The Midwifery Council says it is doing all it can to prevent midwives who lack a current practising certificate from working illegally.
A Palmerston North community midwife who continued practising without a current certificate has been found guilty of professional misconduct and fined $6500.
In a decision issued on Friday, the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal said Patricia Mason worked as a midwife, caring for at least five pregnant women, for 68 days in 2010 and 2011 when she lacked an annual practising certificate.
The Midwifery Council says it repeatedly urged Ms Mason to renew her certificate, and alerted health authorities to ensure she was not paid and could not use public hospital birthing units.
But it says it can not do more, and women must ensure their midwife has a practising certificate.
The tribunal said a practitioner who works without such documentation is misrepresenting themselves, acting unprofessionally, and poses a potential risk to the public.
The Midwifery Council says Mason still lacks a practising certificate.
