eMatters Newsletter - December 2025

A word from our Secretary | Carol Neki

Kia ora

This edition of the PMAANZ Newsletter brings together highlights from a vibrant year of activity, connection, and advocacy. We reflect on the success of AAPMAANZ25 in Melbourne and look ahead to next year’s conference in Wellington, celebrate new executive members and acknowledge those stepping into fresh roles, and share practical insights for practice managers navigating patient payments and automation. Updates from branches across New Zealand showcase local networking and festive plans, while key articles address timely health topics such as paracetamol safety, men’s health initiatives, and the upcoming changes to 12-month prescribing in general practice. As the holiday season approaches, we encourage members to pause, recharge, and enjoy the strength of our community.

Ngā mihi o te wā kirihimete me te tau hou!

Carol Neki | PMAANZ Executive National Secretary

A word from our Chair | Mary Morrissey

Kia ora koutou katoa  

Thanks to the members who joined us in Melbourne for AAPMAANZ25, it was a great few days. I trust you enjoyed the sessions and got to network during the day and at the social functions. In case you haven’t heard, PMAANZ26 is at the Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington. I’ll let Jen tell you more about Melbourne & the dates for Wellington.

As well as the usual meetings I attend on your behalf, this year I was invited to the ACC Primary Care External Reference Group, looking at options for ACC to work better with Primary Care. As well as the Capitation Re-weighting Technical Advisory group I have also been on the Primary Health Target Advisory group. It is a testament to our organisation that we are asked to be part of these groups.

News from the Executive, Roshan Fernando, stood down at our AGM in September. Thanks, Roshan, for your work within the Communication portfolio. Welcome to Ruth Mansell, who joined the Executive at the AGM.

Current portfolio holders are:

• Communications - Karen Greer
• Conference – Jen Kaponga
• Education – Niomi Fleming
• Membership - Ruth Mansell
• Secretary – Carol Neki
• Treasurer – Wendy Harris

Please remember to reach out to the pool of knowledge we have within our membership. With the changes to Messenger we have had to re do our groups, we still have separate ones for Allied Health, Medtech, and Indici, as well as our main member’s chat. Due to the complexity of managing the messenger pages we have decided to keep the pages open to all paid PMAANZ members, reflecting our commitment to unity rather than segregation. If you would like to have a private conversation with members, you can create a side chat. Flick Carole or any of the executive a message if you want to join any of those groups. You can also reach out via email, Facebook, Messenger, LinkedIn, or Instagram.  

Hard to believe Christmas is nearly here, I hope you are all planning to have a break over the summer. It's important to rest and recharge our batteries too. I am certainly looking forward to some down time; I don’t have anything planned but I will be enjoying lots of time at the beach and swimming in the sea.

Merry Christmas and a Happy and safe New Year to you all.

Ngā mihi o te wa kirihimete me te tau hou

Mary Morrissey | Chair PMAANZ

Welcome to our new members!

September 2025

• Priscilla Hodge - Waikato
• Donnelle Jones - Waikato
• Megan Quinn - Canterbury
• Angela Quinlan - Waikato

October 2025

• Caroline Boyce - Canterbury
• Cassidy George - Auckland
• Liezel van den Bergh - Canterbury
• Shona Earl - Wellington
• Janie Campbell - Wellington

November 2025

• Teri Affleck - Waikato
• Jenna Baker - Auckland

2025 Practice Management of the Year

Congratulations to our winner for 2025 for Practice Management of the Year.

Keren Hoogwerf

Thanks to GenPro for judging this year and to all the entries that we received.

Advert - Manage My Health

How to take the awkwardness out of patient payments

Where care and money meet

In general practice, money sits in the background, never quite welcome in the clinical room yet never far from the work of sustaining a clinic. Practice managers live in two worlds at once. One is clinical, where care leads. The other is administrative, where the flow of revenue keeps the doors open. These worlds often intersect at reception, a place where overdue fees collide with people seeking help.

