Business leaders, cultivators, manufacturers, clinicians, prescribers, regulators, and other stakeholders from across New Zealand’s medicinal cannabis sector gathered in Auckland on 20 October for the 2026 Industry Day, Shaping What’s Next.
Almost 100 people came together to discuss the sector’s opportunities and challenges, from leadership and collaboration to export development, regulatory engagement, roadside drug testing, and clinical evidence.
The overwhelming take away from the day? Colloaboration will be key to taking our sector to the next level.
Recognising Our Foundations
The day opened with a mihi whakatau from Panapa Ehau, co-founder and Executive Director of Rua Bioscience, one of the original pioneers of New Zealand’s medicinal cannabis industry. Founded in Te Tairāwhiti, Rua was the first company in the country to receive a licence to cultivate medicinal cannabis for research.
Panapa shared the story behind rautini, the Te Reo Māori name gifted to NZMCC by the people of Te Tairāwhiti. He also spoke about the opportunity for the sector to work together, take New Zealand’s capabilities to the world and build an industry that honours the plant and the people who have held its mauri for decades.
“As the Aotearoa cannabis industry matures, we currently have a unique opportunity to bring together our industry to collaborate and take Aotearoa to the globe and punch well above our weight in a way that honours the plant and the people who have held its mauri for decades,” Panapa said.
Leadership, Collaboration and the Full Value Chain
The opening leadership panel, moderated by NZMCC Chair Carmen Doran, brought together perspectives from across the industry.
Panapa Ehau (Rua Bioscience), Zoë Reece (Ora Pharm), Bastiaan Kramer (Ampyl Sciences), Dr Willem van der Merwe (CannaPlus+), Kirsty Campbell (Dispensed) and Evan Scicluna (Medreleaf Australia) discussed the industry’s direction, the role of leadership and what is needed to build a stronger, more internationally competitive sector.
A recurring theme was the importance of a connected value chain. New Zealand has capabilities across cultivation, manufacturing, extraction, clinical practice and distribution. Better alignment between these parts of the industry will be important to developing a sustainable domestic market and pursuing international opportunities.
Watch the Leadership Panel here.
Carmen says that the broader representation across the Council is an important part of that progress. Over the past 12 months, NZMCC has expanded its membership beyond cultivators and manufacturers to include clinics, prescribers and importers, better reflecting the full value chain and strengthening the Council’s collective voice.
“What struck me most about Industry Day was the energy in the room and the breadth of perspectives represented across the sector,” she says. “We’ve opened up NZMCC membership this year, and that wider representation is a real strength as we work together to build a more connected, credible and sustainable medicinal cannabis industry in New Zealand. There’s plenty still to do, but the appetite and energy to move forward is clear.”
It was the first Industry Day under the leadership of the new Executive Director, Melissa Zissou, providing an opportunity to connect different parts of the industry, share perspectives and strengthen relationships across the sector.
“We have the foundations of a strong medicinal cannabis industry, but we need to make sure the businesses and people building this industry are supported to succeed,” Zissou says. “That starts at home, by creating stronger opportunities for our local growers, cultivators and manufacturers, and supporting the development of a sustainable domestic market. New Zealand patients deserve access to quality medicinal cannabis grown here at home, and we need a local industry that can supply that demand.”
Building on New Zealand’s Global Position
New Zealand’s relationship with government and its agencies was another important theme. The sector benefits from established engagement with the Medicinal Cannabis Agency (MCA) and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE), providing regulatory engagement and support for businesses exploring international markets.
For a relatively small and agile country with a strong global reputation, these connections are valuable. The ability to bring industry, government agencies and political representatives into constructive discussions is an advantage that not every medicinal cannabis market enjoys.
The export discussions explored how New Zealand businesses can better connect across the supply chain, address trade barriers, and position themselves in international markets. Bastiaan Kramer, who contributed to both the leadership and export panels, reflected on the day, describing it as, “A constructive day about aligning the industry to create an integrated value chain”.
