New Zealand clinical coding
Information on clinical coding practice, conventions and resources for clinical coding
Pātiki and Waharua Kōpito patterns
New Zealand Clinical Coding Practice
Clinical coding practice using ICD-10-AM/ACHI is governed by the application of the Australian Coding Standards (ACS), published IHACPA Coding Rules, FAQs and other directives, New Zealand Clinical Coding Conventions and FAQs, and National Minimum Dataset (NMDS) reporting requirements.
Adherence to these standards, rules and reporting requirements promotes clinical coding consistency, which in turn results in the recording of quality NMDS data that are comparable at a national and international level.
Please note: Australia moved to ICD-10-AM/ACHI/ACS Thirteenth Edition 1 July 2025 however, New Zealand continues to use ICD-10-AM/ACHI/ACS Twelfth Edition.
New Zealand Clinical Coding Conventions and NMDS Reporting Requirements
New Zealand Clinical Coding Conventions and NMDS Reporting Requirements
Clinical Coding conventions and NMDS reporting requirements are specific to New Zealand clinical coding practice.
New Zealand Clinical Coding Conventions and NMDS Reporting Requirements [DOCX, 26 KB]
New Zealand Clinical Coding Convention for Gender Reaffirming Surgery 1 July 2025 [DOCX, 111 KB]
New Zealand Clinical Coding Convention for Counselling for Tobacco Use Disorder [DOCX, 21 KB]
IHACPA Coding Rules, FAQs and other information for ICD-10-AM/ACHI/ACS Twelfth Edition
IHACPA Coding Rules, FAQs and other information for ICD-10-AM/ACHI/ACS Twelfth Edition
As New Zealand has not upgraded to ICD-10-AM/ACHI/ACS Thirteenth Edition all published IHACPA Coding Rules and FAQs from July 2025 need to be reviewed for New Zealand Twelfth Edition Practice.
Provided are the IHACPA ICD-10-AM/ACHI/ACS documents that are to be referred to for New Zealand Twelfth Edition coding practice.
For IHACPA ICD-10-AM/ACHI/ACS Twelfth Edition Coding Rules, FAQs, Clinical Updates and other information refer to:
ICD-10-AM/ACHI/ACS Twelfth Edition (external link)
IHACPA FAQs for Thirteenth Edition September 2025 - NZ Review for Twelfth Edition [PDF, 749 KB]
IHACPA National Coding Advice Coding Rules and FAQs for Twelfth Edition 17 March 2025 [PDF, 2.8 MB]
IHACPA Retired National Coding Advice 16 December 2024 [PDF, 7.6 MB]
Clinical Coding Resources for Coding Practice
Clinical Coding Resources for Coding Practice
HIMAA Course Assessment and Examination Marking Guidelines for New Zealand Clinical Coders
HIMAA Course Assessment and Examination Marking Guidelines for New Zealand Clinical Coders
Provided is a summary of the current New Zealand Clinical Coding Conventions and NMDS Reporting Requirements for New Zealand students undertaking HIMAA clinical coding courses.
In the HIMAA Assessment and Examination Marking Guidelines section where it states ‘however, if codes are assigned they will be marked as an optional’ means the code assignment will not be marked correct or incorrect. Therefore, marks will not be given or lost if the code(s) for the specific convention are assigned.