Why payment conversations remain difficult

Patients rarely view healthcare as a standard transaction. A fee can feel unexpected or poorly timed, especially during illness. Staff experience their own hesitation. Few want to raise accounts during moments of vulnerability. The result is delay, growing aged debt and recurring administrative effort that draws time away from patient care.

How automation changes the dynamic

Manage My Health now offers automated payments within the same portal patients use for bookings and repeat prescriptions. Payment becomes part of the existing online routine rather than an in-person conversation. The process is private and consistent. The fee sits alongside the request, not after it.

Simple actions that help patients navigate fees

1. Keep payment expectations visible in the portal so patients know what the fee relates to.
2. Use consistent wording across all touchpoints to reduce confusion at reception.
3. Review recurring patient queries to refine your financial communication.
4. Confirm patient contact details regularly so reminders reach the right person.
5. Align payment processes with clinical workflows to avoid extra steps for staff.

Upfront prescription payments as a practical step

Repeat prescriptions are well suited to upfront payment. A patient requests a script, sees the fee and pays within the same interaction. The request and payment arrive together. Staff avoid follow up calls, printed statements or repeated reminders. Patients move through a familiar online pattern that mirrors how they already pay for other services.

Implications for practice managers

For clinics, automated payments reduce manual handling. They shorten the path from request to revenue and lower the number of difficult exchanges at the front desk. Staff can reserve discretion for genuine hardship, rather than for routine balances. The system provides consistency while leaving room for compassion.

Keeping the focus on care

Automation does not change the role of the practice. It does not place finance ahead of clinical need. It simply removes friction so that interactions between patients and staff can stay centred on health. In an environment where resources are tight and community expectations are rising; fewer administrative burdens can support both financial stability and patient trust.

To find out how your clinic can implement Manage My Health Online Payments, visit the News and Events page at www.managemyhealth.co.nz or contact info@mmhglobal.com

NZ Doctor

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BMJ Best Practice, the top-ranked clinical decision support tool, is now FREE for all Health New Zealand GPs and primary care staff. 

Access it anytime through your local HealthPathways website.

Get started today! Visit bestpractice.bmj.com/info/new-zealand for more information.

Health New Zealand staff enjoy unlimited access to:

• Trusted, evidence-based guidance for the most commonly encountered conditions and symptoms, intuitively structured for immediate use at the point of care
• A unique Comorbidities Manager for treatment advice on a patient's acute condition alongside any pre-existing comorbidities
• Our top-rated, award-winning app, available offline for easy access on the road, during home visits or in rural locations
• Step-by-step treatment algorithms providing guidance for all patient groups and sub-groups on one page, to mirror the patient journey
• Links to the New Zealand Formulary and New Zealand Formulary for Children for local drug information
• 6000+ international, Australasian and NZ guidelines
• CME/CPD tracking for a range of Australasian and NZ medical, nursing and other professional colleges.

Need access support or materials to share with your team? Email us at info.apac@bmj.com

Please help us spread the word by forwarding this information to your colleagues at Health New Zealand who might be interested in trying the resource. 

Conference Update | Jen Kaponga

Strengthening Our Trans-Tasman Ties: Reflections on AAPMAANZ 2025

The AAPMAANZ Conference held at the Melbourne Convention Centre from Tuesday 21st to Friday 24th October 2025 was a resounding success and an incredibly rewarding experience to be part of.

It was fantastic to see so many Kiwis cross the ditch to attend an event that last took place in Hobart a decade ago. A heartfelt thank you to Hiria Nielsen and Regan Taia for the beautiful welcome and the joining of the Taonga, it was deeply moving and truly special.

Over the course of the conference, we hosted seven NZ concurrent sessions, which received excellent feedback, including from our Australian colleagues who joined us.

In the plenary sessions:

• Lovey Ratima-Rapson delivered a powerful talk on Leading Through Uncertainty: Building Resilience in Healthcare Management.
• A joint NZ/Aus panel explored Weather Responses and Business Disruptions, featuring Michelle Te Kira, Jackie Beer, and Richard Boothby.
• Another session highlighted Effective Practice Management, with insights from Stuart Bunt, Ruth Debuque, Henrietta Taia, and Bethan Rajwer.

