Public Information

This section contains useful information for the public and media including what dietitians do, where to find credible healthy eating information and recent position statement and submissions made by Dietitians NZ. For individual advice on any nutrition-related issue make an appointment with a Registered Dietitian. To find a dietitian in your local area use our Find a Dietitian database.

COVID-19

As we all try & navigate through this challenging & rapidly evolving time, Dietitians NZ is compiling a list of resources that may be useful for dietitians. We are updating this page as more information becomes available and if you have come across any helpful resources, please send them to us & we will add them here.

We would also like to give a big shout out to all the dedicated essential workers who are continuing to provide services. Of course, a special mention to the many dietitians, food service staff, food kitchens & supermarket workers who continue to provide quality food and nutrition information & education to New Zealanders. Kia kaha!

Alert Level 3 Information

Dietitians NZ

Dietitians Board

Nutrition Guidelines

Webinars, videos & podcasts

Resources

New Zealand Government updates

Dietitians – What We Do

What is a Dietitian?

Dietitians are registered health practitioners who evaluate scientific evidence about food and nutrition, and translate it into practical strategies. New Zealand dietitians work in partnership with individuals, whanau, communities and populations, in states of health and disease, to support optimal health and well-being.

Dietitians use their dietetic knowledge, skill and judgement in a variety of contexts, which includes promoting and protecting public health, directing and delivering medical nutrition therapy services, and managing food and health systems. They may perform a variety of functions, including policy development, leadership, management, research, education, and communication roles.

 Scope of Practice for Dietitians, Gazetted by the Dietitians Board, April 2017

Dietitian and Nutritionist – what is the difference?

 Dietitian – The term dietitian is a protected term. A dietitian is a registered health professional who meets standards required by the Dietitians Board and has both an undergraduate science degree in human nutrition and a post-graduate qualification in dietetics. To practise in New Zealand, a dietitian must, by law, be registered with the Dietitians Board and hold a current practising certificate. The Dietitians Board protects the health and safety of the New Zealand public under the Health Practitioners Competency Act (HPCA) 2003, by ensuring that every dietitian working in New Zealand is fit to practice and meets standards of professionalism. In New Zealand dietitians are the only nutrition health profession to be regulated by law. Dietitians work in a variety of settings from hospitals, the community, public health, food service, sports, education, research, media and the food industry.  The Dietitians Board regulates the dietetic profession and only those on the Register can call themselves a dietitian and practise as a dietitian. For more information about how to practice legally as a dietitian in New Zealand visit their website: http://www.dietitiansboard.org.nz/ or click here to use the Register search functions to check your nutrition health professional is registered with the Dietitians Board and has a current Annual Practising Certificate (APC).

Nutritionist – The term nutritionist is not a protected term, there is no specific qualification or statutory legislation that regulates that profession and therefore the title can be used freely by anyone. This could range from someone with a PHD in a specialty area of nutrition to someone with no formal training. The Nutrition Society has a programme for registration of nutritionists where a set criteria must be met to achieve registration status.  Nutritionists can be an associate member of Dietitians NZ if they hold a scientific qualification in human nutrition approved by Dietitians NZ or occupy a prominent position in work or research relating to nutrition or dietetics.

Dietitians NZ Position Statements

Dietitians NZ release Position Statements on issues that impact the nutritional status, health and wellbeing of the New Zealand public. Position Statements are based on the organisation’s stance on a particular issue and are developed with the input of members.

Low Carbohydrate High Fat Diet – Dietitians NZ Position Statement (2016)

Dietitians in Primary Health Care – Dietitians NZ Position Statement (2010)

Dietitians NZ Submissions

Dietitians NZ contribute to the development of submissions on issues of relevance to our members and to the wider food, nutrition and health.

We generally establish a working group to develop each submission. This is often a special interest group or a select working party of members who have expertise in the area. All submissions have input from National Office and are signed by of the Dietitians NZ CEO.

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See below for our 2018 submissions:

Commentary on General Practitioner Research Review Issue 128 (February 2018 FINAL)

Commerce Commission submission – application from INC to restrict marketing (June 2018 FINAL)

Public Health SIG Submission Pregnancy Alcohol Labelling – (June 2018 FINAL)

DIFI SIG Submission Pregnancy Alcohol Labelling – (June 2018 FINAL)

SAFE Nourish Your Body (August 2018)

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See below for our 2017 submissions:

ACC Consultation on New Practitioners for Registered Health Professionals and Treatment Provider Definitions – Dietitians NZ Submission (May 2017 FINAL)

Health of Older People Strategy Consultation – Dietitians NZ Submission (Sept 2017 FINAL)

Health Star Rating System Consultation – Dietitians NZ Submission (August 2017 – FINAL)

Health Workforce NZ Investment Approach Consultation – Dietitians NZ Submission (May 2017 FINAL)

NZ Dental Association Consensus Statement on Sugar Drinks (2016 FINAL)

PHARMAC Proposal to list Infatrini in the community and hospital – Dietitians NZ Submission (November 2017 FINAL)

Porirua City Council Consultation on Provision of Public Drinking Water Fountains (May 2017 FINAL)

Sugary Drink Tax Consultation – Dietitians NZ Submission (July 2017 FINAL)

Dietitians NZ Facebook Group Forum

Dietitians NZ has developed this group as a medium to facilitate thoughtful discussion, networking and raise awareness of professional development events for nutrition colleagues.

