133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
12 November 2025
John Luke
By email: [FYI request #32589 email]
Ref:
H2025074245
Tēnā koe John
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 16 October 2025 for information regarding the
Osteopathic Council of New Zealand. You requested:
I noted, you have recently made Reappointments / Appointments to the
Osteopathic Council of New Zealand – Kaunihera Haumanu Tuahiwi o Aotearoa
https://gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2025-go5793
May I ask how you called for public nomination and on what platform you have
call for public nominations e.g. govt.jobs website.
The roles on the Osteopathic Council of New Zealand were publicly advertised on the Ministry’s
Careers webpage and the New Zealand Government Jobs website for two weeks, closing on 14
May 2025.
A copy of your ad as well.
The document requested is outlined in Appendix 1 and a copy of the document is enclosed.
Also, how many applications you have received for each of the role from the
public and how many you have received from other nominating agencies such as
TPK or Ministry of women etc for your role.
The Ministry received 15 applications from the public. Nominations were also sought from a
variety of nominating agencies and caucus and coalition party leaders. No nominations were
received in response to these requests.
How many you have shortlisted and how many you have interviewed. Also, can I
request to view the appointment letter if there is one sent to the previous
appointee. I am happy for you to remove all the personal information.”
Six candidates were shortlisted, all of whom were interviewed and appointed. Six appointment
letters were sent out along with a memo and the Terms of Reference. All appointment letters
were created from the same template.
These documents are outlined in Appendix 1 and copies of the documents are enclosed. Where
information is withheld under section 9 of the Act, I have considered the countervailing public
interest in release in making this decision and consider that it does not outweigh the need to
withhold at this time.
Any further details about the appointees can be found in the publicly available notice in the
New
Zealand Gazette here:
www.gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2025-go5793.
I trust this information fulfils your request. 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 cal ing 0800 802 602.
Please note that this response, with your personal details removed, may be published on the
Ministry website at:
www.health.govt.nz/about-ministry/information-releases/responses-official-
information-act-requests.
Nāku noa, nā
Stasha Mason
Manager Statutory Appointments & Integrity Services
Performance and Governance | Te Pou Tokomanawa
Ministry of Health
Page 2 of 3
Appendix 1: List of documents for release #
Date
Document details
Decision on release
1
May 2025
Osteopathic Council
Released in full.
Advertisement 2025
2
March 2025
TOR Osteopathic Council 2025
3
1 October 2025
Osteopathic Council
Some information withheld
Appointment Letter
under section 9(2)(a) of the
Act, to protect the privacy of
the natural persons.
Page 3 of 3
Document 1
Vacancies on Osteopathic Council of New Zealand – Kaunihera Haumanu Tuahiwi o
Aotearoa
The Ministry of Health – Manatū Hauora (the Ministry) is seeking candidates who wish to be
considered for appointment as
health practitioner and layperson members of Osteopathic
Council of New Zealand | Kaunihera Haumanu Tuahiwi o Aotearoa (the Council), a responsible
authority under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (the Act). The purpose of
the Council is to protect the health and safety of members of the public by ensuring that
osteopaths are fit and competent to practice.
About the role – Kōrero mō te tūranga
Being a member of the Council is rewarding and challenging. You will be committed to improving
the health of New Zealanders, through contribution to the governance of the Councils legislative
requirements.
The functions of responsible authorities are set out under section 118 of the HPCA Act, and more
information about the Council is available on the Council’s website.
Act 1982
Appointments to the Council are made by Associate Minister of Health, Hon Casey Costello,
typically for terms of three years. Members can be reappointed for up to nine consecutive years.
The Ministry recognises that diversity enables our boards and councils to be high-performing and is
committed to ensuring they represent the diversity in New Zealand's population, including gender,
ethnicity, disability, age and geographic location. The Ministry encourages people from all
backgrounds, especially those who can reflect the needs, values, and beliefs of Māori, and have an
understanding of and are committed to meeting the obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi, to
apply for these roles.
Information
About you – Kōrero mōu
For all applicants, governance and/or regulatory experience is a plus but not required. It is
beneficial if you have the ability to lead strategically, and to balance competing demands.