The conference showcased the unity between PMAANZ and AAPM, with a shared mission of professional development, innovation, and mutual support.

A huge congratulations to Keren Hoogwerf, who was awarded Practice Manager of the Year, a well-deserved recognition!

We’re also grateful to our exhibitors who travelled with us: Medtech, Manage My Health, Cloudland, Indici, YesMedical, Webtools, and Florence, thank you for your support and presence.

Outside the conference hustle (and clocking up plenty of steps!), I managed to enjoy a bit of Melbourne CBD — shopping, of course!   a winery tour and cherished time with my moko’s who live there.

Looking ahead, I’m super excited for next year’s conference in Wellington, at the Michael Fowler Convention Centre, from 17–19 September 2026 — mark your calendars!

As the year winds down and the holiday season approaches, I wish you all a safe and joyful Christmas and New Year. Take those well-deserved breaks. For me, my hubby and I are looking forward to fishing and relaxing, we’ve graduated from tenting to glamping in our caravan!

Hari Kirihimete

Jen Kaponga | PMAANZ Conference Convenor 

Communications Update | Karen Greer

Well, the year is nearly over, and what an amazing year it has been for PMAANZ.

A warm welcome to our newest executive member, Ruth Mansell, who has taken on the membership portfolio. I have moved into the communications role as Roshan has stepped down due to family commitments. We wish you all the very best, Roshan.

For those who attended the conference in Melbourne, you’ll know we experienced all four seasons in one day,  but what a fantastic event together with our AAPM colleagues. Both the Australian and New Zealand speakers were outstanding, and on a personal note, it was wonderful to catch up with members and exhibitors from across both countries.

AAPM certainly knows how to run a great conference. To the AAPM Conference Team,  I take my hat off to you. It’s no easy task, and you were absolutely amazing. The aroha we received was truly appreciated.

A big thank you to the entire executive team for the hard mahi that went into preparing for conference.

I even managed to squeeze in a little shopping in the CBD. While waiting for my Uber, in the middle of bustling Melbourne, I heard someone calling my name: “Karen, Karen!” I looked across the pedestrian crossing, and there was a lovely wahine waving and saying hello (you know who you are!). It was such a lovely surprise to see you.

I’m really looking forward to catching up with you all again at our next conference in Wellington. I will be standing down in 2026, so if you’re interested in joining the executive team, please let us know. It’s an amazing experience and a wonderful team to be part of.

Congratulations to Keren Hoogwerf, who was presented with Practice Manager of the Year.

As mentioned, I am now in the communications role on the executive team. If you have any ideas for webinars, you’d like us to run, please let me know.

I hope you all have a great Christmas and a fantastic New Year

Karen Greer | PMAANZ Communications

Education Update | Niomi Fleming

As we reach the end of another busy year, it feels like the perfect time to pause, exhale, and soak up a bit of Christmas cheer. December has a way of reminding us of what truly matters: connection, kindness, and taking a well-earned moment to celebrate the wins we often rush past during the year.

One of those wins was the fantastic Melbourne conference in October. Many of our members walked away feeling energized, inspired, and reminded of the strength of our community. From insightful speakers to the buzz of hallway conversations, it was a valuable chance to reconnect, share ideas, and celebrate the work we do across practices every day while learning how our neighbours navigate Practice management. The energy and enthusiasm from that event have carried beautifully into the end of the year.

Now, as the fairy lights switch on and the calendars quiet down, it’s a great time to enjoy the simple things good company, warm weather, and of course, something delicious from the kitchen. Here’s a quick festive treat to brighten any table:

Christmas Berry White Chocolate Slice

Ingredients:
• 250g crushed plain biscuits
• 125g melted butter
• 1 cup dried cranberries
• ½ cup chopped pistachios
• 1 cup white chocolate melts

Method:

1. Mix biscuits and butter, press into a lined slice tin.
2. Melt white chocolate and fold in cranberries and pistachios.
3. Pour over the base and refrigerate for 2-3 hours. Slice and enjoy!

