OUT THIS APPLI

Te Tiriti o Waitangi / the Treaty of Waitangi is a founding document of Aotearoa New Zealand and informs legislation, policy and practice. Government health policy aims to reduce health inequalities between Māori and non-Māori. Alongside this, the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (NZ) requires health regulatory authorities, such as the PBNZ, to ensure registered health professionals meet set competencies (including cultural competencies).
To practise effectively in Aotearoa New Zealand, a physiotherapist therefore needs, in addition to meeting cultural competence, to understand the relevance and be able to demonstrate contemporary application of Te Tiriti o Waitangi / the Treaty of Waitangi’s three principles of partnership, participation and protection and incorporate the four cornerstones of Māori health, which are whānau (family health), tinana (physical health), hinengaro (mental health) and wairua (spiritual health).
Partnership involves working together with iwi, hapū, whānau and Māori communities to develop strategies for Māori health gain and appropriate health and disability services.
Participation requires Māori to be involved at all levels of the health and disability sector, including in decision-making, planning, development and delivery of health and disability services.
Protection involves the Government working to ensure Māori have at least the same level of health as non-Māori, and safeguarding Māori cultural concepts, values and practices.
Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand Physiotherapy practice thresholds, page 12
As a physiotherapist in New Zealand, it is important to have a knowledge and understanding of the Treaty of Waitangi and the impact it has on the practice of physiotherapy as well as the delivery of healthcare in general.
As part of your application for registration as an overseas qualified physiotherapist the Board requires that you provide a well-referenced report on the Treaty of Waitangi including:
  • A brief history of the Treaty of Waitangi
  • The four cornerstones of Maori health
  • The three principles of the Treaty of Waitangi
  • A brief discussion of the implications the Treaty of Waitangi has on healthcare delivery in New Zealand
  • Comment on how you will use your knowledge of the Treaty of Waitangi in physiotherapy practice if you are granted registration in New Zealand
Important Notes:
  • Your report should be written in your own words and should be 750 – 1000 words long
  • Ensure that you acknowledge your information sources and clearly reference any and all sources used throughout your report
  • The Board’s Registration Assessors will refer to your Report on the Treaty of Waitangi to determine whether or not you meet the Physiotherapy practice thresholds.
  • As it is a mandatory document, your Treaty of Waitangi report cannot be counted as one of your 3-5 items of strong supporting evidence and should not be listed in your competency templates

RESOURCES
Here are some recommended resources to use when conducting your research on the Treaty of Waitangi.
  • Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand Treaty of Waitangi information sheet
  • Kingi, T. R. (2007). The Treaty of Waitangi: A framework for Māori health development. New Zealand Journal of Occupational Therapy, 54(1), 4-10
  • Ratima M, Waetford C, Wikaire E (2006): Cultural competence of physiotherapists: Reducing inequalities in health between Mäori and non-Mäori. New Zealand Journal of Physiotherapy 34(3): 153-159.
  • Online education: Foundation Course in Cultural Competency
  • Online research:

5 / TREATY OF WAITANGI REFERENCED REPORT
Name of applicant:
Report:
Resources:
Signature of Applicant: / Date:
Day/Month/Year
PLAGIARISM AND DISHONEST PRACTICE
Plagiarism is one form of dishonest practice. Plagiarism is defined as copying or paraphrasing another person's work and presenting it as one's own – whether intentionally, or through failure to take proper care. Being party to someone else's plagiarism (by allowing them to copy your work or by otherwise helping them plagiarise work) is also dishonest practice.
Dishonest practice in relation to an application is taken very seriously by the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand. Any dishonest practice, intentional or not, will result in action being taken.
Acknowledge your information sources
Where you use other people’s words or ideas in your work, it is vital that you reference these correctly.

Registration for Overseas Qualified Physiotherapists: Treaty of Waitangi Referenced Report: September 2017 Page 1