Preferred skills and attributes for health practitioner positions include:
•
a genuine enthusiasm for, and commitment to the Board’s equity-driven strategy
•
knowledge of the relevant legislation and a commitment to the Board’s work
•
a current practising certificate.
Health practitioner applicants must be a registered osteopaths and have a good understanding
of the scope of pract ce, competencies and code of ethics or conduct.
Under section 5 of the HPCA Act,
laypeople applicants cannot be qualified or registered as health
practitioners Preferred laypeople candidates will also:
•
governance or regulatory experience
•
be able to represent community and consumer interests
Released under the Official
Members of a responsible authority board cannot simultaneously be a member of the Health
Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal (the Tribunal) given the disciplinary function of the Tribunal over
health practitioners.
How to apply – Me pēhea te tono
Applications must be made using the Ministry of Health online Career Centre by close of business
14 May 2025 and include:
Document 1
• a completed declaration form (attached), and
• a covering letter, and
• a current CV.
Due diligence checks will be undertaken for shortlisted applicants. Your personal information will
be handled in accordance with the Privacy Act 2020. The Ministry may also request that the New
Zealand Security Intelligence Service conduct national security screening of you as part of the
appointment process.
The appointment process can be lengthy, taking up to six months. Your patience and
professionalism as we work through the next steps is appreciated. The outcome of the recruitment
process for the Council will be confirmed after it has been considered by Cabinet Appointments and
Honours Committee.
Who we are – Ko wai mātou
See the Ministry of Health Board appointments webpage for more information.
Act 1982
If you would like to obtain further information or clarification, or if your circumstances change or
should you wish to withdraw your application, please contact the Statutory Appointments and
Integrity Services team by emailing: [email address]
Information
Released under the Official
Document 2
Candidate Information on the Terms and Conditions of
Appointment to the
Osteopathic Council
Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003
Introduction
This document provides information for prospective members of the Osteopathic Council of
New Zealand (the Council). It sets out the:
•
role and functions of the Council
•
composition of the Council
•
terms and conditions of appointment
•
duties and responsibilities of a member.
Act 1982
The Role of Responsible Authorities in Regulating Health Professions
Consumers do not always have enough knowledge to make an informed decision about
whether osteopaths are competent to carry out their profession. This can be a matter of
concern when the action of an incompetent practitioner may impact on the health and safety
of consumers. Occupational regulation is one way of providing consumers with information
on a practitioner’s competence. It ensures that only practitioners who have demonstrated
Information
that they continue to meet the minimum standards for entry to a health profession can
practice or use particular protected titles.
The Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (the Act) establishes responsible
authorities to protect consumers of the services of a wide range of health and disability
practitioners. The Act requires responsible authorities to establish the competencies required
for the registration of practitioners who demonstrate they possess the competencies to
practice safely. The Council is one such responsible authority.
The Act defines a health practitioner as a person who is, or is deemed to be, registered with
an authority as a practitioner of a particular health profession. It also defines a layperson as
a person who is neither registered, nor qualified to be registered, as a health practitioner.
Functions of the Council
The Council is an independent statutory body established under section 114(4) of the Act. In
general, it is the function of the Council to provide a framework for the regulation of
osteopaths in order to protect the public where there is a risk of harm from the practice of the
profession. The specific functions of the Council are set out in section 118 of the Act. These
functions include:
Released under the Official
•
to prescribe the qualifications required for scopes of practice within the profession,
and, for that purpose, to accredit and monitor educational institutions and degrees,
courses of studies, or programmes:
•
to authorise the registration of health practitioners under this Act, and to maintain
registers:
•
to consider applications for annual practising certificates:
•
to review and promote the competence of health practitioners:
Document 2
•
to recognise, accredit, and set programmes to ensure the ongoing competence of
health practitioners:
•
to receive information from any person about the practice, conduct, or competence of
health practitioners and, if it is appropriate to do so, act on that information:
•
to notify employers, the Accident Compensation Corporation, the Director-General of
Health, and the Health and Disability Commissioner that the practice of a health
practitioner may pose a risk of harm to the public:
•
to consider the cases of health practitioners who may be unable to perform the
functions required for the practice of the profession:
•
to set standards of clinical competence, cultural competence (including competencies
that will enable effective and respectful interaction with Māori), and ethical conduct to
be observed by health practitioners of the profession:
•
to liaise with other authorities appointed under this Act about matters of common
interest:
Act 1982
•
to promote and facilitate inter-disciplinary collaboration and co-operation in the delivery
of health services:
•
to promote education and training in the profession:
•
to promote public awareness of the responsibilities of the authority:
•
to exercise and perform any other functions, powers, and duties that are conferred or
imposed on it by or under this Act or any other enactment.
