Course profiles

PAANZ Courses 2022

Please register and pay online using your PNZ membership details*: Click here

*(Non-PNZ members will need to create a PNZ log in first)

* NB current pricing is applicable to courses until 30 June 2022, a price increase may occur after this date.

Dry Needling Foundation Course:

26 + 27 February - AUT, Auckland - Register here

9 + 10 April - AUT, Auckland - Register here

21 + 22 May - Burwood, Christchurch - Register here

18 + 19 June - AUT, Auckland - Register here

6 + 7 August - AUT, Auckland - Register here

29 + 30 October - AUT, Auckland - Register here

Presented by: Trevor Montgomery

This foundation course taught by Trevor Montgomery, in association with PAANZ, is suitable for all physiotherapists wishing to expand their clinical reasoning and treatment skill sets with the use of dry needling. The course has a large practical component with particular emphasis on safe needling practice as set out in the latest PAANZ safety guidelines.

The course is an introduction to Dry Needling, learning to needle major muscle groups in all areas of the body but focused looking at conditions such as Achilles Tendonosis, Shoulder Impingement and SIJ dysfunctions. As we look at each of these conditions we teach you how to needle trigger points in the muscles that may be dysfunctional in those conditions and then look at how to rehab the conditions using exercises/stretches that Trevor has developed. The Foundation Course teaches you to needle most major muscle groups in the body safely and plenty to take back and use with patients on Monday morning! However we do not needle over the thorax in the Foundation Course because of the risk of pneumothorax. Needling muscles over the thorax is considered more advanced and therefore is included in the Advanced Upper Limb Course.

The course is designed to help practitioners integrate dry needling into their clinical approach with a view to addressing the underlying causes of some of the more common clinical presentations we treat. Having taught over 120 introductory and advanced courses for AUT, PAANZ, the APA of Australia and Asia over the last 9 years.Trevor brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his teaching in this specialty area.

No pre-requisite to attending this course.

Non PAANZ members and non PNZ members are welcome.

Please email paanz@physiotherapy.org.nz with any queries.

PAANZ member rate $550.00 please click here for discount code
PNZ member rate $660.00
Non PNZ member rate $825.00

NOTE: All attendees must be registered in New Zealand and have a current APC.

Cupping Course

Presented by: Guy Bailey & Susan Kohut
Date: Saturday 30th April
Venue: AUT, North Shore Campus, Northcote, Auckland

Register here

Cupping is a treatment modality that has really come of age. The use of modern technology and materials now means that using a naked flame to produce the suction required is no longer necessary. Coupled with this is some clear demonstration of the efficacy of cupping in recent research papers.

Course participants will learn both Western and TCM concepts of treatment application for cupping treatment, as well as how to integrate this fascinating treatment technique into their physiotherapy practice.

Please email paanz@physiotherapy.org.nz with any queries.

PAANZ member rate $200.00 please click here for discount code
PNZ member rate $300.00
Non PNZ member rate $375.00

NOTE: All attendees must be registered in New Zealand and have a current APC.

Extraordinary Meridian

Presented by: Rielle Friedrich & Guy Bailey
Date: Saturday 14th May
Venue: Zentao Center, 143 Rahu Rd, Karangahake, Paeroa

Register here

The first day (Saturday) of the weekend is designed to introduce the practitioner to the function and roles of the eight extraordinary meridians and their wide range of use to treat various musculoskeletal conditions. In TCM these are used in complicated conditions, chronic cases characterized by multiple issues, confusing patterns and complex cases that sometimes show disparate symptom patterns.

This is a very practical course. Participants will spend time learning about the zones of influence of the 8 Extraordinay meridians and the clinical application of these. Accurate location by palpation of the points opening the Extra Ordinary Meridians will be covered in depth. We not only will cover how to treat with acupuncture, but as well with an effective thread Moxa technique called okyu (which produces minimal smoke).

The second day aims to teach course participants how to treat lower limb conditions needling myofascial trigger points. We will integrate the Western with Eastern Acupunture style by complimenting our treatments with the Extraordinary Meridian Point selection.

