ADHD Aotearoa

03/03/2026

PHARMAC MEDICATION SHORTAGE

Medication Changes Matter - Stability Is Key

Ongoing ADHD medication shortages and changes to available formulations are creating real challenges.

For many especially those diagnosed in childhood finding the right medication and dose has taken years. Stability isn’t accidental, it’s carefully managed. GPs do not have the same specialist psychiatric training in ADHD management, which can make handling complex treatment responses or medication changes more challenging.

Some people are not responding well to the alternative medications being offered. Different stimulant medications have different release mechanisms, durations, and side-effect profiles they are not interchangeable. Substitutions may not produce the same outcomes, even for those who have relied on a specific medication for years.

This isn’t about resisting change. It’s about recognising that ADHD treatment is highly individual and stability matters.

If you or your whānau have been affected by medication changes or shortages, please share your experience below.

02/03/2026

I Haven’t Dropped This.

When Pharmac allowed GPs to diagnose adult ADHD, I opposed it. Not because adults don’t need support but because:

• We already had medication shortages
• Diagnosis costs were already high
• Specialist psychiatric expertise was being sidelined

Now we’re seeing reports that ADHD medication shortages could last all year.

The cost of adult diagnosis hasn’t meaningfully dropped.
Supply hasn’t stabilised.
And people are still struggling to access medication.

Some areas of the country seem unaffected. Others are experiencing real difficulty.
That inconsistency matters.

This was my concern in 2025 that expanding access without securing supply would put pressure on an already fragile system.

If your family is affected or if your area is not experiencing shortages I want to hear from you.

Please comment with:

Your region
The medication affected
How long you’ve been waiting

Real experiences matter.

A rise in ADHD patients were expected as rules changed this month to allow GPs and nurse practitioners to assess and prescribe medications.

17/02/2026

AN event not be to be missed

Two day - Introduction course to Understanding and Developing your Matekite gift.

16/02/2026

Health & Employment - Know Your Rights

A recent case saw a security guard sacked over painkillers and later awarded $45,000 after the Employment Relations Authority found the dismissal was unfair.

This is a reminder:

Your health or medication should never automatically cost you your job

Employers must follow fair procedures and consider reasonable accommodations

The ERA can order compensation if your rights are breached

Have you experienced a workplace dismissal related to health or medication? Share your story below (anonymously if you like).

Sacking was ‘not a decision that a fair and reasonable employer could come to’

14/02/2026

Important Health System Reality: Public Funding Changes at Age 18 (Not Just ADHD)

In Aotearoa, this is not an ADHD-only issue.

Across many areas of healthcare, public funding and access pathways change once a person turns 18.

What this means:

Children and young people often receive fully funded specialist care through public services

This includes assessments done by paediatricians and psychiatrists

After 18, many health conditions shift into adult services with limited public assessment access

Adults are often required to use private providers or face long waitlists

This impacts ADHD but it also affects mental health, neurodevelopmental conditions, and many specialist assessments.

Turning 18 does not mean needs disappear. It simply means the support pathway changes, and for many whānau, that comes with financial and access barriers.

While this is standard government policy, the transition at age 18 creates an access gap for many whānau especially those with lifelong health needs.

14/02/2026

🚨 CALL TO ACTION – Protect Your Employment Rights!

ARE YOU GOING TO LET THIS GOVERNMENT TAKE AWAY YOUR RIGHTS TO HOLIDAY PAY, SICK LEAVE, AND KIWISAVER TO PROTECT BUSINESSES MISUSING CONTRACTS?

Right now, thousands of workers are misclassified as “contractors” when they work like employees. The Uber drivers’ Supreme Court win showed that workers can challenge this misclassification but the government wants to change the law to make it harder or impossible to claim what you are legally entitled to.

💥 This affects:

Home cleaners

Courier drivers

Gig workers, security workers, plumber, builders, and many others.

Anyone told they are a “contractor” but work under employer control

Your rights are not optional they are protected by law.

📢 What you can do:

Share this post to warn others

Comment below if you’ve experienced misclassification

Stay informed - knowledge is the first step to protecting your entitlements

We cannot let this change go unnoticed. Workers’ rights must come before business shortcuts.

14/02/2026

Post 3 – Let’s Hear from You!

Have you ever been told you’re a contractor, but your work looked and felt like an employee?

True or False:
If a company controls your hours and tasks, you’re always a contractor.

Comment below with your answer — and share your story if you’ve experienced this. Your experience could help others understand their rights and avoid being misclassified.

Let’s get the conversation started!

13/02/2026

Post 2 – Misclassification and the Government’s Proposed Changes

Many workers are being called “contractors” but are doing the work of an employee. This is called misclassification and it can mean missing out on benefits like holiday pay, sick leave, and KiwiSaver.

The Uber Drivers’ Supreme Court Win

Uber drivers were told they were contractors but worked under conditions that defined them as employees.

The Supreme Court confirmed they were employees, entitled to backdated benefits.

This was a landmark win for workers’ rights.

Why the government wants to change the law

Currently, thousands of workers who have signed “contractor” agreements can challenge their status if the work conditions make them employees.

Proposed changes would make it harder or impossible to challenge misclassification, forcing workers to forfeit the entitlements they are legally entitled to.

While this benefits some businesses that have misused the “contractor” title, it weakens protections for workers, especially those in vulnerable positions.

Why it matters:

If this law passes, employees could lose the ability to claim their rightful benefits.

Workers doing home cleaning, courier services, and other gig work may be misled and denied their entitlements.

Your rights matter, understanding them is the first step to protecting yourself.

13/02/2026

Post 1 Contractor vs Employee: What You Need to Know

Understanding your employment status is critical for protecting your rights.

Contractor vs Employee:

Employee: Works under an agreement where the employer controls hours, tasks, and conditions. Employees are entitled to:

Holiday pay
Sick leave
KiwiSaver contributions
Other statutory protections under employment law

Contractor: Runs their own business, chooses their own hours, and pays their own taxes. Contractors don’t receive employee benefits.

Many workers assume “contractor” means independent freedom, but if your work is controlled by the employer, you may actually meet the legal definition of an employee.

Why this matters:

Employees have legally protected entitlements that contractors do not.

Knowing your status helps you claim the rights and benefits you’re entitled to.

12/02/2026

Employment Law Exists to Protect Workers — Not Businesses

Did you know?

Employment law was created to protect workers from exploitation, not to make life easier for businesses.

The government is now proposing changes that could weaken these protections, making it easier for businesses to mislead workers about their rights especially those told they are “contractors” but work like employees.

Your rights matter.

Understanding the difference between a contractor and an employee could protect you from being misled or exploited.

Stay tuned our upcoming series will break down what this means for workers, gig economy, cleaners, couriers, and more.

12/02/2026

Whānau, Know Your Rights!

ADHD Aotearoa NZ supports Māori and non-Māori whānau navigating ADHD and mental health at home, school, work, and in relationships.

We don’t give false hope we give clarity, guidance, and practical support, including legal updates and explanations of your rights.

Understanding your rights is the first step to protection and empowerment.
Share this post help another whānau gain the knowledge they deserve.