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MNZ Statutory Declaration

Click here for MNZ Statutory Declaration: MNZ Statutory Declaration

Massage NZ Constitution & Rules

Click here for Massage NZ Constitution: MNZ Constitution

Click here for Massage NZ Rules: MNZ Rules

Complaints procedure

Click here for MNZ complaints procedure: MNZ Complaints Procedure

Code of Ethics

Client Relationships

Practitioners will:

• acknowledge the inherent worth and individuality of each person by not discriminating or behaving in any prejudicial manner with clients.
• provide draping and explanation sufficient to meet the client’s needs for comfort and privacy.
• respect the client’s boundaries with regard to privacy, disclosure, emotional expression and beliefs.
• ensure informed client consent has been obtained prior to massage.
• maintain open communication throughout the massage session ensuring ongoing informed client consent, explaining rationale for proposed Massage.
• serve the best interests of their clients and provide best practise quality of service.
• respect the confidence of their client, and diagnostic findings acquired during consultation and/or treatment shall not be divulged to anyone without the client’s consent, except when required by law or where failure to do so would constitute a menace or danger to the client or another member of the community.
• Acknowledge the limitations of their skills and, when necessary, refer clients to the appropriate qualified health care professions.

Practitioners will not:

• endanger the physical, mental or emotional health, well-being or safety of a client.
• engage in sexual conduct with a client.

Scope of Practice / Appropriate Techniques

Practitioners will:

• represent their education, training, qualifications, and abilities honestly.
• at all times ensure that the treatment they provide conforms not only to the relevant scope of practise of Massage New Zealand but also within their own scope of practise.
• ensure that the techniques they employ are the most appropriate for the condition presented by the client.

Practitioners will not:

• perform manipulations or adjustments to the human skeletal structure or diagnose, prescribe, or provide any other service, procedure or therapy, unless they are specifically trained and authorised to do so.

Students

• currently training in massage must not represent themselves as qualified massage therapists.

Professionalism

Practitioners will:

• refrain from using any mind-altering drugs, alcohol or intoxicants prior to, or during treatments.
• maintain their premises in a clean, hygienic condition and keep them in good repair.
• Follow personal hygiene and dress code principles so as not to cause offense to the client or the profession
• Demonstrate a commitment to the highest quality of massage service.
• Clearly display and/or disclose policies and fees in advance of services.
• Respect the right of any client to refuse, modify or terminate massage services at any time before or during the massage, regardless of prior consent to the contrary.

Practitioners will not:

• knowingly interfere with any ongoing treatment instigated by another practitioner.
• criticise the work of other therapists.
• be affiliated with, or employed by, any therapeutic massage business that utilises any form of sexual suggestiveness or explicit sexuality in its advertising or promotion of services, or in the actual practice of its services.

Image / Advertising Claims

Practitioners will:

• strive to project a professional image for themselves, their business or place of employment, and the profession in general.
• display this Code of Ethics in a prominent position for public viewing within their clinic at all times.

An absence or omission of any practise or value within the MNZ Code of Ethics shall not serve as an endorsement of such practise or value. Responsibility for upholding the Code rests with the practitioner.

Any person believing the above Code of Ethics has been breached should address their complaint in writing to:

The Vice-President
Massage New Zealand Inc
PO Box 4131
HAMILTON EAST
New Zealand

Certified Massage Therapist

SCOPE OF PRACTICE

A MNZ Certified Massage Therapist will be able to demonstrate practical competency in the following areas:

• Gathering client history and information specific to client

• Determine indication for relaxation massage and where relaxation massage is not indicated or the needs of the client fall outside the MNZ CMT Scope of Practice, refer client to an appropriate health professional

• Gain client consent for massage to be carried out

• Delivery of relaxation massage according to the treatment plan which could include the following massage strokes – effleurage, petrissage, deep longitudinal, broad cross fibre, compression, vibration, tapotement

• Delivery of soft tissue therapy according to industry accepted practices and principles (draping, body mechanics, communication)

• Post treatment advice re client self management, to include home stretches and methods of reducing discomfort and explanation of possible after effects

• Professional presentation and behaviour according to the MNZ Code of Ethics

Scope of Practice RMT & CMT

Remedial Massage Therapist (RMT)

SCOPE OF PRACTICE

A MNZ Remedial Massage Therapist will be able to demonstrate practical competency in the following areas:

• Gathering client history and information specific to condition presented

• Physical assessment of the clients condition which will include observation, palpation, active range of movement, passive range of movement and at least one other form of assessment (eg, resisted strength tests, other special/orthopaedic tests)

• Clinical reasoning of the client condition presenting where information gathered from history taking and physical assessment is assimilated to produce an effective and relevant treatment plan

• Delivery of soft tissue therapy according to the treatment plan with the inclusion of the following massage strokes – effleurage, petrissage, deep longitudinal, broad cross fibre, ischaemic pressure, friction not excluding other strokes considered relevant

• Delivery of soft tissue therapy according to industry accepted practices and principles (draping, body mechanics, communication)

• Evaluation of the effectiveness of the treatment carried out

• Post treatment advice re client self management, to include home stretches and methods of reducing discomfort and explanation of possible after effects

• Professional presentation and behaviour according to the MNZ Code of Ethics

• Referral of a client to an appropriate health professional where the needs of the client fall outside the MNZ RMT Scope of Practice

Certified Massage Therapist (CMT)

SCOPE OF PRACTICE

A MNZ Certified Massage Therapist will be able to demonstrate practical competency in the following areas:

• Gathering client history and information specific to client

• Determine indication for relaxation massage and where relaxation massage is not indicated or the needs of the client fall outside the MNZ CMT Scope of Practice, refer client to an appropriate health professional

• Gain client consent for massage to be carried out

• Delivery of relaxation massage according to the treatment plan which could include the following massage strokes – effleurage, petrissage, deep longitudinal, broad cross fibre, compression, vibration, tapotement

• Delivery of soft tissue therapy according to industry accepted practices and principles (draping, body mechanics, communication)

• Post treatment advice re client self management, to include home stretches and methods of reducing discomfort and explanation of possible after effects

• Professional presentation and behaviour according to the MNZ Code of Ethics

Institutions running Massage New Zealand Approved Training Courses

Massage New Zealand commitment to its members:

(As contained in the Constitution of MNZ)

Massage New Zealand’s purpose and mission is to:
Promote health and wellness in New Zealand (Aotearoa) through quality massage, and advocate the successful development of the association.

We believe in and support:
Integrity, Choice, Competency, Effectiveness, Quality, Inclusiveness, Responsibility and Growth

The objectives of Massage New Zealand are to:
• Organise and promote the profession of massage therapy.
• Encourage high standards of knowledge and competency amongst the members.
• Encourage the dissemination of research in massage therapy.
• Provide Code of Conduct and standards of practice and seek to ensure that the conduct of the profession is regulated by the members.
• Seek to ensure a register is kept of members and a disciplinary mechanism is established and maintained by the profession.
• Seek to ensure the quality and delivery of massage training in New Zealand.
• Provide ongoing training and mentoring to members.
• Publish journals and other publications.
• Co-operate and become members of, or affiliate with, any other incorporated or unincorporated organisation, company, educational institution, regulatory board, or any organisation, which in any way promotes the objectives of MNZ.
• Foster, support and protect the interests of the members of MNZ.
• Make arrangements with any trade, business or profession for the provision to the members of any special benefits, privileges and advantages and in particular to goods and services.
• Lobby Governments and regulators in pursuit of the objectives.
• Improve the social and economic position of members.