Wishing you a joyful, restful, and delicious Christmas season!

​Niomi Fleming | PMAANZ Education

Treasurer Update | Wendy Harris

A word from the Treasurer on Promoting Men’s Health: A Successful Prostate Cancer Awareness Visit

Earlier this month, a local business took an important step toward supporting the health and wellbeing of its male staff by contacting our clinical team to see if they would host an educational session on prostate cancer awareness and early testing. The initiative aimed to break down barriers around men’s health conversations and emphasize the importance of proactive screening.

Two of our amazing nurses got up bright and early to attend two of their 6.00am staff meetings with approximately 15 men in each session. The sessions were well-received, with staff engaging in open discussions about risk factors, symptoms, and the benefits of early detection. Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers among men, yet many delay testing due to stigma or lack of awareness. The nurses highlighted that early detection dramatically improves treatment outcomes, making regular check-ups a vital preventative measure.

Employees appreciated the practical advice and resources provided, including information on where and how to get tested. The Nurses even had a handy little tool where the employees could do an internal examination of the tool, see what the process involved and what a lump in the prostate feels like. Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing gratitude for the opportunity to learn in a comfortable, supportive environment.

Out of the 30 men who attended we have had contact from 10 who would like to have the initial testing done.  Such a great outcome.  I highly recommend contacting your local businesses to see if they would be keen to do a similar education session on this topic or another important health issue.

Wendy Harris | PMAANZ Treasurer

Membership Update | Ruth Mansell

Wow, we are nearly at the end of another year!

I am sure we will all be looking forward to the Christmas/New Year break.

Some of us will be working through but, just the few days break will be good. Hopefully we will have fine weather.

Hasn’t it been a busy year with all the changes in the healthcare sector? Capitation increasing, emphasis on childhood immunisations, new PHO’s forming and AI to name a few. And all through the changes you, the Practice Manager’s and Administration Manager’s are the glue that steady the Practice through the changes.

I am the new PMAANZ Membership portfolio holder. A big thank you to Karen Greer who has held this portfolio for the last few years.

I have been in a general practice setting for a long time. I started in reception and was shoulder tapped to become Practice Manager, at what was Stoddard Road Medical Centre. We have now become GP Central, as we have built a new satellite clinic on Dominion Rd and we couldn’t stay Stoddard Road Medical.  We have approx. 14500 patients.

I was fortunate that my predecessor already belonged to PMAANZ, so it was natural that I was to be signed up. I have found belonging to PMAANZ invaluable through my time as a Practice Manager.

My husband and I have 20 acres in West Auckland, with two adult daughters. For my down time, I need to exercise so that is either in my home gym or working around the property. Fencing is hard work!

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, queries or even if it is just to vent. Happy to listen or help if I can.

Ruth Mansell | PMAANZ Membership

Royal New Zealand College of GPs

College update: 12-month prescribing in general practice

From early-2026, GPs and other prescribers will be able to provide some patients with a prescription for 12-months - if it is clinically safe to do so. This is a significant change from the current three-month prescription length.

The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (the College) has released its position statement, 12-month prescribing in general practice, to provide general guidance for its members to consider when they are providing 12-month prescriptions and outlines how to apply the new changes safely and effectively in practice.

The change to 12-month prescribing is seen as a way to improve medicine access across New Zealand. However, for patients with complex health needs, limited access to care and systemic inequities this change may reduce opportunities for clinical review which could result in delayed intervention and poorer health outcomes.

Having clear and well-communicated safeguards in place is crucial both for the prescribing GPs and their patients.

Key points from the position statement include:

• The College adheres to Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) guidance
• Clinical judgement must be applied to all prescribing decisions; protecting patient safety is critical.
• The College recommends general practices:
  • Adopt their own in-house policy to guide their clinicians
  • Consider equity and access issues
  • Work collaboratively with pharmacists.

To keep patients informed and educated ahead of these changes coming into effect next year, the College has created a poster that can be displayed in waiting areas and consult rooms alongside a set of FAQs that can be provided to patients who would like more information.

