Office of the Vice-Chancellor
The University of Waikato
Phone +64 7 837 9472
Private Bag 3105
www.waikato.ac.nz
Hamilton 3240
New Zealand
5 December 2024
H. G.
Email: [FYI request #29336 email]
Dear H. G.,
Official Information request – clinical psychology applications
I refer to your request for official information of 26 November 2024 in which you have requested the
following information:
1. “the number of registered psychologists who have applied for your clinical psychology programme each
year for the years 2020 - 2024.
2. the number of registered psychologists who have been offered places in your clinical psychology
programme each year for the years 2020 - 2024.
3. I note that recent proposed changes by the Psychologists’ Board would narrow the scope of registered
psychologists, so that only clinical psychologists would be able to make complex mental health
assessments and diagnoses. If these proposed changes were implemented, registered psychologists would
either be unable to make complex mental health assessments and diagnoses or would have to be considered
on a case-by-case basis to do so.
I am wondering whether these proposed changes may have led to increased numbers of registered
psychologists applying for clinical psychology qualifications, because a clinical qualification would allow
them to continue to make complex mental health assessments and diagnoses, even if the changes proposed
by the Psychology Board go ahead.
As such please, advise whether your clinical psychology admissions staff have noted any new trends in
clinical psychology applications - formally or informally - that could be related to these proposed changes.”
Under the Official Information Act 1982 (Act) the University of Waikato (University) has considered
your request and responds as follows.
1. Your request for the number of registered psychologists who have applied for the clinical
psychology programme each year for the years 2020 - 2024 is refused pursuant to section 18(e)
of the Act as the information does not exist. By way of explanation, no New Zealand registered
psychologists have applied for the PGDipPsych(Clin) programme during the 2020 to 2024
period.
2. Your request for the number of registered psychologists who have been offered places in the
clinical psychology programme each year for the years 2020 - 2024 is refused pursuant to section
18(e) of the Act as the information does not exist. By way of explanation, no New Zealand
registered psychologists have been offered places on the PGDipPsych(Clin) programme during
the 2020 to 2024 period.
3. Your request to provide comment on whether clinical psychology admissions staff have noted
any new trends in clinical psychology applications is refused pursuant to section 18(e) of the
Act as the information does not exist.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision.
Information about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely
Jim Mercer
Chief Operating Officer
