All six members of Psychotherapists Board resign

All six members of the country's Psychotherapists Board have resigned.

By Kate Green of RNZ

The board's role, according to its website, is to ensure psychotherapists are qualified, competent and fit to practise.

A Ministry of Health spokesperson told RNZ the ministry had been looking into the governance of the board since 2025.

"We can confirm that all six board members have resigned and the ministry is currently assessing potential candidates to reconstitute the board," they said.

For now, its core functions would be performed by its operational staff with oversight from the Ministry of Health.

A bill which would affect the board's governance was introduced to Parliament on May 18, and was currently awaiting its first reading.

The Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Amendment Bill would amend the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003, with the aim to "better align health workforce regulation with patient needs, health system policy, and Government priorities".

Regulators would be subject to accountability and directive requirements, similar to Crown agents.

A ministerial committee would also be established, with the power to review an authority's decision to refuse a practitioner's registration and certain decisions relating to scopes of practice.