Read the position statement, download the resources and read the recent media articles on the College’s 12-month prescribing hub. This page will be updated with new information and advice that is relevant and important to our members and their wider practice teams.

Update to Foundation Standard guidance – Indicator 9.1
This change to prescribing lengths has implications for repeat prescribing practices and patient safety. The Quality Programmes team at the College has updated the Foundation Standard guidance for Repeat Prescribing (criteria 9.1) to reflect this change. The updated guidance emphasises clinical judgement, patient safety and equity. We encourage all prescribers and their teams to familiarise themselves with the updated guidance and review and update the practice’s repeat prescribing policy and procedures to ensure prescribing practices remain safe, equitable, and patient-centred.

Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network

Rural Practices Carry More, Deal with More and Do More, with less

Does this sound like your day to day?

As a member of the Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network, you will be part of a supportive and action orientated community of rural health professionals.

Hauora Taiwhenua is the “go to” national voice for rural health. We advocate for rural needs to be seen, heard and acted upon.

“Great support and advocacy. A real voice for rural GP practices”, Anon, survey response 2024

What’s In It for Your Practice?

• Strong national advocacy for rural equity
  Whether it’s funding models, rural workforce recruitment, training or retention, after-hours coverage, digital connectivity, or sustainable practice modelling, we act on your feedback and take your concerns directly to national decision-makers.
• Connection with rural peers
  You’ll be part of a community that understands the pressures unique to rural practice. Attend webinars, contribute to rural surveys and connect at our rural summits.
• Advisory Service
  Our Advisory Service provides operational, HR, governance, and compliance advice. This a free service to members.
• Annual Rural Health Conference Discount
  Members receive discounted registration for the 21^st WONCA World Rural Health Conference in Aotearoa.
• Member-only savings
  Access 14c per litre off fuel at Mobil and Allied Service Stations for organisational fleets — particularly valuable for rural providers who travel long distances for outreach, home visits, and satellite clinics, plus much more.

Why Join Hauora Taiwhenua?

By joining Hauora Taiwhenua, you become part of a united movement that ensures rural health is front and centre at election time. We are actively preparing to influence the political agenda. We’ll engage directly with political leaders, advocate evidence-based policies, mobilise rural communities, and build strong partnerships to secure equitable health outcomes.

Joining now means you’ll have a seat at the table during this critical period.

It Takes 60 Seconds to Join

If you or your practice aren’t already a member, now’s the perfect time.

Register for membership today

Kia tipu, matomato ngā hapori i Aotearoa

Healthy and thriving rural communities in Aotearoa New Zealand

Healthify He Puna Waiora

Paracetamol safety: Why New Zealanders need clearer guidance

and where to find it

Paracetamol is often perceived as harmless, yet new research shows many New Zealanders are using it unsafely – sometimes without realising it.

A New Zealand online survey of 1,723 adults conducted by researchers at the University of Auckland found concerning knowledge gaps and unsafe practices:

• Around one in three took more than two tablets at once.
• 11% exceeded the daily limit of eight tablets within 24-hours.
• Half didn’t know some cold and flu products contain paracetamol.
• Two-thirds said their doctor or pharmacist hadn’t discussed the risks of taking too much paracetamol.

The findings suggest that clearer advice and public education is needed to help people use paracetamol safely, particularly around dose limits and hidden paracetamol in other medicines.  

Healthify can help

We offer a suite of practical, easy-to-use resources that support safe paracetamol use.  These include:

• A factsheet that outlines safe use, dose limits, hidden paracetamol in other medicines, and what to do in an overdose. Available in five languages.
• A paracetamol dose calculator to guide safe dosing for children.
• A printable child dosing chart that whānau can keep at home.
• A video on safe use of paracetamol for children.
• Webpages that explain safe use in plain language.

Sharing these resources with patients can support safer self-care and help protect whānau and communities from preventable harm.

Learn more: Marsh S, Kumpula EK, Hetrick S, Fortune S. Paracetamol-associated knowledge, attitudes and practices of the New Zealand public: an online survey. J Prim Health Care. 2025 Sep 5.