The course is held at Rielle’s clinic and Retreat space in an idyllic nature setting at the doorstep of the Karangahake Gorge and is only 25 minutes from Waihi beach where there is ample accommodation available.

Registrants can register for 1 or both days.

PAANZ member rate $200 discount code: here

PNZ member rate $300
Non PNZ member rate $375

NOTE: All attendees must be registered in New Zealand and have a current APC.

Pre-requisites for this Course: Registered as PAANZ Member, or having achieved the prerequisite number of hours of acupuncture training for PAANZ registration.

Lower Limb and Extra Ordinary point needling - May

Presented by: Rielle Friedrich & Guy Bailey
Date: Sunday 15th May 8.30am - 4.00pm
Venue: Zentao Center, 143 Rahu Rd, Karangahake, Paeroa

Register here

The first day of the weekend is designed to introduce the practitioner to the function and roles of the eight extraordinary meridians and their wide range of use to treat various musculoskeletal conditions. In TCM these are used in complicated conditions, chronic cases characterized by multiple issues, confusing patterns and complex cases that sometimes show disparate symptom patterns.

The second day (Sunday) aims to teach course participants how to treat lower limb conditions needling myofascial trigger points. We will integrate the Western with Eastern Acupunture style by complimenting our treatments with the Extraordinary Meridian Point selection.

Registrants can register for 1 or both days.

PAANZ member rate $200 discount code: here

PNZ member rate $300
Non PNZ member rate $375

NOTE: All attendees must be registered in New Zealand and have a current APC.

Pre-requisites for this Course: Registered as PAANZ Member, or having achieved the prerequisite number of hours of acupuncture training for PAANZ registration.

Acupuncture Concepts - Enhancing Dry Needling - Part A

Presented by: Susan Kohut & Michelle Hall

Date: Saturday 28 + Sunday 29 May 2022

Venue: Burwood Hospital, Christchurch

Register here

Part A: Introduction to safe needling

The Acupuncture Concepts - Enhancing Dry Needling Parts A, B and B courses are designed to be introduce safe needling and both Western and Traditional Chinese concepts of acupuncture practice. The courses are for participants who want to extend their acupuncture knowledge and skills beyond dry needling or those who need an acupuncture refresher course. This will enable not only the treatment of those with more complex presentations, but also provide you with an understanding of how and why treatment works.

The course is to be completed sequentially for participants who have only dry needling training or who have not completed the PAANZ 80 hours of formal acupuncture training pre-requisite. Participants who have completed 80 hours of formal acupuncture training may participate in any course as desired.

Acupuncture Concepts - Enhanced Needling Skills: Part A - Introduction to safe needling

Acupuncture Concepts - Enhancing Dry Needling Part A is a two-day course to be run at the Physiotherapy department, Burwood Hospital, Christchurch, and will cover safe needling practice, an introduction to acupuncture neurophysiology and some Chinese medicine concepts. An introduction to the meridian pathways is provided with practice needling of some commonly used points.

The goal of this course is to ensure you have some acupuncture-related concepts to enhance your dry needling skills. You will be needling safely and understand potential risks and side effects of needling. Case study analysis will enable you to rationalise when and where dry needling can be incorporated with acupuncture to enhance patient outcomes.

Pre-requisites: All attendees must have a current APC and additionally have completed a PAANZ dry-needling course OR 80 hours of formal acupuncture training. Other dry needling or acupuncture-related course’s will be considered on application for participation.

Please note:

Part B (Western Acupuncture) and Part C (Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Acupuncture) course are also available.

A discount is available for participants who attend all three parts in one calendar year.

PAANZ member rate $400.00 please click here for discount code
PNZ member rate $600.00
Non PNZ member rate $750.00

NOTE: All attendees must be registered in New Zealand and have a current APC.

Pre-requisites: participants need to have attended as a minimum a PAANZ dry needling course or our standard 80 hours training.

Other dry needling or acupuncture-related course’s will be considered on application for participation.

