Regulations, Standards & Guidelines

There are a number of regulations, standards, and guidelines on the role of telehealth in New Zealand.  This page has copies of regulations and standards that have particular importance or can be applied broadly.  Different documents will be applicable to different users, depending on their situation.

Regulatory Standards - New Zealand

• Medical Council of New Zealand – Statement on Telehealth (Updated August 2023)
• Privacy Commissioner – Telecommunications Information Privacy Code 2003
• Privacy Commissioner – Health Information Privacy Code
• New Zealand Legislation – Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act
• The Health and Disability Commissioner (HDC) – Code of Health and Disability Services Consumer Rights

Standards - International

• World Health Organization - WHO-ITU global standard for accessibility of telehealth services (Disability)

Professional Body Guidance - New Zealand and Australasian

• Dental Council NZ - Telehealth Guidelines in Dentistry
• The New Zealand Psychologists Board - The Practice of Telepsychology
• The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners - Position Statement on Telehealth (2024)
• The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists – Position on Teleradiology
• The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists – Position Statement on International Clinical Teleradiology
• The Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists – Professional Practice Guideline 19: Telehealth in psychiatry 2023
• The Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists – Professional Practice Standards and Guides for Telepsychiatry
• The Royal Australasian College of Physicians – Telehealth Guidelines and Practical Tips
• The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR) – View Website
• The Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia – Position Statement on Telepathology
• The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) – View Website
• The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) – View Website

Technical Standards - New Zealand

• Videoconferencing Interoperability Standard – HISO 10049.1
• Videoconferencing Endpoint Naming Scheme – HISO 10049.2
• Connected Health Network Connectivity Standards – HISO 10037
• Health Information Security Framework – HISO 10029
• Useful resources from Patients First - Health Information Security Framework (HISF)  and Security Checklist

Guidance - New Zealand

• ACC - Telehealth Guide
• NZ Telehealth Forum Guideline for Establishing and Maintaining Sustainable Telemedicine Services in New Zealand 2017
• Ministry of Health - Health Apps Assessment Guidance 2017
• Health Navigator - Health App Library, apps that have been reviewed by a range of experts 2021
• Buddle Findlay – Telemedicine in NZ and Across Borders - The Legal Challenges 2015
• Ministry of Health Guidance for implementing high-quality multidisciplinary meetings
• University of Auckland - Telehealth Friendly Neuro Assessment Tools - A guide for students

Guidance - Australia

• Allied Health Professions Australia - Telehealth Guide 2020
• NSW Health – Telehealth in Practice 2019
• NSW Health – NSW Virtual Care Strategy 2021 - 2026
• NSW Health – Strategic review of telehealth in NSW: Final report 2015
• Medical Board of Australia – Guidelines: Telehealth consultations with patients 2023
• Australian Government – Telehealth Technical Standards Position Paper Final 2012
• RACGP - The RACGP position on the use of telehealth in general practice 2024
• ACRRM - Framework and Guidelines for Telehealth Services 2020
• The Health Informatics Society of Australia (HISA), Nursing Informatics Australia (NIA) and the Australian College of Nursing (ACN) - Nursing Informatics Position Statement

Guidance - International 

• American Society of Neurorehabilitation - Telerehabilitation After Stroke Using Readily Available Technology: A Randomized Controlled Trial