What it means for New Zealanders
From 1 February 2026, prescribing rules changed so that people with stable, well-controlled, long-term conditions may be able to continue accessing their medicines for longer periods between appointments with their prescriber.
Previously, the maximum length for most prescriptions was 3 months.
Under the new settings, prescribers can now issue prescriptions for up to 12 months, when clinically appropriate. This reduces the cost and inconvenience of continued appointments to renew prescriptions.
Prescribers will continue to decide the quantity of medicine to be supplied at each dispensing, based on individual circumstances and what is clinically best for patients.
The maximum supply at any one time remains at 3 months (or 6 months for oral contraceptives).
How it works
The first dispensing of a prescription must occur within 3 months of the date it was written. If it is not presented to a pharmacist within that time, a new prescription is required.
After the first dispensing, the rest can be dispensed at any time up to 12 months, up to the quantity authorised by the prescriber. After the 12-month period ends, no repeats can be dispensed.
Repeat dispensings need to be collected from the same pharmacy (once dispensed, a prescription can’t be transferred to another pharmacy).
It remains the patient’s responsibility to request and collect their repeats. Some pharmacies will issue reminders. Automatic dispensing of repeats is not appropriate in many cases, because patients’ circumstances can change.
Patients are encouraged to contact their pharmacy to request repeats before they go in to collect them. This is to give the pharmacy time to safely prepare repeats. Some pharmacies will also deliver your medicines to your home.
Costs
Patients will only have to pay a prescription co-payment once, on the first dispensing of a new prescription. Repeat dispensings do not require further co-payments.
There are no changes to eligibility for prescription fee exemptions or the prescription subsidy scheme.
More information about prescription costs can be found on Health New Zealand’s website.
Controlled drugs
These changes do not include controlled drugs medicines (eg, opioids, ADHD stimulants, benzodiazepines).
Find out more about the maximum period of supply for controlled drug prescriptions.
Who can issue 12-month prescriptions
All authorised prescribers under the Medicines Act 1981 can issue 12-month prescriptions. This includes:
- medical practitioners
- dentists
- optometrists
- nurse practitioners
- registered nurse prescribers
- pharmacist prescribers
- midwives
- dietitian prescribers
- podiatrist prescribers.
Each prescriber must act within their professional scope of practice. For example, midwives may prescribe longer durations for medicines relevant to pregnancy, but only while the patient remains under their care.
Prescribers must continue to meet their professional standards and always act in their patients’ best interests. They will still determine the appropriate prescription length for each patient, based on individual circumstances.