Information
Composition of the Council
Under section 120 of the Act, the Council may consist of at least five and up to 14 members,
a majority of whom are health practitioners. The Council’s membership must include two
laypersons if the authority has eight or fewer members, or three laypersons if the authority
has nine or more members.
Consumer Constituency
The consumer constituency of the Council is those who use osteopathy services. Those
who use osteopathy services are a cross-section of New Zealanders in terms of ethnicity,
gender and location. Laypersons appointed wil probably have recent experience of
osteopathy services themselves either in the private or public sector, and/or wil have wide
and recent knowledge of the experiences of other consumers.
Appointment as a Member of the Osteopathic Council
In making yourself available to be considered for appointment, please ensure that:
•
there is no conflict of interest that would preclude
Released under the Official your appointment
•
you are available to serve a term of office of up to three years.
As a member of the Council, you wil be expected to follow the terms and conditions set out
below.
Terms and Conditions of Appointment
Council members are appointed by the Minister of Health by notice in the
Gazette. Members
may be reappointed from time to time but may not be appointed for more than nine
consecutive years.
Document 2
Members may decide not to continue office at any time, in which case they must inform the
Minister of Health.
The Act states that a member of the Council is considered to have vacated their office if they
are adjudged bankrupt under the Insolvency Act 1967. Members may at any time be
removed from office by the Minister of Health on the grounds of inability to perform duties of
the office, neglect of duty, or misconduct, proved to the satisfaction of the Minister.
Duties and Responsibilities of a Member
This section sets out the Minister of Health’s expectations regarding duties and
responsibilities of a person appointed as a member of the Council. The intention is to aid
members of the Council to work effectively by providing them with a common set of
principles for appropriate conduct and behaviour and enable the Council to protect itself and
its members from being exposed to legal challenges.
General
Act 1982
Council members are accountable to the Minister of Health (and through the Minister of
Health to the public of New Zealand) for ensuring that osteopaths are competent and
effective in their practice. The functions of the Council, set out in section 114 of the Act,
provide the parameters within which the Council operates.
Council members attend meetings and undertake Council activities as independent people
responsible to the Council as a whole and do not act in the Council as representatives of
professional organisations or interest groups
. This is especially important because Council
members may be party to decisions, which conflict with the views of some of their
Information
constituency.
Members are free to express their own views within the context of Council meetings but
must publicly support a course of action decided by the Council, or, if unable to do that, must
not publicly comment on decisions.
While it is not the role of Council members to represent any group (health profession or
otherwise), all members are expected to contribute equally to achieving the purpose of the
Council; that is, to protect the public and incorporate the perspectives of all members and
sectors of the public and to ensure that decisions are responsive to the cultural diversity of
New Zealand.
There is an expectation that Council members wil make every effort to attend all Council
meetings and devote suf icient time to become familiar with the affairs of the Council and the
wider environments within which it operates.
Council members may be required to serve on one or more council committees or working
groups.
Leg slation and Conflicts of Interest
Released under the Official
It is important that Council members have a common understanding of their role as
members in order that decisions can be reached within the spirit of the governing legislation,
namely, for the purpose of protecting the public interest through the regulation of osteopaths.
Council members wil be expected, over time, to become familiar with, and operate
according to the Act. In addition, Council members are expected to be familiar with, and
operate according to, the:
•
principles of natural justice and administrative law
•
Health and Disability Commissioner Act 1994
Document 2
•
Health and Disability Services Code of Consumers’ Rights
•
Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act 2001
•
Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997
•
Privacy Act 2020
•
Health Information Privacy Code 2020
•
Treaty of Waitangi
•
Human Rights Act 1993.
