On 4 December 2025, the director general of health published a new Gazette notice listing the prescription medicines registered nurses prescribing in primary health and specialty teams (registered nurse prescribers) are permitted to prescribe (the medicine list). Overall, the new medicines list extends the availability of medicines that nurses are able to prescribe. The list has been extended by an additional 202 medicines.

An amendment to the Medicines Regulations 1984 (Regulation 44A) to enable authorised vaccinators to administer vaccines and medicines for the purposes of an approved immunisation programme came into force on Friday 19 December 2025. This means that authorised vaccinators no longer require a prescription.

Te Whatu Ora has confirmed that the reporting start date for the new National Primary Care Data Set and the data-sharing requirements linked to contingent capitation, has been extended to 31 March 2026. We’ll provide a clear summary of what this means for Pinnacle practices, including options and next steps, once the final Data Access and Use Agreement and framework are released in early 2026.

The New Zealand Graduate School of Medicine is seeking GPs to contribute to Year 1 curriculum development. Opportunities are available across nine block courses, with less than 10 hours’ commitment, remote participation and remuneration provided. Register your interest.

Aotearoa New Zealand is transitioning from Comirnaty JN.1 to Comirnaty LP.8.1 vaccine. Providers can now order Comirnaty 10mcg LP.8.1 for use from 1 January 2026; there is no change to vial presentation or pack size.
Please continue using existing 10mcg JN.1 stock through December and dispose of remaining vials at year end. Transitions for 3mcg (ages 6 months–4 years) and 30mcg (ages 12+) vaccines are planned for February-March 2026. Please ensure the correct vaccine is recorded in AIR during the transition.

The National Public Health Service has developed the Guidelines for Immunisation Management in Primary Care as part of the Declined Immunisation Action Plan. The guidelines standardise follow-up for declined, delayed, and missed immunisations and strengthen culturally safe engagement with whānau.

Read the latest clinical updates for Taranaki including the referral process to Rehab Taranaki for ACC concussion services via BPAC and an updated version of the database of NGOs operating within Taranaki.

ACC has moved the ACC32 treatment extension request form, used by providers under the allied health services contract or cost of treatment regulations, to ProviderHub, ACC’s new online portal for health sector providers. The ACC32 form is no longer be available on the ACC website.

Te Whatu Ora is streamlining the training and authorisation pathway for authorised vaccinators, creating a consistent national process. This includes the rollout of the workforce requests portal, an online tool for vaccinators to submit authorisation applications. To ensure pre-holiday processing, submit applications by 12 December with all required documentation as there will be a pause in application processing over the holiday period.

Te Kaunihera Manapou | Paramedic Council is consulting on the potential introduction of designated prescribing authority for paramedics in Aotearoa New Zealand. Under the proposal, only registered paramedics who complete an approved postgraduate prescribing qualification, and meet additional requirements, would be able to prescribe medicines. A strong response to the consultation will help capture the full range of views on paramedic prescribing.