January 2025 marks a significant milestone with the formal recognition and registration of Paramedicine as a regulated profession in New Zealand, building upon the Health Seclect Committee's recommendations from 2008. This achievement, actively championed by NZAA for many years, serves to protect not only the public but also our members by ensuring high standards of care and accountability

Since ambulance services began in New Zealand in the late 1800s,there has never been a coordinated approach to adapting to society's evolving healthcare needs. What started as basic first aid has grown into a sophisticated branch of medical practise, and the need for a unified regulatory body to oversee those providing emergency clinical care is now widely recognised. Emergency Medical Services (EMS), including paramedicine, is accepted both globally and nationally as an integrel part of the healthcare system and must be regulated accordinly.

NZAA has consistently advocated for clear guidelines on who within EMS should be registered, emphasising the importance of regulation for New Zealand's extensive rural ambulance services, which are often staffed by Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulance officers (EMTs). These professionals carry substantial responsibility, frequently managing critically ill or injured patients in remote locations without immediate access to advanced support. Recognising and managing these responsibilities through regulation remains a high priority, and NZAA continues to push for the inclusion of EMTs in a national register, safeguarding both public interest and members who have earned and maintain relevant qualifications in various practise settings.

The recognition and registration of paramedicine bring with it a drive towards greater professionalism. NZAA is committed to fostering a culture that values medical ethics - automy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, and justice - among ambulance officers in New Zealand,NZAA actively promotes professional conduct across all aspects of its work, including employment matters, negotiations, legal actions and daily operations.

With registration, as with other health professions, comes the expectation of professional and public lability insurance.NZAA acknowledges that comtemporary New Zealand society demands accountability and responsibility, with growing legal scrutiny of healthcare practice.Therefore, the insurance options accessible through NZAA are considered an essential complemnet to professional registration.While not mandatory in New Zealand, unlike elsewhere in the western world, all other medical professional bodies provide such coverage, and NZAA strognly recommends it to all members.

Now the focus is on prescribing rights for paramedics after the current government and Health Minister Simeon Brown have stated paramedics have the ability to do more and be part of the solution to improve access to health care to all areas of New Zealand and at all social economic levels. On October 9th , 2025, the first step was taken on this journey with NZAA meeting in Wellington, with ambulance providers, tertiary insitutions, Health NZ, Ambulance Team, Nursing Council leads and other allied health to initiate the process and start the discussion, of how do we make this happen.