Prescriptions

How prescriptions work and an online form that you can use to request a repeat prescription for a medication you've had before.

A prescription is a formal communication from your healthcare provider to a pharmacist, authorising them to dispense (supply) a specific prescription medication for you specifically.

On this page:

Update to prescription policies

From February 2026, the prescribing law will allow prescribers to issue prescriptions for up to 12 months for some medications (excluding controlled drugs).

Please discuss prescription duration with your prescriber at your next appointment and book your next appointment in advance.It is important to note that the duration of any prescription will remain a clinical decision, based on individual circumstances, safety considerations, and best-practice guidelines. Many medications will not be suitable for longer prescriptions, as regular clinical review is required for safe practice.  Pharmacies will continue to dispense medications 3 monthly (6 months for contraception). Prescriptions cannot be transferred between pharmacies.

When a prescription is issued, it will be for the appropriate duration until the next clinical review is required. You will need to book in advance a follow-up review appointment at the appropriate time to ensure ongoing safe and effective prescribing. Requests for repeat prescriptions without a clinical review appointment should, in general, no longer be required unless there are specific circumstances you have arranged with your provider.

First-time prescriptions

You may be given a prescription for a medication or treatment during your appointment with a doctor or nurse practitioner at Mauri Ora. Prescriptions are provided at the discretion of our clinicians—they will not prescribe a medication for you if they do not think it is appropriate, even if you request it.

Let your doctor or nurse know what your choice of pharmacy is to collect your prescription. This may be the pharmacy on our Kelburn campus, one near our Pipitea or Te Aro campuses, or one closer to where you live.

Repeat prescriptions

If you have been prescribed a medication by one of our doctors within the past 12 months, you may be able to request a repeat of that prescription using the online form below or through the myIndici patient portal. These are some things to consider:

  • Before you request a repeat prescription, check that your pharmacy doesn't already have repeats waiting for you.
  • We process non-urgent requests within 2–3 business days. Business days are Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays. There is a charge for urgent requests with a turn-around time of one business day.
  • If further details are required, a nurse will ring you—make sure you answer your phone.
  • If you require a repeat prescription for an antidepressant or a controlled drug, you may need to make an appointment with a doctor.

If you haven't been prescribed the medication within the last 12 months or it was prescribed by a doctor outside of Mauri Ora, you will need to make an appointment with one of our doctors.

The repeat prescription form will ask you to select a pharmacy. We will send the prescription to that pharmacy for you to collect. There is a charge for redirecting your prescription to another pharmacy.

Repeat prescription form

Click the box below to access the form.

Prescription and medicine costs

The standard charge is currently $5 for each prescribed medicine, which is paid to the pharmacy at the time of collection. Most students are eligible for a Community Services Card and don't need to pay the standard charge.

We won't charge you for non-urgent requests for repeat prescriptions if you are a domestic, Manaaki, or ELTO student and enrolled with Mauri Ora. There are charges for urgent requests or requests to change the pharmacy pick-up location (redirection).

List of Mauri Ora costs