PAANZ Courses 2026

Course Description:

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 to address the underlying causes of some of the more common clinical presentations we treat. Having taught over 240 introductory and advanced courses for AUT, PAANZ, the APA of Australia and Asia over the last 18 years. Trevor brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his teaching in this specialty area.

Prerequisites: All attendees must be registered in New Zealand and have a current APC. Non-PAANZ members and non-PNZ members are welcome.

Please bring a towel and shorts for both days

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

Date and time: Monday 9 March 2026, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Location: Online, via Zoom

Event Description:

Qi Gong is an excellent method to balance and self-regulate, and useful for us as practitioners.

Qi Gong is a 4,000-year-old vital part of Traditional Chinese Medicine TCM and complementary to Acupuncture. Qigong practice blends slow, flowing exercises, meditation and breathing techniques with the aim to cultivate and balance the body’s vital energy or Qi. Extensive research has shown many health benefits. Qigong has been used as a complementary therapy for a wide range of acute and chronic conditions, and can help to maintain our physical, mental and spiritual health. Practicing regularly regulates the meridians, can improve strength and balance, helps to prevent falls, supports sleep, may boost the immune system and improves brain function; and can help to calm the mind to reduce stress, anxiety and depression, and more.

In this presentation I would like to guide you through a sequence of Qi Gong exercises, that help us to improve the flow of Qi in the meridians and enhance our inherent Qi with the goal of improving and maintaining our health and well-being.

Please note, Qi Gong is a gentle natural form of movement. Participants should be aware of their physical condition and should not exceed their abilities. No responsibility will be held for injuries resulting from practising the Qi Gong in this webinar.

Location: Online, via Zoom

Date and time: Tuesday, 7 April 2026, 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Event Description:

Vignette evenings are an interactive session. You do not have to provide a case study and there will be breakout groups to discuss the cases brought up for discussion.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing the Zoom link.

Course Description:

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 to address the underlying causes of some of the more common clinical presentations we treat. Having taught over 240 introductory and advanced courses for AUT, PAANZ, the APA of Australia and Asia over the last 18 years. Trevor brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his teaching in this specialty area.

Prerequisites: All attendees must be registered in New Zealand and have a current APC. Non-PAANZ members and non-PNZ members are welcome.

Please bring a towel and shorts for both days

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

**Registrations to open in late February**

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 to address the underlying causes of some of the more common clinical presentations we treat. Having taught over 240 introductory and advanced courses for AUT, PAANZ, the APA of Australia and Asia over the last 18 years. Trevor brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his teaching in this specialty area.

Prerequisites: All attendees must be registered in New Zealand and have a current APC. Non-PAANZ members and non-PNZ members are welcome.

Date and time: Wednesday, 13 May 2026, 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Location: Online, via Zoom

Event Description:

Vignette evenings are an interactive session. You do not have to provide a case study and there will be breakout groups to discuss the cases brought up for discussion.

Gabriel is a sports performance therapist leading a team of various therapists at Physio-Logic. His background in physiotherapy and resume of clientele including athletes from a wide variety of sporting disciplines, most recently in the combat sports field, has developed his experience to cater to improving the performance of athletes and general population away from injuries to better daily function, using acupuncture as one of his practicing tools. He has developed an interest in injury management and prevention, travelling around the world with elite level athletes, he has witnessed his practice philosophy reap the rewards of the highest achievements in the UFC and other combat sports organisations.

The case studies he will be discussing in the upcoming vignette will draw from the clients and experiences he has had.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing the Zoom link.

Course Description:

The Advanced Dry Needling course for the Lower Half of the Body aims to teach course participants how to needle myofascial components from T7 down. This is a practical course, including the teaching of advanced techniques around the thoracolumbar region, pelvis, and lower limbs 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 treating common (and uncommon) lower 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.

Having taught over 240 introductory and advanced courses for AUT, PAANZ, the APA of Australia and Asia over the last 18 years, Trevor brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his teaching in this specialty area.

Prerequisites: Attendance requires completion of one of the following courses: PAANZ Foundation Dry Needling Course, APA Introductory Segmental and Dry Needling Course, or a Post-Graduate Western Acupuncture qualification from AUT or Otago. If you have undertaken dry needling training from another provider, please contact paanz@physiotherapy.org.nz to see if it qualifies as a prerequisite for this course.

Please bring a towel and shorts for both days

Pricing

PAANZ member rate $635. Click here for the PAANZ member discount code
PNZ member rate $750
Non-PNZ member rate $900

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

Date and time: Thursday 11 June 2026, 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Location: Online, via Zoom

Event Description:

Vignette evenings are an interactive session. You do not have to provide a case study and there will be breakout groups to discuss the cases brought up for discussion.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing the Zoom link.

