New and reappointed members of the Pharmacy Council, appointed by the Associate Minister of Health, were announced on 30 July.

“We are very pleased to see the high interest people had in joining the Pharmacy Council, and we welcome the new Council members,” said Ming-chun Wu, Pharmacy Council Chair.

The new appointees are:

• Ben Oldfield – an experienced pharmacist with a focus on clinical research, currently Head Pharmacist at New Zealand Clinical Research.
• David Postlewaight – a pharmacist owner with New Zealand and international experience, based in Whangārei.
• Chris Jay – a pharmacist with wide sector knowledge, currently working as the Practice and Policy Manager at the Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand.
• John Roberts – a lay member with extensive experience as an Independent Director.

Natalia Nu’u has been reappointed for another term, and rejoins existing appointees Ming-chun Wu (Chair), Katrina Azer, and Ahmad Zareh who are still in their current Council terms.

“It’s great to see the Council continue to have such high calibre members around the table,” said Michael Pead, Pharmacy Council Chief Executive.

Departing Council members are Arthur Bauld, Dr Amy Chan, Mariana Hudson, and Michelle Lomax (who resigned earlier). 

Ming-chun said, “On behalf of the entire Pharmacy Council team, we’d like to thank and acknowledge the hard work of our departing Council members. Their expertise and guidance over the past term has helped to put the Pharmacy Council in an excellent position.”

The new appointees take office on 4 August and will be welcomed into the Pharmacy Council with a mihi whakatau on Tuesday 19 August before heading into their first meeting as a new Council.

We are looking for practising pharmacists who are keen to become Pharmacy Practice Law and Ethics Interviewers. Read more on our Vacancies page and send in your application by 18 August 2025.

Pharmacists from overseas jurisdictions and some pharmacists returning to practice after a long absence must take the Pharmacy Practice Law and Ethics Interview as part of their registration or practising certificate process. Successfully completing the interview provides the Council with assurance that the pharmacist is ready to practise independently, safely and competently within New Zealand.

As a Law and Ethics Interviewer, you will conduct interviews using the established method and process. Your role will involve:

• Using the interview to gather evidence of the pharmacist’s knowledge and understanding of New Zealand pharmacy practice, law and ethics and cultural competence
• Assessing English language proficiency and communication skills
• Evaluating the pharmacist’s professional attitudes and behaviours
• Reporting findings to the Council, including a recommendation on whether the pharmacist has demonstrated the understanding and skills required to practise independently and safely in New Zealand

Interviewers are engaged on an as-needed basis, with interviews scheduled in alignment with their availability. Interviews may be conducted either online or in person, depending on the circumstances. Interviewers receive a set rate that covers preparation, the interview itself, and the completion of the report. Appointments are typically for a one-year term, with the option to extend by mutual agreement.

Skills and experience required 

We are looking for experienced pharmacists who demonstrate the following:  

• Minimum of three years’ registration and practice experience in New Zealand
• Strong understanding of current New Zealand pharmacy legislation, standards, and ethical frameworks
• Experience in pharmacy education, assessment against standards, or mentoring (e.g., preceptor, teaching, or professional development)
• Cultural competence and experience working with people from diverse backgrounds
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Confidence using digital tools and systems for remote interviews and documentation
• Reasonable availability to conduct interviews as needed

Full training and ongoing support will be provided to successful applicants. 

If you are interested in becoming a Pharmacy Practice Law and Ethics Interviewer, please click through to our vacancies page to find out more, and send in your application by 18 August 2025.

The Pharmacy Council is aware that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used as a tool across homes and workplaces, and there’s currently no explanation of how it could, or should, be used by pharmacists.

We are keen to hear whether this toolkit is useful in the New Zealand context, or whether further guidance is needed. We encourage you to contact your professional association with your thoughts and ideas on pharmacy AI in general and this toolkit in particular.

Recently, the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) launched a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) Toolkit for pharmacy which provides pharmacists with a comprehensive, practical guide to integrating AI into daily practice.  

The toolkit offers structured guidance on AI adoption, covering ethical considerations, implementation strategies, regulatory compliance, and real-world applications to help pharmacists optimise patient care and enhance operational efficiency. The toolkit also addresses key challenges such as variability in clinical guidelines, data privacy concerns, and commercial pressures.   

The use of the toolkit into pharmacy operations can be transformational, with due consideration to high-level practice requirements as described by Council’s standards, for example, making effective decisions, applying evidence-informed practice to assesses and evaluate information (noting reliability and validated sources of information, awareness of bias and impact on equity), and only practicing under conditions which uphold the professional independence, judgement and integrity of themselves and others. 

Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand has also published its guidance on the use of AI within New Zealand, available on their website. Some of the key risks are also highlighted there, for example, privacy, and inaccurate information. 

It is important for pharmacists to understand their professional obligations, be accountable and transparent with the AI systems that they use, safeguard patient personal data and ultimately, protect patient safety. This toolkit could help to bridge that gap. 

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The Pharmacy Council is seeking feedback from individuals and organisations on the following proposal:  

The addition of the University of Waikato’s Master of Pharmacy Practice as a prescribed qualification for the Intern Pharmacist Scope of Practice and Pharmacist Scope of Practice

You can read the full consultation document and send in your feedback on our Consultations page.

The University of Waikato has developed and is now offering a Master of Pharmacy Practice (MPharmPrac) to students who hold a relevant Bachelor degree and otherwise meet the programme’s enrolment criteria. An aim of this new qualification is to ensure a sustainable workforce of pharmacists to meet the needs of New Zealand’s growing population.

The Pharmacy Council is proposing, under section 12 of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act, to include the MPharmPrac degree as a prescribed qualification for the Intern Pharmacist and Pharmacist scopes of practice. This will allow MPharmPrac graduates to apply for registration first as Intern Pharmacists and then as Pharmacists once they have successfully met the requirements for registration as a pharmacist. The qualification has already been assessed and accredited by Council against the Accreditation Standards.

Council invites responses to this proposal for six weeks, with all responses to be submitted by 12 September 2025.

We invite responses from members of the pharmacy profession, patients and other interested individuals, and organisations. Council will review and consider all responses received prior to making a final decision on the proposal.

This consultation and a summary of the responses received will be published on Council’s website and will remain available to the public.