Psilocybin is now legal for restricted use for treatment-resistant depression. What will this mean for mental health treatment in New Zealand?

Psilocybin is a psychoactive metabolite produced by more than 200 species of so-called ‘magic mushrooms’, some of which humans have used for thousands of years in religious and healing rituals.

Psilocybin can alter perceptions of space, time, emotions, and the self. In experimental research, a single psilocybin dose under controlled conditions can relieve mental health symptoms such as depression, and has a good safety profile.

In June 2025, the Government approved the prescription of medicinal psilocybin outside of clinical trials, but currently only by a single highly experienced psychiatrist.

What will this mean for mental health treatment in New Zealand?

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