Credentialling for the use of surgical mesh in other parts of the body, for example Hernia Repair, is not included on this page. It is important to note that there are other possible credentialling processes that service providers (e.g. a hospital) may choose to use.
Credentialling assigns clinical responsibilities to practitioners based on their qualifications and experience, with the primary goal of ensuring patient safety. It also protects practitioners, promotes accountability, and builds trust in the health system.
Credentialing in New Zealand is according to the New Zealand Credentialling Framework for mesh and non-mesh procedures for SUI and POP.
Read the New Zealand Credentialling Framework - Ministry of Health (external link)
The next round of credentialling interviews will be held in Auckland between 4th and 7th of September 2025.
Following completion of your Expression of Interest form, there is an assessment and prioritisation process.
View the Prioritisation tool [PDF, 271 KB]
This prioritisation process is designed to identify the surgeons who will progress to the next stage of the November credentialling round. This group of surgeons will be invited to provide a range of information to support their application. This will be followed by an online meeting with an equity representative and consumer advisor, followed by a face-to-face interview with an international panel of clinical experts.
Health NZ became responsible for the credentialling process in July 2024. To maintain consistency, it is important that the credentialling process adheres to the Ministry of Health’s established procedures to maintain consistency across rounds and candidates. However, to enhance efficiency in the interview process and accommodate a larger number of candidates, some adjustments have been made to the sequence of events and the way in which you complete your paperwork. It is important to note that the evidence requirements remain unchanged.
We will be in touch with the EOI applicants, by the end of June. At that time, we’ll provide details of what information and evidence needs to be provided for the next stage of the process.
Please note that if you submit incomplete information, you will be advised and given 14 days to provide the remaining information. Extensions will not be given. If you are unable to provide the outstanding information your application will not be progressed for this round and you will be advised.
The flowchart provides a high-level overview of the process.
The flowchart above provides a high-level overview of the process.
Here’s a checklist of everything you need to prepare to support your application.
Information to be provided by credentialling candidates includes:
The self-assessment form is available here.
A sample template is available for your use.
Log book template [XLSX, 43 KB]
*Note: if you use your own template, it must include all the fields included in this template. This information will include a diary of all relevant procedures you’ve carried out over the past five years.
Please use the template below to record details of all complications, complaints and compliments.
Complications, complaints, compliments logbook [XLSX, 13 KB]
Further guidance on what the case study should cover is available with the template for the case study below.
This document illustrates all the standards you will be assessed against, and what the assessors will be looking for.
Credentialling final assessment summary document [PDF, 462 KB]
If you have any questions or would like clarification of any part of the process, please email meshcredentialling@cdhb.health.nz and someone will be in touch.
Importantly, please note that no patient names should be included in any of the information you submit. There are no exceptions.
If you submit information with patient identifiable information, it will be deleted and you will be advised to resubmit without identifiable information. Note this counts towards the 14 day deadline to resubmit.
All candidates are required to cover their own travel related expenses. Those with CME may consider utilising this option.
The cost of running the process, including securing international experts and consumers, and the administration of the process is time consuming, with a finite resource managing the process.
The initial prioritisation process is designed to ensure we have a good geographical spread of credentialled surgeons who can provide a range of procedures.
Health NZ used an updated version of the Prioritisation Tool originally developed by Manatu Hauora, the Ministry of Health.
Surgeons can apply for any number of procedures that they regularly perform and have evidence that meets the credentialling criteria.
Procedures have been categorised into three Tiers, based on complexity, as per the table below. This round is only inviting applications for Tier 1 and 2.
How many you apply for is unique to you, for example in the past people have applied to be credentialled to perform a couple of procedures in one Tier only, while others apply to perform most of the procedures in a number of Tiers.
You can find out more about what procedures you can apply for in the New Zealand National Credentialling Framework.
Read the New Zealand Credentialling Framework - Ministry of Health (external link)
This will be the final credentialling round for 2025. Future dates have not yet been confirmed, as a broader review of the credentialling process will commence later this year.
The outcomes of this review will inform the approach for 2026 and beyond.
Yes, you can continue using the Australian Commission’s guidelines for the procedures included in their guidance until there is an announcement by the Ministry of Health to advise otherwise.
What about the procedures not covered in the Australian guidelines?
All other non-mesh SUI procedures, and mesh and non-mesh POP procedures are not covered in the Australian Commission document. These are covered in New Zealand’s national credentialling framework.
Read the New Zealand National Credentialling Framework - Ministry of Health (external link)
Yes, we expect that many of the surgeons who will be credentialled will work in both the public and private systems.
We are aiming to have the provisional results out to candidates within four to six weeks of their interview.
Information about the appeals process will be uploaded up to this site in the coming weeks.
