We need a workforce equipped to provide compassionate and competent care to all communities, including Māori, Pacifica, and other underserved populations.
The Coalition Agreement between the New Zealand National Party and ACT New Zealand includes a commitment to “Examine the Māori and Pacific Admission Scheme (MAPAS) and Otago equivalent [to determine if they are delivering desired outcomes]”. We wrote to Hon Dr Shane Reti, Minister of Health and Hon Penny Simmonds, Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills offering to help focus the terms of reference for a review on a more holistic approach to selection that considers merit more widely than mere academic achievement.
As a nation, Aotearoa New Zealand stands at a critical juncture in determining the future of its healthcare system. A key element in shaping that future is the way we select our medical students. Historically, the selection process for medical school has focused predominantly on academic merit. However, recent discussions have increasingly questioned whether academic achievement alone is the best measure of a prospective doctor's potential. With nearly 150 years of local experience and a growing body of international research, we now have a far clearer understanding of the qualities and skills that make an exceptional doctor.
Studies consistently show academic marks are often more indicative of the resources available to a student rather than their innate aptitude for medicine. Students from affluent schools and households, with access to better resources, tend to score higher than their peers, regardless of their true potential. As a result, those who face systemic disadvantages are often excluded from medical school, despite their potential to be exceptional doctors. The research is clear: when high marks are the primary measure of merit, we perpetuate disparities in access to education. The focus on academic performance, once above a certain threshold, can become discriminatory. We must therefore rethink what "merit" means in the context of selecting future healthcare professionals.
We must select a medical workforce that mirrors the diversity of Aotearoa New Zealand itself—one that is equipped to provide compassionate and competent care to all communities, including Māori, Pacifica, and other underserved populations. Evidence shows that a diverse medical workforce enhances cultural competence and improves learning outcomes for all doctors, as well as improving patient outcomes, making it a win-win for the entire healthcare system.
Read RACS submission (PDF 212.39KB).