other health professionals – physiotherapists, psychologists, radiographers, dietitians, acupuncturists, chiropractors and many other specialists. The health practitioners visited most often were pharmacists.
Full story by Allison Kirkman
Main image: Optometrist Mark Bridgemount
The Short Story
A quick, easy summary
Read the Full StoryIn the 19th century doctors, nurses and pharmacists were the main health practitioners in New Zealand, but since then many new types of health care began.
New Zealand has laws requiring health practitioners to follow professional guidelines.
Doctors
At first most doctors were general practitioners (GPs). They had to train overseas until Otago University Medical School opened in Dunedin in 1875. In 1968 a second medical school opened in Auckland. Doctors have specialised in different types of medicine such as paediatrics (treatment of children) or psychiatry.
Until the 1970s most doctors were men, but by the 2000s more women than men studied medicine.
Doctors often have heavy workloads. Some areas find it difficult to hire doctors. In the early 2000s around 40% of the doctors in New Zealand were from overseas.
Nurses and midwives
At first nurses did housework and looked after children as well as nursing. They trained on the job and did not need qualifications. But after 1901 nurses had to pass an examination and be registered to practise. In the 1970s and 1980s nurse training shifted from hospitals to polytechnics and universities.
After 1904 midwives trained in hospitals. From the 1920s to 1990 midwives were trained nurses, and from 1971 to 1990 they could not deliver a baby without a doctor present. But in the early 2000s people could train as midwives without being a nurse, and midwives could deliver babies on their own.
Other health practitioners
In other areas – chiropractic, dentistry, dietetics, medical laboratory science, medical radiation technology, occupational therapy, optometry and optical dispensing, osteopathy, pharmacy, physiotherapy, podiatry, psychology and psychotherapy – practitioners also have to follow practising guidelines.
Māori and Pacific health practitioners
Although Māori were 14.6% of the population in 2006, and Pacific people were 6.5%, only 3.2% of doctors and 7.2% of nurses were Māori in 2008, and only 0.8% of doctors and 2.9% of nurses were Pacific people.