Course Description:

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 to address the underlying causes of some of the more common clinical presentations we treat. Having taught over 240 introductory and advanced courses for AUT, PAANZ, the APA of Australia and Asia over the last 18 years. Trevor brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his teaching in this specialty area.

Prerequisites: All attendees must be registered in New Zealand and have a current APC. Non-PAANZ members and non-PNZ members are welcome.

Please bring a towel and shorts for both days

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

Presented by Gabriel Tan

Date and time: Saturday 1 August, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, and Sunday 2 August 2026, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm.

Location: Wellington

Course Description:

Foundation Acupuncture for Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy focuses on the practical integration of acupuncture within musculoskeletal and sports physiotherapy. The course simplifies acupuncture concepts and translates them into clear, clinically relevant applications specific to musculoskeletal physiotherapy, enhancing assessment, treatment, and performance outcomes.

The primary objective is to refine participants’ ability to apply acupuncture alongside musculoskeletal physiotherapy using sound clinical reasoning. Acupuncture is positioned as a tool to extend physiotherapy practice, supporting the management of musculoskeletal conditions, injury rehabilitation, performance optimisation, and injury prevention.

Through structured instruction and hands-on application, participants will develop greater proficiency in musculoskeletal assessment, biomechanical analysis, and the integration of established physiotherapy treatment principles. Strategic acupuncture application is explored not only as an adjunct for pain and injury management, but also as a proactive intervention to improve tissue capacity, movement efficiency, and functional recovery in both athletic and general populations.

The curriculum emphasizes streamlined treatment approaches, clinically efficient protocols, and practical skill development. Learning is reinforced through immediate clinical effects observed during practical sessions, supported by real-world case studies drawn from current practice with high-performance athletes competing at the highest professional levels. These approaches are directly transferable to everyday clinical settings.

This course is designed for musculoskeletal physiotherapists and practitioners who are already competent in needling techniques and wish to deepen their musculoskeletal understanding through targeted acupuncture application. Completion of Foundation Acupuncture Parts A and B, or equivalent acupuncture competency, is strongly recommended to ensure participants can fully engage with and apply the course content.

Prerequisites: All attendees must be registered in New Zealand with a current Annual Practising Certificate (APC) that includes needling within their scope of practice.

Pricing:

PAANZ member rate $600.00. Click here for PAANZ member discount code.
PNZ member rate $750.00
Non PNZ member rate $900.00

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 to address the underlying causes of some of the more common clinical presentations we treat. Having taught over 240 introductory and advanced courses for AUT, PAANZ, the APA of Australia and Asia over the last 18 years. Trevor brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his teaching in this specialty area.

Prerequisites: All attendees must be registered in New Zealand and have a current APC. Non-PAANZ members and non-PNZ members are welcome.

Please bring a towel and shorts for both days

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

**Registrations to open in late February**

Course Description:

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 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.

Having taught over 240 introductory and advanced courses for AUT, PAANZ, the APA of Australia and Asia over the last 18 years, Trevor brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his teaching in this specialty area.

Course Prerequisites:

Attendance requires completion of one of the following courses:

• PAANZ Foundation Dry Needling Course,
• APA Introductory Segmental and Dry Needling Course, or
• 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 prerequisite for the Advanced Course. All attendees must be registered as a health professional in New Zealand and have a current APC.

Venue: AUT North Campus, Akoranga Drive, Auckland. Click here for a map

Dates and time: Saturday, 10 October 2026, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Course Description:

1. Review key mechanisms of manual therapy and needling in the light of current pain sciences

2. Discuss combining needling with manual therapy

3. Review current safety guidelines for needling

4. Review contraindications to manual therapy

5. Select multimodal treatment approaches for cervicogenic headaches

Date and time: Thursday 10 October 2026, 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Location: Online, via Zoom

Event Description:

Vignette evenings are an interactive session. You do not have to provide a case study and there will be breakout groups to discuss the cases brought up for discussion.

The case studies he will be discussing in the upcoming vignette will draw from the clients and experiences he has had.

Venue: AUT North Campus, Akoranga Drive, Auckland. Click here for a map

Dates and time: Sunday 11 October 2026, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Course Description:

1. Review the anatomy of the lung fields
2. Review key acupuncture point and trigger point locations over the lung fields
3. Review needling techniques to ensure safety of practice over the lung fields
4. Review patient screening for acupuncture
5. Review the practice of gaining of appropriate informed consent
6. Reflect on the current literature on pneumothoraces and its implications to current practice

Course Description:

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 to address the underlying causes of some of the more common clinical presentations we treat. Having taught over 240 introductory and advanced courses for AUT, PAANZ, the APA of Australia and Asia over the last 18 years. Trevor brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his teaching in this specialty area.

Prerequisites: All attendees must be registered in New Zealand and have a current APC. Non-PAANZ members and non-PNZ members are welcome.

Please bring a towel and shorts for both days

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