She paid $24,882.27 in instalments and a lump-sum payment, midwifery council chief executive Sharron Cole said recently.
That enabled an application by the council to make her bankrupt being struck out in the High Court at Dunedin, a week ago today.
The woman, who has permanent name suppression, was ordered to pay costs to the council in 2009 after the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal found her guilty of negligence and bringing the profession into disrepute.
While it was pleasing the debt had been paid, Ms Cole said, debt recovery was an increasing issue for the council and she was "getting tough" on debtors.
The Central Otago midwife was the first against whom the council had initiated bankruptcy action but other midwives had in the past received "stern letters" or visits from debt collectors.
The council had hired a private investigator to try to locate one North Island midwife who had "disappeared" owing money, she said.
"We wish we don't have to go that far, but sometimes we have to ... We're not trying to be punitive. We are just trying to recover money which is legitimately owing."
At present the council was owed $120,000, which Ms Cole said related mainly to disciplinary tribunal costs and council-ordered competence orders and supervision orders.
A Christchurch midwife found guilty by the disciplinary tribunal owed the bulk of that money, more than $80,000.
The council's only income came from $400 in fees and levies each of the country's 3044 midwives paid annually, and midwives and the council had made it clear midwives who owed money should pay up, she said.
Much of the debt dated back several years.
"Some midwives leave the industry and think the money they owe us doesn't count any more, but yes, it does."
Times were tough for everyone and midwives had to realise the council had to balance its books too, Ms Cole said.