Natalie Lowe, Managing Director of Green Doctors, also highlighted the value of bringing international perspectives into the room. “NZMCC’s Industry Day is always a highlight on the calendar for those of us in the sector. This year, we were lucky to welcome friends from across the Tasman who generously shared their insights and experiences. These opportunities to connect, learn from one another’s successes, and share valuable lessons are incredibly beneficial in helping us strengthen our industry and shape a positive future.”
Roadside Drug Testing: Bringing Different Perspectives Together
Roadside drug testing was a key topic, with a panel bringing together clinical, patient, policy and policing perspectives. Moderated by Dr Michael Murphy, the discussion explored how to protect road safety while ensuring people prescribed medicinal cannabis receive clear, practical guidance.
“The roadside-testing panel brought clinical, patient, policy and policing perspectives into an important conversation,” Dr Murphy Says. “We need an approach that protects road safety while giving people prescribed medicinal cannabis clear, practical guidance. Continuing that dialogue will be essential to getting the balance right.”
Fiona Patten of the Medicinal Cannabis Industry Association in Australia also brought an international perspective to the conversation. She reflected on the level of engagement between the sector, government and police in New Zealand, saying, “I always leave New Zealand a little envious. It was a really pleasant surprise to have police engage with the issue of medicinal cannabis and driving. There is a genuine collaboration between the sector and the regulators that Australia can learn from.”
The discussion highlighted the importance of keeping patients part of the conversation as policy and practice continue to develop. Special thanks to Leah Everst of the NZ Police and Ricarco March from the Green Party who joined the panel.
Watch the Roadside Drug Testing Panel here.
Clinical Practice and Building the Evidence Base
The afternoon sessions turned to clinical practice, patient care and the evidence needed to support the responsible growth of the sector. Moderated by NZMCC Vice Chair Dr Afraz Adam, the clinical panels brought together prescribers, nurses, pharmacists and operations teams to discuss clinical standards, the wider care team and opportunities to improve patient access and support.
“Industry Day felt like a genuine turning point. The energy in the room reflected a sector that has moved well beyond its early days and is now asking harder, more interesting questions — about clinical standards, about who else belongs in the care team, and about what responsible growth actually looks like. The afternoon clinical sessions in particular showed how much the conversation has matured. Prescribers, nurses, pharmacists and operations teams sitting together and being candid about where we’re getting it right and where we’re not — that’s exactly the kind of forum this industry needs more of.”
The importance of local clinical research was also highlighted, including the University of Auckland CPS Trial, supported by Helius Therapeutics. Zoë Reece, Founder and CEO of Ora Pharm, said:
“The launch of the University of Auckland CPS Trial is an important milestone for New Zealand’s medicinal cannabis sector. While patient demand and clinical experience have continued to grow, high-quality local evidence remains essential to building confidence among healthcare professionals. We’re proud that Helius Therapeutics is supporting this independent research and commend Dr Saad Anis and the University of Auckland team for undertaking a rigorous study that will contribute meaningfully to the evidence base and ultimately help inform better patient care.”
The trial represents an important contribution to New Zealand’s medicinal cannabis evidence base and the ongoing work to build confidence among healthcare professionals.
Continuing the Conversation
Industry Day provided an opportunity to take stock of how far New Zealand’s medicinal cannabis sector has come, while recognising the work still ahead.
From regulatory engagement and export development to roadside drug testing, clinical education and patient access, the discussions reinforced the value of bringing the full industry together.
NZMCC’s working groups, covering prescribers, regulatory affairs and government relations, exports, cultivators and communications, provide members with an ongoing opportunity to contribute to these conversations and help progress shared priorities.
Thank you to everyone who attended, contributed to the panels and supported the day. The strength of the industry lies in the experience and commitment of the people working across it.
Shaping what’s next is a collective effort, and NZMCC looks forward to continuing that work with its members and the wider sector.