The hub is a repository for all of our standards and guidance for veterinarians. You can use the navigation and search box on the left of this page to find a particular document or topic. 

There are PDF versions of most documents available for download and printing. We recommend you use the online version where possible to ensure you get the most up to date information.

Our standards set out what is expected of veterinarians. All veterinarians in New Zealand must meet these standards.

The high-level standards we have set are the:

Statements are part of our standards and provide more detailed requirements for veterinarians on specific issues. Veterinarians must comply with them.

Guidance is prepared to help veterinarians deal with specific issues in practice. It presents a good way of applying professional standards but this may not be the only way. Veterinarians can safely rely on our guidance but they do not have to follow it if they believe another approach is better, provided it complies with our standards and statements and they apply good professional judgment. Because our guidance is specific, it won’t apply in every situation.

Technical advice is our interpretation of how professional standards apply in a particular situation. It is designed to help veterinarians deal with common issues in practice, using their professional judgement to apply the advice to their own situation. 

Practice guidance is our interpretation of how legal and professional requirements apply in a particular situation. It is designed to help practices deal with common issues, using judgement to apply the advice to their own situation. 

Professional standards and guidance

Competency Standards and Performance Indicators for Veterinarians

VCNZ Standards

The Hub

Introduction

Summary: The 7 principles

Animal welfare

Client relationships

Professional relationships

Professional integrity

Veterinary services

Veterinary medicines

Legislative requirements

Glossary

Code of Professional Conduct

Authorisation During Major Disruptive Events and Emergencies

Health Practitioners Undertaking Surgical Procedures on Animals

Compounding Veterinary Medicines

Discretionary Use of Human and Veterinary Medicines by Veterinarians

Cattle Disbudding and Dehorning by Non-Veterinarians

Authorisation of Dry Cow Therapy

Manufacturing Veterinary Medicines

Certification of fitness for transport of livestock

Induction of Calving in Cattle

Authorisation of adult cat and dog vaccinations for administration by veterinary nurses during the current veterinary workforce shortage

Statements

Health practitioners undertaking non-surgical procedures on animals

Reclassification of fentanyl, tramadol, zopiclone and zolpidem

Veterinary supervision

Flystrike table

Dry Cow Antibiotic Therapy

Recent changes to penicillin withholding periods

Remote Veterinary Care (Telehealth and Telemedicine)

Anaesthetic Monitoring

Dealing with cases of suspected or actual animal abuse and family violence

Social media

Veterinarians' role in Maintaining New Zealand's Biosecurity

Non-consented human medicines used by veterinarians

Mentoring Guidelines

Meat Processing in New Zealand

Guidance

Untitled

Technical advice

Pregnancy in the Veterinary Workplace

Emergency services advice for new practices

Handling complaints

Accredited employer work visa

Opening vet clinics on Easter Sunday

Practice guidance

Case study: Navigating emergency care, after hours

Case study: Health process

Case study: Ownership

Case study: Navigating suspected animal welfare issues

Case study: Informed consent

Case study: Surgical swab left in patient

Case study: Informed consent in practice

Case study: Falling short of professional standards

Case study: Outside of scope

Case study: Client communication & informed consent

Case study: Dispensing error

Case summaries