Free HIV preventive treatment for all in Aotearoa
Recent amendments to the Healthy Futures (Pae Ora) Act mean that anyone in Aotearoa, regardless of visa status, is now eligible for fully funded HIV preventive treatment (which is a huge, huge win).
Check out our official media statement below, including whakaaro from Chief Executive, Liz Gibbs.
The Government's decision to expand access to HIV prevention tools to all people in New Zealand, regardless of their visa status, is great step forward for common-sense and evidence-based HIV prevention.
The change, enabled by The Healthy Futures (Pae Ora) (Eligibility) Regulations 2026, will come into effect on 1 December, quite appropriately, on World AIDS Day.
Under the new rules, publicly funded HIV prevention medicines will be available to anyone in New Zealand who meets the same clinical criteria already used for funded pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
Want the legalese?
The Ministry of Health has the extensive terms and conditions on their site.
Read hereThis means eligibility will be based on a person's risk of exposure to HIV, rather than their visa or immigration status.
In addition to providing access to the medicines themselves, the regulation change also provides for the associated lab testing required to prescribe and monitor treatment.
Burnett Foundation Aotearoa CEO Liz Gibbs says the change removes a longstanding and unnecessary barrier to HIV prevention. "As we learned with COVID-19, viruses do not check passports, visa categories or immigration status. If we are serious about ending HIV transmissions in Aotearoa, everyone who could benefit from prevention tools should be able to access them."
No more monitoring costs
Historically, these might have looked like (non-funded) clinic visits for tests, or blood testing services. These are all covered under the Amendment act, now 🎉
PrEP is one of the most effective HIV prevention tools we have. Expanding access will help protect individuals, reduce new transmissions and strengthen New Zealand's overall public health response.
The Foundation has long advocated for the removal of eligibility barriers to HIV prevention services and welcomed the change as an important step towards New Zealand's goal of zero locally acquired HIV transmissions by 2030.
Research and international experience show that making HIV prevention tools widely available is one of the most effective ways to reduce new infections. Ensuring that people can access PrEP based on risk rather than visa status will improve equity, reduce preventable HIV transmissions and help New Zealand maintain progress towards ending HIV transmission.
The change is particularly important given the mobile nature of communities across Aotearoa and the wider Pacific. Ensuring everyone at risk can access prevention services benefits both individuals and the broader community.
While welcoming the announcement, Burnett Foundation Aotearoa says further action is needed to ensure access to PrEP is practical and consistent.
"We've removed one important barrier, but there are still others," says Gibbs.
Zero by 2030
We have our focus set on eliminating local HIV transmissions by 2030, which takes more political advocacy.
Learn about the kaupapaWe also need funding to enable pharmacists to supply PrEP under appropriate clinical arrangements.
This would make access faster and easier, particularly for people who may not have a regular GP, fear stigma in small communities, or who face long waits or long trips for appointments."
Burnett Foundation Aotearoa will continue working with Health New Zealand, primary care providers and community stakeholders to ensure the benefits of the new regulations translate into real-world improvements in access to HIV prevention services.
This shows what can be achieved when public health policy follows evidence
"World AIDS Day is an appropriate day for these changes to take effect. It's a reminder that ending HIV transmission is possible, but only if everyone who needs prevention, testing and treatment can access it."