Tertiary Education Minister Steve Maharey has stepped aside from the row embroiling the Wellington School of Medicine.
Mr Maharey and Health Minister Annette King have sought briefings on the dispute, which has resulted in the resignations of 14 clinical lecturers.
Five senior general practitioners are understood to have also withdrawn their teaching services from the school.
Mr Maharey wanted assurances about educational standards, with medical students due to resume their studies this week.
Mrs King wanted to be sure the school's internal problems were not affecting clinical safety at Wellington Hospital.
A spokesman for Mr Maharey said the minister was satisfied after yesterday's briefing that it was a "matter within the university's role to fix."
Mrs King is not expected to hear back from the Ministry of Health about her concerns for several days.
Prime Minister Helen Clark also raised concerns over the impact of the dispute on students but was reticent about the row.
"I make no comment as to the rights and wrongs of the issue because one hears quite a bit of conflicting information about it."
Intensive care specialist Peter Roberts was among those who resigned.
He said yesterday the resignations were linked with the school's treatment of Professor Richard Beasley, a world-renowned asthma researcher no longer acting as head of the department of medicine. Dr Roberts said Professor Beasley was a person who was above reproach.
The university calendar lists 38 clinical senior lecturers in the Wellington department of medicine, but it is believed 14 from the neurology, cardiology and renal areas have resigned.
Such clinical lecturers usually undertake university teaching work part-time, receiving a modest honorarium.
The resignations began in December.
- NZPA
Govt cautious over medical school row
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