New Zealand: Guide to Employment Law and Policies in Medicine
Are you planning to work as a doctor or dentist in New Zealand? Get prepared by reading the Treaty of Waitangi, Employment Law and Data Protection Law and Policies
The Key Documents for Interview Preparation
If you are considering working as a doctor or healthcare professional in New Zealand, there are some basic documents which you should read prior to attending an interview or starting work. These concern the following areas relevant to medical practice:
- employment law
- data protection
- health and safety policies
It is also worth having a quick look at the founding treaty of New Zealand, the famous Treaty of Waitangi of 1840, signed by the British Crown and Maori Chiefs in the Northland region. Most interview panels will ask some questions about the Maori population, its health issues and their management hence it is worth having an understanding of the basic premises of the treaty.
The Founding of the State of New Zealand - The Treaty of Waitangi 1840
The treaty, drafted and signed in 1840 by the representatives of the British Queen Victoria and the Chiefs of the Maori tribes, created the foundation for the modern state of New Zealand and established in law the status of the native people of New Zealand, the Maori. It is essential reading for anyone who wants to live and work in New Zealand and we have a highly informative booklet which you can download and read at leisure.
EMPLOYMENT LAW
Your rights as an employee are protected by legislation. Full details of relevant legislation are available on the New Zealand Government's legislation website http://www.legislation.govt.nz/
We have included some relevant Acts below.
PRIVACY LAW AND DATA PROTECTION
New Zealand is committed to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and has ratified the United Nations' International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, both of which contain a human right to privacy. Despite this, there is no general right to privacy in New Zealand law. In New Zealand's legal system, privacy holds the status of a value or an interest rather than a right. However privacy interests are protected by legislation in many defined areas which include healthcare. Below you will find links to general privacy legislation and healthcare sector privacy regulation.
You are unlikely to encounter questions about patient data protection and privacy rights in a job interview but the subject is of the utmost importance in medical practice and familiarity with this legislation is advised prior to commencing work in New Zealand.
General Privacy Legislation
Healthcare Sector Privacy Legislation
It is worth reviewing the above documents prior to interviews for medical or dental jobs in New Zealand and they should certainly be read before starting work to enhance knowledge of the cultural and legal framework. If you are searching for a job in New Zealand as a doctor or dentist, please view advertised
jobs, submit your
CV and
sign up for job alerts or
contact us to discuss your options.
13 July 2021
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