As of 1 February 2026, changes to New Zealand’s prescribing rules for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) stimulant medicines have come into effect.

Public Health Guidance for Hairdressers and Barbers outlines practical actions that hairdressers and barbers can take to reduce the spread of infection. It covers hygiene, equipment handling, and ...

Tatau Kahukura 2024 provides a snapshot of the health of Māori compared with non-Māori. It presents key indicators relating to the socioeconomic determinants of health, risk and protective factors for ...

Our climate is changing. These changes are affecting what we value most in our lives, including our health and wellbeing. This first Health National Adaptation Plan (HNAP) is an important step towards ...

Health providers and products we regulate, and laws we administer.

This review updates the evidence regarding community water fluoridation published since the 2021 report from the Office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor.

This literature review summarises the latest national and international evidence of the safety and long-term impacts of puberty blockers on adolescents. It was accompanied by the Ministry’s position ...

The End of Life Choice Act 2019 (the Act) came into force on the 7 November 2021. This established the Assisted Dying – Ngā Ratonga Mate Whakaahuru service in New Zealand Aotearoa. The Ministry of ...

The consultation on safety measures for the use of puberty blockers in young people with gender-related health needs closed on 20 January 2025. We will now consider submissions.BackgroundThe ...

From 1 February 2026, specialist general practitioners and nurse practitioners working within their area of practice will be able to diagnose and prescribe for adults with ADHD. Nurse practitioners in ...

In February 2024, the High Court directed the Director-General of Health to assess whether each of the 14 directions to fluoridate one or more water supplies made in 2022 were, in terms of section 5 ...

The Ministry of Health wants to hear your feedback on the proposed amendments to the specified prescription medicines list for designated pharmacist prescribers. The current schedule of prescription ...