You're in Safe Hands With A Registered Massage Practitioner

Posted: Monday 31th October 2011

During Massage Therapy Awareness Week (1st to 7th November 2011), Massage New Zealand (MNZ), will be highlighting the importance of choosing registered and experienced practitioners, for your health and wellbeing.

As the representative body for qualified massage therapists, Massage New Zealand urges clients to consider carefully the qualifications of massage practitioners for safe, professional treatment and advises them to choose a Massage New Zealand Registered Massage Therapist.

“Many people already choose massage therapy to treat conditions from headaches to back-pain to occupational overuse, while others take advantage of the stress reduction benefits of massage.” says Marianne Macdonald, Executive Officer of Massage New Zealand (MNZ), “They would be shocked to learn that they may be in the hands of someone who doesn’t know how to give a safe and effective massage treatment.” She adds, “The behaviour of some cowboy “therapists” has led to a number convictions for sexual misconduct, while others have injured their massage clients.”

Massage is currently an unregulated industry in New Zealand, enabling anyone to establish a business as a massage therapist, with no training or experience. As the association for professional massage therapists, MNZ holds a list of registered members that can be accessed from the Massage New Zealand website therapist directory.

Wellpark College offers both the industry recognised, NZQA approved Certificate In Relaxation Massage (Specialised Therapies Option) and Diploma of Therapeutic Massage courses. These qualifications provide graduates with the tools and techniques to easily acquire accreditation from Massage New Zealand and provide high quality services to the community.

During Massage Therapy Awareness Week, MNZ members will be offering the chance to experience a treatment with a massage professional, at half the usual cost. Other members will be organising talks or offering short massage “sampler” sessions in venues throughout New Zealand.Find out more about Massage Therapy Awareness Week here.

Additional Notes:

Public Risk
There are numerous examples of people being injured or treated inappropriately by non-members of Massage New Zealand, for example: TV’s consumer advice programme Target uses hidden cameras, to expose good and bad work practices. Four individuals offering massage services were monitored and independently reviewewed by an expert consultant. Two (of the four) were randomly selected MNZ therapists, who received  positive reports. Of the other two, who were non-members, one was performing dangerous high-velocity manipulation (only legally allowable by physiotherapists, osteopaths and chiropractors), while the other performed un-solicited breast massage.

Massage New Zealand Registered Therapists

• Are qualified to a minimum of Certificate of Therapeutic Massage level, while higher levels hold Diploma or Degree qualifications
• Are required to carry out continuing on-going professional development
• Must abide by a strict Code of Ethics and display a current practising certificate
• Have a current first aid certificate
• Must be of good character, i.e. no convictions related to massage.