New Zealand originally had nurse inculcation as a apportionment of the hospital system, but, as antiquated as the 1900s, post registration and post graduate programs of application for nurses were in existence. Reforms in the Online Nursing Degree 1970s disestablished the original hospital-based schools and moved these into the tertiary apprenticeship sector, namely polytechnics and universities. Within the hospital coordination were an array of titles and levels, which often focused upon clinical specialty rather than generic nursing knowledge.

Prior to the formulation of the modern three-part register on August 1, 2004, nurses and midwives were divided into a part of the register they held a qualification in. This may be now described as a 'sub-part' of the nursing register. All newly qualified nurses register in 'sub-part' 12, 13, 14 or 15, showing their branch qualification. However, nurses still practicing and holding qualifications in 'sub-parts' 1-9 are registered as such.