Complaints privacy

The Midwifery Council collects personal information from you when you make complaint

Use of information

The Council will use the information that you give us to contact you about your complaint. It may share your information with others such as with the Health and Disability Commissioner when required to refer your complaint. It may also share the information with an independent assessor who is engaged to complete a clinical review and analysis of the material raised. The Council will not use your personal information for any other purpose except as required by the Privacy Act or other law. The Council may use general, anonymous information about your complaint for research and learning purposes.

Storage of information

All information in electronic form is stored in a secure, password-protected database and/or server. Personal information provided in hard copy is stored at a secure off-site location.

Viewing of personal information

Individuals have a right to ask for access to personal information held about them. Requests for access to or correction of personal information should be addressed to the privacy officer:

Midwifery Council Privacy Officer privacy@midwiferycouncil.health.nz PO Box 9644 Marion Square Wellington 6141 New Zealand

The Council aims to respond to such requests as soon as possible, and within the requirements of the Privacy Act.

Retention and disposal of personal information

Any personal information that is no longer required will be securely destroyed. Hard copy information is destroyed using a recognised document destruction company. Electronic information is deleted from the server and/or database. Non-identifiable information may be securely retained for learning and/or education purposes.

Complaints to the Midwifery Council

Any person may make a complaint about a breach of their privacy to the Midwifery Council Complaints may be addressed to the Registrar who is the Privacy Officer of the organisation:

By email to: The Registrar

By post to: The Registrar Midwifery Council PO Box 9644 Marion Square Wellington 6141 New Zealand

The complaint should include:

  • the complainant’s name
  • the circumstances surrounding the complaint: What happened? When did it happen? Who was involved?
  • the action the complainant would like to see happen.
The privacy officer may contact the complainant for any further information. An investigation into the complaint will be carried out without delay. The outcome of this will be communicated to the complainant, along with any action taken by Midwifery Council. Where the complaint identifies a privacy breach the Council will notify the Office of the Privacy Commissioner as required under the Privacy Act 2020.

Complaints to the Privacy Commissioner

If you are unhappy with the resolution of your complaint, you may complain to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner. Information on this process may be found here.