This Facebook Group is primarily for Dietitians NZ members, however we welcome other nutrition professionals* who agree to adhere to our Terms of Use (see below).

Admission to the Group is at the discretion of the administrators.

*For the purpose of this Facebook Group a nutrition professional is classified as an individual who is currently studying towards or has attained a tertiary qualification in nutrition and/or dietetics.

Dietitians NZ Facebook Group Forum Terms of Use (July 2015)

Dietitians NZ Facebook Group Policy (July 2015)

Eating and Activity Guidelines – Ministry of Health

The following resources provide evidence-based guidelines on nutrition and physical activity for various age and population groups in New Zealand. For individual advice on any nutrtion-related issue make an appointment with a Registered Dietitian. To find a dietitian in your local area use our Find a Dietitian database.

Healthy Eating, Active Living for Adults 19-64 years

Eating for Healthy Babies and Toddlers

Eating for Healthy Children Aged 2-12

Eating for Healthy Older People

Eating for Healthy Vegetarians

Eating for Healthy Pregnant Women

Eating for Healthy Breastfeeding Women

Eating and Drinking Information

The following websites provide up-to-date and credible information to help you eat well. For individual advice on any nutrtion-related issue make an appointment with a Registered Dietitian. To find a dietitian in your local area use our Find a Dietitian database.

Diabetes New Zealand

Diabetes New Zealand’s mission is to provide support for all New Zealanders with diabetes, or at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes, to live full and active lives. Visit the Food and Nutrition section on their website to find out more about healthy eatng and diabetes.

https://www.diabetes.org.nz/home

Health Navigator

The Health Navigator website provides one place for New Zealanders to find reliable and trustworthy health information and self-care resources. It focuses on promoting clear, consistent messages that enable users to get the information they need at the time they need it. Visit their Eating and Drinking section to find out about the impact food and drink has on our general health, immune system and risk of diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer, and how to create a balanced diet that gives you all the energy, vitamins and minerals you need to live well and be healthy.

https://www.healthnavigator.org.nz/healthy-living/eating-drinking/

Nutrition Foundation

 The Nutrition Foundation provide accurate information about food and nutrition to help New Zealanders to make the best choices for a healthy lifestyle. Visit their website to view facts and figures on a wide range of nutrition topics. All of the information on their website has been written by degree-qualified nutritionists and reviewed by the Foundation’s expert scientific advisers.

https://www.nutritionfoundation.org.nz/nutrition-facts

The Concise New Zealand Food Composition Tables

These Concise Tables contain data on key nutrients for commonly consumed foods and are ideal for quick reference.

http://www.foodcomposition.co.nz/concise-tables

e-Bulletin for Aged Care Facilities ‘Talk with’ Series

The ‘Talk with’ Series is produced by Dietitians NZ Special Interest in Gerontology (SING) group to share evidenced-based food and nutrition information with aged care facilitates. For individualised advice for your aged care facility contact a Registered Dietitian. To find a dietitian in your local area use our Find a Dietitian database.

Dietitians NZ e-Bulletin for Aged Care Facilities Issue 28 (November 2017)

Dietitians NZ e-Bulletin for Aged Care Facilities Issue 27 (August 2017)

Dietitians NZ e-Bulletin for Aged Care Facilities Issue 26 (May 2017)

Dietitians NZ e-Bulletin for Aged Care Facilities Issue 25 (February 2017)

Emergency Survival Nutrition Information

Good planning is essential to eating well at any time, therefore it is important to put some forethought into planning the foods in your survival kit.

Please find attached some useful information to consider when putting the survival kit together.

Emergency Survival Nutrition Information

Information for the Media

Dietitians NZ is keen to contribute to food and nutrition stories in the media and have media dietitians available to answer your queries.

All initial media enquiries should be sent to:

Angela Berrill

Dietitians NZ Media Dietitian

(09) 550 6698

angela@abcnutrition.co.nz

OR

Lea Stening

Dietitians NZ Media Special Interest Group Convenor

027 435 238

leastening@leastening.com

They will find you a media dietitian with expertise on the topic you are covering.

See below a link for of our media kit, which includes information on Dietitians NZ, what a dietitian is and where to find us on Twitter and Instagram.

Dietitians NZ Media Kit (2017)

Nutrition App Reviews