A dietitian is a health professional who has undertaken an undergraduate degree in human nutrition followed by a post graduate diploma or Master degree in Dietetic to become experts in the science of nutrition and diet therapy. This degree programmes have to be certified by the countries dietitian governing body, in New Zealand this is NZ Dietitian board.
Dietitians have to comply with codes of practice and ethics and met standards set by the NZ Dietitian board which are a regulated authority under the Health Practitioners Competency Assurance Act (HPCA) 2003. Dietitians have to complete a clinical competency programme every year to maintain their registration. Dietitians are trained in the nutritional management, treatment and prevention of disease in a number of setting including hospital, care facilities, industry, sport groups, communities and private practice.
Dietitians are trained to give tailored made advice with specific goals for difference
clients.
See www.dietitianboard.org.nz for more information
In New Zealand there is a voluntary programme to register as nutritionist but the term Nutritionist is not legally protected, like dietitian so anyone can call themselves
a nutritionist. There are some nutritionists who are excellent but it also means that
there are some nutritionists put there with no training or who have a degree, master
or PHD in nothing to do with nutrition or a very specific area of nutrition. Nutritionists
can register with the Nutrition Society of New Zealand by meeting very specific criteria.
See http://www.nutritionsociety.ac.nz/ For more information.
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