Welcome to the New Zealand Charter of Health Practitioners Incorporated. The ‘Charter’ was founded in 1993 and incorporated as a non-for-profit society in 1994, under the New Zealand Incorporated Societies Act 1908.
Our aim is to support and represent natural healthcare professionals in the natural healthcare sector, and to promote the diverse modalities involved in the natural healthcare sector. We also aim to support the health and welfare of the communities in which our practitioners serve.
Consumer Protection
Our main emphasis is to uphold the welfare and health concerns of the health consumer, by providing practitioners of the highest professional standard and qualification obtainable.
Selecting a “Chartered” HealthCare Practitioner
The choice to investigate natural medicine and healthcare therapies can be a crucial turning point in one’s life, affecting physical as well as mental and emotional health. With the help of a Chartered healthcare practitioner, it is possible to take control of one’s personal health, and thereby eliminate the sense of frustration and helplessness that many feel with conventional (general) practitioners. The Charter is a national organisation providing a single united voice of the healthcare debate issue.
Report from the 17th AGM of the New Zealand Charter of Health Practitioners Inc
This year the AGM was a very different affair. In the past few years we have had to face a lot of challenges with our profession being constantly under threat and this has negatively impacted on the forward movement of the Charter as our efforts have been directed towards protection of our practitioners and right to practice, and the freedom of choice in natural medicine.
The focus of this AGM was all about forward movement. A lot of the challenges are still there in terms of the TGA rearing its head again. However, in an interesting twist, our Australian counterparts have said that if it is good enough for NZ to have its own regulatory body for Natural Medicine then it is good enough for them to have their own body and they no longer want the TGA regulating them.
As introduced at the 2010 AGM, the Charter was privileged to participate in the yMedia challenge which provided a complete rebranding and makeover of the organisation to give it a fresh new relevant look for the times and for the profession. It was estimated that the value of the design work was in the vicinity of $65,000.
Also last year we had a visit from the Executive Director and President of the Natural Health Practitioners of Canada as part of a world trip to meet with allied organisations to form a global alliance.
Paddy provided a presentation at the AGM of the exciting opportunities that discussed and shared at the meeting. We have maintained contact throughout the year.
Our special guest speaker at this AGM was Paul Buffel, President of the Natural Health Practitioner of Canada. He gave a very stimulating presentation of what is happening in Canada and how their organisation, after going through a similar experience as we are about to embark on, has gone from strength to strength with 7000 members at present and about 80 new members per month joining. We have been offered ongoing support and use of any of their material.
They have just embarked on a research trial which interestingly enough is at the same time and very similar to the research trial that is about to happen in New Zealand thanks to the tremendous initiation and efforts of Phillip Cottingham, Principal of Wellpark College of Natural Therapies, Dr Ramaprabhu Vempati, Research Leader of Wellpark College and Jill Dunn, Programme Manager - Health Studies, The NZ College of Massage.
Thanks to the wonderful support of our Sponsors at the AGM, we were able to provide Goody Bags for all the Attendees at the AGM, a large prize hamper and spot prizes as well as complimentary morning tea, lunch, with a celebratory cake complete with Charter Logo for afternoon tea.
The general mood of the meeting was one of excitement as we move forward taking the heart and soul of the Charter and repackaging it with a new brand and structure to better reflect the future of the Profession.
The Executive Board has a lot of work ahead to implement the changes needed and the importance of ensuring that every step of the way you are informed and understanding and comfortable with whatever the changes are to be, and in full consultation.
Next AGM is scheduled for June 30th 2012