Acupuncture Concepts - Enhancing Dry Needling - Part B

Presented by: Derek Timmins & Susan Kohut

Date: Saturday 16 + Sunday 17 July 2022

Venue: Burwood Hospital, Christchurch

Acupuncture Concepts - Enhanced Needling Skills: Part B

The Acupuncture Concepts - Enhanced Needling Skills (ENS) Parts A, B and C courses are designed to introduce safe needling and both Western and Traditional Chinese concepts of acupuncture practice. The courses are for participants who want to extend their acupuncture knowledge and skills beyond dry needling or those who need an acupuncture refresher course. The course is to be completed sequentially for participants who have only dry needling training or who have not completed the 80 hours of formal acupuncture training pre-requisite. Participants who have completed 80 hours of formal acupuncture training may participate in any course as needed.

The 2-day Western Acupuncture programme is recapping the sentinel 'points' theoretical and practical learned during the previous weekend and introducing some clinical reasoning strategies as to why local, segmental or big-point extra-segmental needling is useful.

More acupuncture points will be learned as well as the application of acupuncture needling to regularly seen conditions in practice.

Case study analysis will guide treatment of some common conditions relating to degenerative conditions, acute injury healing and how not to over-treat your patients

Please email paanz@physiotherapy.org.nz with any queries.

PAANZ member rate $500.00 please click here for discount code
PNZ member rate $600.00
Non PNZ member rate $750.00

NOTE: All attendees must be registered in New Zealand and have a current APC.

Pre-requisites: participants need to have attended as a minimum a PAANZ dry needling course or our standard 80 hours training.

Shoulder AcuPhysio

Presenters: Michelle Hall

Date: Sunday 14 August

Venue: Pakuranga Medical Centre, Level 1, 11-13 Cortina Place, Pakuranga, Auckland

This is a one day, theory and practical course covering needling techniques and rehab for shoulder issues.

You will learn and practice how to needle safely and effectively for shoulder issues, using dry-needling and TCM acupuncture techniques.

With an emphasise on shoulder biomechanics, you will also be shown and practice useful manual joint mobilisation and muscle facilitation techniques. This will give you a range of techniques to choice from to aid any shoulder issue, including acute shoulder pain and correcting subtle muscle balance issues that can aggravate shoulder pathologies.

Pre-requisites: participants need to have attended as a minimum a PAANZ dry needling course or our standard 80 hours training.

PAANZ member rate $250.00 please click here for discount code
PNZ member rate $300.00
Non PNZ member rate $375.00

Acupuncture Concepts - Enhancing Dry Needling - Part C Traditional Chinese Acupuncture

Presented by: Guy Bailey & Michelle Hall

Venue: Burwood Hospital, Christchurch

Enhanced Needling Skills: Parts A, B and C

The Enhanced Needling Skills (ENS) Parts A, B and C courses are designed to introduce safe needling and both Western and Traditional Chinese concepts of acupuncture practice. The courses are for participants who want to extend their acupuncture knowledge and skills beyond dry needling or those who need an acupuncture refresher course. The course is to be completed sequentially for participants who have only dry needling training or who have not completed the 80 hours of formal acupuncture training pre-requisite. Participants who have completed 80 hours of formal acupuncture training may participate in any course as needed.

Part C of the PAANZ 2020 Enhanced Needling skills course is a two-day course on TCM theory and practice and is to be run at the School of Physiotherapy, AUT

Course Participants will be introduced to the richness of the conceptual model that is Traditional Chinese Medicine, and gain some understanding of how this model contains a diagnostic framework that allows a refining of acupuncture point selection – and often an enhanced treatment efficacy.

As an Acupuncturist I have been constantly impressed by how this ancient paradigm of treatment still has clinical relevance in our modern age. Coming from a strong background within the modern medical model you will enjoy how, with further education, you can enhance the efficacy of your acupuncture treatment by applying TCM concepts.

Please email paanz@physiotherapy.org.nz with any queries.

