30 May 2022

New Zealand Medical Journal publisher enters liquidation

4:29 pm on 30 May 2022

The future of the New Zealand Medical Journal is in question, with a new financial backer being sought.

A doctor with a stethoscope writes up a medical record

Photo: 123RF

It is the country's main scientific medical journal and has been running since 1887, publishing papers from top researchers and academics.

Its publisher, the New Zealand Medical Association, voted today to go into liquidation, with a final, confirmation vote due in July.

New Zealand Medical Association chair Alastair Humphrey said it was now seeking expressions of interest from people "willing and financially able" to create a new organisation to run the journal.

It was envisaged that would be their only publication and it would remain editorially independent, he said.

The association was also one of the advocacy groups for the medical profession.

It had been struggling financially for several years and had made several attempts to get back on track.

Humphrey said the news was "heart breaking" and the association had a proud record of serving the community since 1886.

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