This article discusses the interface between health policy and education. Taking as a case example the power that regulatory "responsible authorities" have under the New Zealand "Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003" to define scopes of practice of health professionals, including that of educator, the article discusses the implications of such power with regard to health authorities determining curricula, and approving--or disapproving of--certain educators. The authors argue that such power, wielded by government appointees, represents a conservatising agenda, compromises the role of the university to be "a critic and conscience of society", and threatens the future of both independent health professionals and their educators. The research, conducted over some five years, is informed by relevant publications on professional regulation and the registration of professionals, and a critical review of the publications and websites of the various responsible authorities. The initial hypothesis that these authorities had--and have--different and differing views of this scope of practice and of the extension of their powers, was confirmed.