PAANZ member rate $500 please click here for discount code
PNZ member rate $600.00
Non PNZ member rate $750.00

Qi Gong Day

Presented by: Rielle Friedrich

Date: Saturday 15 October

Venue: Zen Tao Centre, 143 Rahu road, Paeroa 3674

Register here

Qi Gong is a way to improve and maintain our physical, mental and spiritual health. It is a form of exercise and vital part of Traditional Chinese Medicine and complementary to Acupuncture. Its roots go back thousands of years; and different practices have developed according to the needs of times. Extensive research has confirmed its many benefits. Regular Qi Gong practise can support our wellbeing and health, and can help to overcome anxiety and stress of daily living. Qi Gong is an excellent method to self-regulate.

When practising Qi Gong our body is relaxed, the breathing calm, movements are slow and our mind focusing on the flow, expansion and cultivation of Qi.

This Qi Gong course will cover Meridian Qi Gong and is designed to be a resourcing day for the practitioners.

Pre-requisites for this Course: if any health condition contact Rielle regarding suitability.

PAANZ member rate $250.00 please click here for discount code
PNZ member rate $300.00
Non PNZ member rate $375.00

Ear Acupuncture Day

Presented by: Karen Taylor

Venue: University of Otago, Dunedin

This is a one-day course is to be run at the University of Otago, Dunedin.

This one-day acupuncture course introduces the ear as a microsystem. Ear acupuncture can be an adjunct to musculoskeletal acupuncture or a standalone treatment.

Course participants must have basic acupuncture training from a PAANZ approved course.

At the course conclusion, participants will be able to,

Have a basic understanding of the scientific basis of ear acupuncture.
Anatomically identify ear structures.
Accurately identify active ear acupoints by palpation.
Identify the musculoskeletal zones of the ear.
Practice safely with specific attention to informed consent, hygiene, and management of potential adverse reactions.
Be confident and effective with press tacks, press beads, and intradermal needles.

PAANZ member rate $250.00 please click here for discount code
PNZ member rate $300.00
Non PNZ member rate $375.00

Mental Health and Addictions

Presented by: Rebecca Armstrong
Date: Sunday 30 October
Venue: University of Otago, Dunedin

One-day course.

Topics covered in this course will be:

Common mental health conditions and symptoms and the concept of recovery and mental health

How to safely and effectively ustilise acupuncture to assist mental wellbeing and how this impacts mental health directly via neurophysiological changes

Sleep disturbance, sleep hygiene and how we can use acupuncture to support better sleep

Common substances, addiction issues, the role of harm reduction and supporting withdrawal phases including smoking cessation with the use of the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) protocols

PAANZ member rate $250.00 please click here for discount code
PNZ member rate $300.00
Non PNZ member rate $375.00

NOTE: All attendees must have completed 80 hours of formal acupuncture training and have a current APC.

Dry Needling Advanced Course Upper Limb

Presented by: Trevor Montgomery
Date: Saturday 12 - Sunday 13 November
Venue: AUT, North Shore Campus, Northcote, Auckland

The Advanced Dry Needling course for the Upper Half of the Body aims to teach course participants how to needle myofascial components from T7 upward. This is a very practical course, including the teaching of advanced techniques around the scapulothoracic region, shoulder, upper limbs and neck with particular emphasis on safety and efficacy. One of the major goals is for participants to integrate the use of dry needling into their clinical reasoning process and their clinical approach to treat common (and not so common) upper body conditions.

Case studies will be discussed to further enhance the clinical reasoning behind the use of dry needling, and its integration with other physiotherapy skill sets, such as manual therapy, muscle balancing, exercise prescription and postural advice.

Course Prerequisite:

Attendance requires completion of one of the following courses: PAANZ Foundation Dry Needling Course, APA Introductory Segmental and Dry Needling Course, Post-Graduate Western Acupuncture qualification from AUT or Otago. If you have undertaken dry needling training from another provider please contact the PAANZ administrator to see if it qualifies as a pre-requisite for the Advanced Course.

Please email paanz@physiotherapy.org.nz with any queries.

PAANZ member rate $550.00 please click here for discount code
PNZ member rate $660.00
Non PNZ member rate $825.00

NOTE: All attendees must be registered as a health professional in New Zealand and have a current APC.

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