An analysis of Surgical Education and Training (SET) selection criteria for the proposed 2024 intake has revealed that some surgical specialties fail to recognise or credit Māori identification and cultural competency. As a proportion of total SET selection scores, criteria related to Māori identification and/or cultural competency made up 6%, 2%, and 1.5%, respectively, for Otolaryngology and Head & Neck, General, and Vascular Surgery specialties. As a proportion of rank scores for interview eligibility, criteria related to Māori identification and/or cultural competency made up 9% and 0.1%, respectively, for Orthopaedic and Plastics & Reconstructive Surgery specialties. No criteria pertaining to Māori were incorporated for Cardiothoracic Surgery, Paediatric Surgery, Neurosurgery and Urology specialties. The study authors noted that allocation of research-related points according to authorship may disincentivise Māori trainees.
