133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
26 June 2024
Josh
By email: [FYI request #27104 email]
Ref:
H2024043292
Tēnā koe Josh
Response to your request for official information Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) to the Ministry of
Health – Manatū Hauora (the Ministry) on 2 June 2024 for information. You requested:
“Could you please provide the below information How many new nurses registered in New
Zealand after the COVID-19 lockdown periods, and where are they from? Which English
language tests did they pass?
How does the Ministry of Health ensure the authenticity of language certificates,
especially concerning nurses obtaining them through agencies for cash, and has the
Ministry considered addressing these concerns, especially given recent inquiries in Ireland
and the UK regarding fake certificates? Why hasn't the Nursing Council implemented additional cross-checking procedures,
particularly considering recent incidents in the UK and Ireland, to verify the authenticity of
IELTS and OET scores for nurses who are already registered at least after the post-
COVID period? What measures does the Ministry take to prevent unethical dealings between CAP
providers and nursing agents, such as audits, investigations, and compliance training? Is the Nursing Council planning to restrict new CAP registrations due to high
unemployment among newly registered nurses?”
I can confirm that the Ministry has not provided any advice or lines in briefings on International
English Language Tests.
The Ministry believes that the information you are obtaining is not about the tests/test scores etc
but more concerning authenticating test results.
Your request has been refused under section18(g)(i) of the Act as the information requested is
not held by the Ministry and there are no grounds for believing it is held by another agency
subject to the Act. Please note the Nursing council is not subject to the Official Information Act.
You may wish to contact the Nursing Council for this information as it is their responsibility to
authenticate results. The Ministry does not hold any information on English tests and Council
authentication.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request with us, including this decision, please feel
free to contact the OIA Services Team on:
[email address]. Under section 28(3) of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review any
decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be contacted by email at:
[email address] or by calling 0800 802 602.
Please note that this response, with your personal details removed, may be published on the
Manatū Hauora website at:
www.health.govt.nz/about-ministry/information-releases/responses-
official-information-act-requests. Nāku noa, nā
Lorraine Hetaraka
Chief Nursing Officer
Clinical, Community and Mental Health | Te Pou Whakakaha
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