Mauri mahi, mauri ora

This whakataukī—often heard in classrooms around Aotearoa as “Do the mahi, get the treats” (through work, we prosper)—provides a fitting lens through which to look back on a busy 2025 for our profession. There has certainly been plenty of mahi, and plenty of rewards for members of the NZSA.

I want to acknowledge the outstanding work of the organising committee (and their supporting parent bodies) for the Aotearoa NZ ASM held in Kirikiriroa, Hamilton. The thoughtfully curated scientific and social programme made for a fantastic showcase of all things Waikato and beyond. It was a privilege to share it with you all. In a clinical world where theatre metrics increasingly dominate, the meeting served as an important reminder that our profession is not defined solely by the provision of crucial clinical services—our real strength lies in building upon, and sharing, the body of knowledge that keeps those services safe for our patients. The NZSA plays a vital role in delivering this value.

I also want to thank our network groups and members who, alongside their own initiatives, have supported the NZSA Executive through the many submissions made on behalf of our membership this year. The holiday period will bring a welcome pause, but with substantial sector change underway, submissions will ramp up again early in the new year. In particular, we will be seeking your feedback on the Medical Council of New Zealand’s (MCNZ) proposed regulation of Physician Associates/Assistants (PAs) in Aotearoa—watch your inbox for details. The NZSA has also secured a meeting with the Medical Sciences Council to discuss the proposed Anaesthetic Technician Sedation Standard in early 2026. At a time when downward pressure on budgets remains intense, many decision-makers are looking for quick cost savings. It is our job to remind them that cost is not simply a line item on a spreadsheet, and that the true community cost of overlooking the value added by specialists—such as anaesthetists—is far greater than they may appreciate.

I wish you all a wonderful summer season and hope that, like our hard-working operational team, you can take some well-deserved rest. As 2026 begins, our Society will be back doing the mahi alongside our members. A key focus of my term will be reconnecting with our membership, including reinvigorating our hospital visit programme. Through this, I hope to meet you, listen to your priorities, and better understand how we can support you. It is equally important that we introduce the Society to non-members and highlight the advantages of joining. Your support in promoting the wide-ranging benefits of NZSA membership—across both public and private practice—is one of our strongest tools for building a sustainable, representative organisation. It is only right that those who benefit from the Society’s work see value in contributing as members.

As one voice: Mauri mahi, mauri ora.

Ngā mihi nui,
Dr Jonathan Panckhurst
President, New Zealand Society of Anaesthetists – Ngā Ringa Tauwhiro o Aotearoa