This glossary explains some of the terms used throughout the credentialling process, including the following: Invigilate, mentor, preceptor, proctor, proctoring.
For this current process, the 15 selected surgeons along with a small group of surgeons on a short list will be advised of the interview process ad invited to schedule a date and time for this to occur.
Candidates will have from the date of notification, until close of business on Friday 8th of August 2025.
In the event a practitioner and their employer do not agree with the outcomes of the process to credential them for the prescribed pelvic floor reconstructive, urogynaecological and mesh revision and removal procedures, the following outlines a process by which that outcome can be appealed and submitted for reconsideration.
This must be done within 4-weeks of receiving your provisional outcome results.
The process to appeal or to request an adjustment of fact is outlined below.
Where the practitioner believes a piece of evidence was originally provided but has been noted as missing in the provisional report or evidence that was provided but does not appear to be accurately represented in the provisional report, you may apply for an adjustment of fact.
To do so, email meshcredentialling@cdhb.health.nz clearly outlining the statement for adjustment with the supporting evidence for a review by the existing panel.
If the practitioner does not agree with the outcome of the reconsideration, an appeal can be made to Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora for review.
The practitioner should resubmit their application to meshcredentialling@cdhb.health.nz with evidence that addresses why they are appealing the original decision by their credentialling panel, and the reconsideration.
Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora will not accept an appeal that is made without effort to address the reason why they are appealing the panel’s decisions. An appeal panel will be convened to consider the appeal.
Members of the credentialling panel involved in the original decision will be excluded from the appeal panel.
The outcomes of the appeal will be:
The practitioner will be notified of the outcome of the appeal process.
List of surgeons in NZ credentialled to perform procedures listed in the National Framework: pelvic floor reconstructive, urogynaecological and mesh revision and removal procedures.
Credentialling of a doctor is a formal process that assesses their qualifications, training, experience, and competence to ensure they meet defined standards for performing specific procedures safely and effectively.
The National Credentialling Framework and the credentialling process was developed to provide clear visibility and confidence in a practitioner’s scope of practice to
The National Credentialling Framework provides a structured process to assess and recognise a surgeon’s competency, knowledge, and skills beyond standard postgraduate training programmes to a nationally recognised competency standard. It ensures quality, consistency, and patient safety in areas of practice that may not be currently covered within formal vocational training pathways.
In New Zealand, gynaecologists, urogynaecologists, and urologists seeking to perform female stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP) procedures listed in the National Framework (external link) are required to apply to be assessed for credentialling. This credentialling process includes a comprehensive assessment conducted by a panel comprising national clinical representatives and international experts, as well as a local mesh injured consumer and equity representative.
In November 2024, Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora completed a credentialling process to assess surgeons for pelvic floor reconstructive, urogynaecological, and mesh procedures. Earlier credentialing rounds were conducted by Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health in 2022 and early 2024.
As a result of the credentialling rounds, 35 surgeons have been credentialled to date. Opportunities for more surgeons to seek credentialing are being planned for 2025.
We know that some people may be worried when they don’t see their surgeon’s name on the list of doctors who have been credentialed to do certain surgeries. It’s important to understand what this list really means.
This list shows the names of surgeons who have already gone through the credentialling. But not all surgeons have had the chance to go through that yet. Some are still waiting to be reviewed, and others may be in the middle of applying.
Surgeons who are not yet on the list can still do the surgery if their hospital or health service has checked that they are trained, experienced, and safe to perform the procedure. This is a new process, and more names will be added over time as more surgeons go through credentialling.
There are procedures there are other procedures not listed in this framework that have been assessed as not requiring additional formal credentialling beyond the existing processes within a practitioner’s local public or private hospital. If a procedure is not listed here, it does not mean it cannot be performed—rather, it indicates that additional credentialling beyond standard institutional processes is not deemed necessary
If you have questions about your surgeon or the surgery you're considering, it’s always okay to ask your doctor or healthcare team.
It is recommended that you refer to this live document on Health NZ’s website rather than download the content, as it is subject to change.
The information in this spreadsheet will be updated as more surgeons are credentialed over the coming year, appeals are resolved, and conditions on individual practice are met.
When reading this spreadsheet, please note:
The list only includes names of surgeons who have achieved full credentialled status for performing Tier 1, 2 or 3 procedures which fall under the National Framework.
The absence of a surgeon’s name on the list does not indicate that they are unable to perform procedures. There are procedures outside the scope of the Framework and the absence of a procedure from the list does not mean it cannot be performed by a surgeon.
If you are due to have female pelvic health surgery or a procedure and have questions, please speak to your surgeon about their credentialling status.
Note: gynaecologists, urogynaecologists and urologists are not expected to be credentialled for removal of mesh from the bowel. This work is within the colorectal domain of practice. (Reference: The National Credentialling Framework, 2022).