Ozempic / Wegovy (Semaglutide) — NZ Guide | KiwiMeds
✅ Reviewed by Ramon Wong, BPharm, Registered Pharmacist (New Zealand) | May 2026 — This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for personalised advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Always seek professional guidance before making changes to your medications.
❌ Ozempic (semaglutide) — Medsafe consent given but listed as “Not available” in NZ
Three Ozempic products are registered with Medsafe but are currently not available on the NZ market. Not on Pharmac Schedule — not funded.
⚠️ Wegovy (semaglutide) — Medsafe consent given — available in NZ by prescription — NOT funded
Five Wegovy pens (0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg, 2.4 mg FlexTouch) have Medsafe consent and are available in NZ on prescription. Not on Pharmac Schedule — full private cost applies.
✓ Funded NZ GLP-1 alternatives for type 2 diabetes: Liraglutide (Victoza), Dulaglutide (Trulicity) — speak with your GP or pharmacist.
What is Ozempic / Wegovy (semaglutide)?
Semaglutide is an injectable medicine that belongs to a class called GLP-1 receptor agonists (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists). It is available under two brand names for different purposes:
- Ozempic — lower weekly doses (0.5 mg, 1 mg, 2 mg) used to treat type 2 diabetes
- Wegovy — higher weekly doses (up to 2.4 mg) used for weight management (obesity)
Both are made by Novo Nordisk and given once weekly by subcutaneous (under the skin) injection using a pre-filled pen device (FlexTouch).
NZ availability — Ozempic
According to the Medsafe Product Database, three Ozempic products (2 mg/1.5 mL, 2 mg/3 mL, and 4 mg/3 mL) have been given consent to market in NZ by Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals Ltd. However, their status is listed as “Not available” — meaning consent has been granted but the products are not currently being supplied to the NZ market.
Ozempic is also not listed on the Pharmac Pharmaceutical Schedule and is not funded. Speak with your GP if you are asking about semaglutide for type 2 diabetes — there are funded alternatives available.
NZ availability — Wegovy
According to the Medsafe Product Database, five Wegovy products have been given Medsafe consent and are available in New Zealand by prescription:
- Wegovy 0.68 mg/mL, 0.25 mg FlexTouch
- Wegovy 1.34 mg/mL, 0.5 mg FlexTouch
- Wegovy 1.34 mg/mL, 1 mg FlexTouch
- Wegovy 2.27 mg/mL, 1.7 mg FlexTouch
- Wegovy 3.2 mg/mL, 2.4 mg FlexTouch
Funding status: Wegovy is not listed on the Pharmac Schedule and is not funded. In February 2026, Pharmac confirmed it will not fund Wegovy for weight management at this time. The full private cost applies — speak with your GP or a private weight management clinic for current pricing.
Because Wegovy is a prescription-only medicine, you must obtain a valid NZ prescription from a registered doctor before it can be dispensed.
How does semaglutide work?
Semaglutide mimics a natural gut hormone called GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) released after eating. It works by:
- Stimulating insulin release from the pancreas when blood sugar is high (glucose-dependent — low risk of hypoglycaemia when used alone)
- Suppressing glucagon — reduces the liver releasing extra glucose
- Slowing stomach emptying — reduces post-meal blood sugar spikes
- Reducing appetite — acts on brain hunger centres, reducing food intake
At the higher Wegovy dose (2.4 mg weekly), clinical trials show average weight loss of around 15% of body weight over 68 weeks. This is the strongest weight loss effect seen with any approved medicine to date.
How to use it
Semaglutide pens are injected once weekly, on the same day each week, at any time of day — with or without food.
Injection sites: Abdomen (tummy), front of the thigh, or upper arm. Rotate sites each week.
Wegovy dose escalation (weight management):
- Weeks 1–4: 0.25 mg weekly
- Weeks 5–8: 0.5 mg weekly
- Weeks 9–12: 1 mg weekly
- Weeks 13–16: 1.7 mg weekly
- Week 17 onwards: 2.4 mg weekly (maintenance dose)
Storage: Keep in the fridge (2–8°C) before first use. After first use, may be stored at room temperature (below 30°C) for up to 28 days.
Common side effects
The most common side effects are gastrointestinal and usually improve after the first few weeks:
- Nausea (very common, especially when starting or increasing dose)
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Constipation
- Stomach pain or discomfort
- Decreased appetite
- Belching / reflux / heartburn
- Fatigue
Serious side effects to watch for
Seek urgent medical attention if you experience:
- Severe persistent abdominal pain (especially radiating to the back) — may indicate pancreatitis
- Neck lump, difficulty swallowing, persistent hoarseness — thyroid tumours occurred in animal studies; report to your doctor promptly
- Severe allergic reaction — rash, swelling of face/throat, difficulty breathing
- Vision changes — semaglutide may worsen diabetic retinopathy in some people
- Signs of gallbladder disease — upper right abdominal pain, nausea, fever, jaundice (weight loss medicines can increase gallstone risk)
- Significant increase in heart rate without clear cause
Do not use if: You or a family member have had medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).
Important drug interactions
- Insulin and sulfonylureas (e.g., glipizide) — increased hypoglycaemia risk; dose reduction may be needed
- Oral medications — slowed stomach emptying may slightly affect absorption of some oral medicines
- Warfarin — INR may be affected; more frequent monitoring when starting
- Oral contraceptives — discuss with your doctor as absorption may be affected
NZ-specific information
Ozempic (for type 2 diabetes):
• Medsafe status: Consent given, listed as Not available in NZ
• Pharmac funded: No
Wegovy (for weight management):
• Medsafe status: Consent given — available in NZ by prescription
• Available strengths: 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg, 2.4 mg FlexTouch pens
• Pharmac funded: No — Pharmac confirmed February 2026 it will not fund Wegovy
• Prescription type: Must have a valid NZ doctor’s prescription
Funded NZ alternatives (same GLP-1 drug class) for type 2 diabetes:
• Liraglutide (Victoza) — daily injection, funded with Special Authority
• Dulaglutide (Trulicity) — once-weekly injection, funded with Special Authority
Frequently asked questions
Can I get Wegovy in NZ?
Yes — Wegovy has Medsafe consent and is available in NZ by prescription. You will need to see a doctor (GP or private weight management clinic) to get a prescription. It is not funded, so the full private cost applies.
Why is Ozempic not available if it has consent?
Medsafe consent means a product is approved to be sold in NZ, but the manufacturer decides whether and when to actually supply it. Novo Nordisk has not made Ozempic available in NZ as of May 2026, despite holding consent. Global supply shortages have been a factor.
Will Wegovy ever be funded?
Pharmac declined in February 2026. Decisions can change — follow the Pharmac Updates page for the latest.
I have type 2 diabetes — what weekly GLP-1 injection is funded?
Dulaglutide (Trulicity) is a funded once-weekly GLP-1 injection for T2DM. Speak with your GP.
Where can I get a Wegovy prescription?
See your GP, or a private weight management clinic. As it is a private prescription, costs will vary.
Related medications
- Liraglutide (Victoza) — funded daily GLP-1 injection for T2DM in NZ
- Metformin — first-line funded diabetes medicine
- Empagliflozin (Jardiance) — funded SGLT2 inhibitor for T2DM
- Sitagliptin (Januvia) — funded DPP-4 inhibitor for T2DM