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info@iapae.org
1 October 2026
Today marksahistoricandlong-awaitedmilestoneforhealthcareinAotearoa New Zealand, as the MedicalCouncilofNewZealandbeginsregistrationofPhysicianAssociates (PAs).
For manyNewZealanders,thismaybethefirsttimetheyhaveheardofthe Physician Associate profession.WhilenewlyregulatedinNewZealand,PhysicianAssociatesare experienced medical professionalswhohavebeenpartofhealthcaresystemsaroundthe world for decades, particularlyintheUnitedStates,theUnitedKingdom,theNetherlands,and Canada.
Working alongsidedoctors,nurses,andotherhealthcareprofessionals,Physician Associates are trained in themedicalmodelandsupporttheassessment,diagnosis,treatment, and ongoing managementofpatients.Aroundtheworld,theyhavebecomevaluedmembers of healthcare teams, helpingimproveaccesstocareandsupportingpatientstoreceivetimely treatment.
Although todaymarksthebeginningofformalregulation,PhysicianAssociates are not new to healthcare inAotearoa.Approximately60PhysicianAssociatesarealready working in urban
and rural communitiesthroughoutNewZealand,supportingpatientsandhealthcare teams in primary careandotherclinicalsettings.
This milestonereflectsyearsofdedication,partnership,consultation,andperseverance by many individuals andorganisationswhosharedacommonvisionforstrengthening New Zealand’s health workforce.Weextendoursinceregratitudetothehealthcareprofessionals, employers, educators, policymakers,patients,whānau,iwirepresentatives,community leaders, and advocates who participatedintheconsultationprocess.Yourwillingnessto engage, share perspectives, andcontributethoughtfulfeedbackhashelpedshapethefuture of this profession in Aotearoa New Zealand.
We also extend our sincere gratitude to the Medical Council of New Zealand for its leadership throughout the regulatory process and for its commitment to public safety, professional standards, and quality patient care.
With this milestone comes an important responsibility. Health is a taonga, and supporting and protecting the wellbeing of our communities is both a privilege and a responsibility. As Physician Associates become part of New Zealand’s regulated health workforce, we recognise the importance of providing inclusive, culturally safe and responsive care that honours Te Tiriti o Waitangi and reflects the diverse communities we serve.
Physician Associates are committed to continuing their journey of learning and practising tikanga Māori while working alongside patients, tamariki, kaumātua, and their whānau. We recognise that healthcare is about more than treating illness. It is about building relationships, listening with respect, understanding individual needs and values, and supporting people through some of life’s most important decisions.
While the current Physician Associate workforce has been trained internationally, the vision for the future is firmly rooted in Aotearoa. Registration provides the foundation for developing local education and training pathways, creating opportunities for New Zealanders to enter the profession and helping build a sustainable workforce for generations to come.
Today’s milestone is therefore both an achievement and an invitation. It celebrates the contribution of internationally trained Physician Associates who have already demonstrated their value in New Zealand communities, while opening the door to future locally trained practitioners who will further strengthen healthcare delivery across the country.
The work ahead will focus on earning trust, raising awareness of the profession, supporting successful integration into healthcare teams, and continuing to demonstrate how Physician Associates can complement existing professions in delivering safe, accessible, and high-quality care.
As our population grows, ages, and faces increasingly complex health needs, innovative workforce solutions will be essential. Physician Associates are one part of that future, working collaboratively alongside doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals to help ensure New Zealanders can access the care they need, when and where they need it.
We are proud of what has been achieved, humbled by the trust that has been placed in us, and hopeful for what lies ahead.
Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa.
Media contact: Meghan Branning, Physician Associate
socials@nzpas.org.nz
New Zealand Physician Associate Society nzpas.org.nz
