3 October 2025 
Erika Whittome 
[FYI request #32261 email] 
Tēnā koe Erika 
Your request for official information, reference: HNZ00097943
Thank you for your email on 8 September 2025, asking Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora 
(Health NZ) for the following under the Official Information Act 1982 (the OIA):  
“1. Please share the vaccination requirements for student placements at DHBs. 
2. Please share the DHB vaccination requirements for students in medical fields such as
physio, midwifery etc for their final years' placements at the DHB.
3. Please share the workplace risk assessments for these vaccination requirements in the
various health fields.”
Response 
Health NZ has established a national Student Placement Agreement  with tertiary education 
providers to support a consistent and safe approach to student placements. This agreement 
outlines shared responsibilities under health and safety legislation and reinforces the importance of 
pre-placement screening as a key occupational health measure. These processes are designed to 
protect the wellbeing of students, staff, consumers, and whānau across all Health NZ workplaces. 
Currently, the agreement applies to pre-registration students in nursing, midwifery, allied health, 
scientific, and technical disciplines. Work is underway to include medical students under the same 
framework. 
The agreement focuses on Occupational Infectious Disease Screening, which informs a risk-based 
approach to placement suitability. Vaccination is a component of this process, and where 
vaccination is incomplete a risk assessment is required. 
How to get in touch 
If you have any questions, you can contact us at [email address]. 
If you are not happy with this response, you have the right to make a complaint to the 
Ombudsman. Information about how to do this is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or 
by phoning 0800 802 602.  
Nāku iti noa, nā  
Danielle Coe 
Manager (OIA), Government Services 

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