Auckland Branch Update

The Auckland Branch has been busy connecting and engaging with members over the past few months!

Our Breakfast Networking sessions, held every two months at different locations around Auckland, have been a great way for members to catch up, share ideas, and enjoy some early-morning coffee and conversation. Our first breakfast at Honey Café in Takapuna in September, was a fantastic start to this new initiative. Plans for the next breakfast are already in the works, details to be announced soon!

We’re also looking forward to a Christmas lunch/dinner on the 11^{th of} December 2025 to celebrate the year, share a laugh, and toast to another successful year together, so Auckland branch members, lock in this date!  Venue & Time to be confirmed.

A highlight for some of our members this year was attending the AAPMAANZ Conference in Melbourne, which offered plenty of networking, learning, and inspiration. Even for those who couldn’t make it, we’re bringing back ideas and enthusiasm to share within the branch.

As the year draws to a close, we’re excited about plans and ideas for 2026, including more networking opportunities, educational events, and ways to keep our Auckland members connected and supported.

Wishing everyone a happy and safe festive season, we look forward to seeing you in the new year!

Ngā mihi nui,
Samantha
Auckland Branch Coordinator

Canterbury Branch Update

Greetings from Canterbury branch

We are enjoying some warmer weather down here. The buildup to the holiday period has started.

I am aware that there are new members joining.  We are very keen to welcome existing and new members to our regular meetings.

Our last 4 meetings have been held as a breakfast meeting at The George in central Christchurch.  We find that morning meetings suit most people as it leaves most of your day free.

We usually have a topic to discuss with a presenter and there is always time for networking.  The networking is invaluable as it gives everyone an opportunity to ask all sorts of questions from other people in the same role.

We are scheduling an informal Christmas meal out on Thursday 4^th December in central Christchurch. The venue will be sent out shortly in a separate notice.  If you can make it, we'd love to see you there.

We had a small number of members attend the recent AAPMAANZ conference in Melbourne in October.  This was a great opportunity for learning and more networking. 

Wishing everyone a safe and sunny holiday period.

Chair | Canterbury Branch, PMAANZ

Books / Movies / Shows - recommended by our members

In this gripping standalone novel from James Patterson,  a woman facing mounting threats against her family must uncover the truth about her husband’s mysterious past before it’s too late.

Rhonda Hāpi-Smith has walked among some of New Zealand's most dangerous criminals. As a female prison officer and member of the Riot Squad, she met and worked with thieves, addicts, gangsters, murderers and sex offenders for nearly twenty years in men's prisons around the country.

Operating within an unspoken set of codes, Rhonda built a reputation for herself as fair but firm. She dealt with everything from mass riots and inter-gang hits to attempted escapes, suicides and segregated 'maxi' detainees.

But alongside the twisted and the downright terrifying, Rhonda shares stories of unlikely friendships, ingenious prison innovations, and moments of hilarity with some of the best people she's ever known. When you walk inside the wire, you leave the ordinary world behind. Put your game face on and here we go!

Ray Eke has always found peace in his job, collecting litter for the city council. Until the day he finds the brutalized, bloodless body of a girl on his round. He recognizes her immediately too. Lauren Pascoe went missing three years before.  It’s also clear she hasn’t been lying on the roadside verge all this time. Someone’s clearly been holding her prisoner. Keeping her as their very special toy.

The police know it couldn’t have been Ray, whose gentle heart is obvious to all. But then another girl is taken. And she’s someone who Ray had a connection to, back in his previous job as an accountant, before his breakdown…

The twists in this novel are guaranteed to leave readers with their jaws on the floor. Just when you think you know who the killer is, you’ll have your mind blown!

Prime Series

When an officer with the Department of Homeland Security is murdered in broad daylight, LAPD detective Mark Meachum (Jensen Ackles) is recruited to a secret task force, alongside undercover agents from all branches of law enforcement, to investigate. But the hunt for the killer soon uncovers a plot far more sinister than anyone could have imagined, kicking off a race against time to save a city of millions.

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