The Council is also expected to comply with the intent of the Of icial Information Act 1982
Council members should perform their functions in good faith, honestly and impartially and
avoid situations that may compromise their integrity or otherwise lead to conflicts of interest.
Proper observation of these principles wil protect them and enable public confidence to be
maintained.
Act 1982
When Council members believe they have a conflict of interest that wil prevent them from
reaching an impartial decision or undertaking an activity consistent with the Council’s
functions, then they must declare a conflict of interest and withdraw from the discussion
and/or activity.
Confidentiality
Meetings, including agenda material and minutes, of the Council are confidential. Council
members must ensure that the confidentiality of Council business is maintained.
Information
At no time shall Council members individually divulge details of Council matters or decisions
of the Council to persons who are not Council members. Disclosure of Council business to
anyone outside the Council must be the decision of the Council, or between meetings, at the
discretion of the Chairpersons of the Commit ee (if they have delegated authority of the
Council).
Council members must ensure that Council documents are kept secure to ensure the
confidentiality of Council work is maintained. Release of Council correspondence or papers
can only be made with the approval of the Council.
Chairperson At its first meeting in each year the Council elects one of its members to be its Chairperson,
and another to be its Deputy Chairperson. Any such member is eligible for re-election.
The Chairperson presides at each meeting of the Council if he or she is present and wil ing
to preside If at any meeting the Chairperson is not present or wil ing to preside, the Deputy
Chairperson, if present and wil ing to preside, presides. If neither is present or wil ing to
preside, the members present must elect a member who is present to preside at that
meeting.
Released under the Official
Meetings of the Council
The number of meetings per year wil be decided by the Council. However, it is unlikely that
the time commitment would be more than one or two days per month. In addition, members
may be required to participate on subcommit ees established to address specific issues.
A quorum of the Council for any meeting is four members (including one layperson member)
.
Every issue before the Council is determined by a majority of the votes of the members
Document 2
present at the meeting. The presiding member has a deliberative vote, and, in the case of
an equality of votes, also has a casting vote.
When carrying out its functions the Council must follow the principles of natural justice and
administrative law. The Council must act lawfully, that is, the Council can only act within the
limits of its powers set out in the Act. The Council must also act fairly when carrying out its
functions. Decisions of the Council are reviewable by the Courts and it is also possible for
people to take civil action against the Council or its individual members.
Fees and Al owances
Members of the Council, and of any commit ee appointed by the Council, are paid fees for
attendance at meetings. The Council sets its own fees. The fees for the Chair and Deputy
Chair are currently $880.00 (less tax) per 8 hour day. Members are paid $712.00 (less tax)
per 8 hour day. For work that is not Council meetings, the Chair and Deputy Chair are paid
an hourly rate of $110 and members are paid an hourly rate of $89.00. These fees are
sourced from the registration fees paid by osteopaths to the Council. Members may be paid
for preparation time at the discretion of the Council. Actual and reasonable travel an
Act 1982d
accommodation expenses wil be paid by the Council.
More detailed information can be obtained from the Council’s Registrar:
Tim Friedlander
Registrar
Osteopathic Council
22-28 Wil eston Street
PO Box 9644
Information
WELLINGTON
Ph:
(04) 9184745
Email: [email address]
Released under the Official
Document 3
MEMORANDUM
To:
Stasha Mason
Manager
Statutory Appointments and Integrity Services
Ministry of Health
Email:
[email address]
Subject:
Appointment as a health practitioner member of the Osteopathic Council
of New Zealand – Kaunihera Haumanu Tuahiwi o Aotearoa
From:
s 9(2)(a)
______________________________________________________________________
Act 1982
1.
I acknowledge my appointment as a health practitioner member of the Osteopathic
Council of New Zealand – Kaunihera Haumanu Tuahiwi o Aotearoa pursuant to
section 120 of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003, for a two-
year term of of ice commencing on 18 November 2024 and ending on 17 November
2026.
2.
I have read, understand, and accept the terms and conditions of my appointment.
Information
__________________________
______________________
Signed
Date
Released under the Official
Document Outline
