Book an ADHD Assessment

Adult ADHD assessment · New Zealand

Four ways to an ADHD assessment in New Zealand, side by side.

From Kaitaia to Bluff: public, GP, private psychiatrist or online. What each route involves, what it costs, how long it takes, and what to ask before you book.

Compare your options ↓

Find your best fit

6 minute read · Updated October 2026

The four routes at a glance
Typical, not quotes

Route

Wait

Cost

Public service

Often months

Free

Your GP

Varies

GP fees

Private psychiatrist

Often months

$1,500–$3,000+

Specialist ADHD clinic

Days to weeks

Fixed fee

Full comparison, including referrals and who assesses you, below.

Adult ADHD assessment · New Zealand

Four ways to an ADHD assessment in New Zealand, side by side.

The four routes at a glance
Typical, not quotes

Route

Wait

Cost

Public service

Often months

Free

Your GP

Varies

GP fees

Private psychiatrist

Often months

$1,500–$3,000+

Specialist ADHD clinic

Days to weeks

Fixed fee

Full comparison, including referrals and who assesses you, below.

From Kaitaia to Bluff: public, GP, private psychiatrist or online. What each route involves, what it costs, how long it takes, and what to ask before you book.

Compare your options ↓

Find your best fit

6 minute read · Updated October 2026

1 · What happens in an assessment

From forms to a clear answer, step by step.

ADHD starts in childhood, so a proper assessment looks at your whole life, not just this month. Here’s what that looks like at a specialist-led clinic like ours. Other routes cover the same ground, often over more visits.

Step 1 · At home
Four forms in the app
Plus two people who know you

Step 2 · By video
The clinical interview
90 minutes with your clinician

Step 3 · In writing
Your report
3 days on average, 10 at most

Step 1 · Before your interview

Four short forms in the app. Try them.

Your clinician reads everything before they meet you, so the interview can go deeper. Try this interactive sample below. It does not save information or send emails.

No one who knew you as a child? There’s another route, and it doesn’t stop you being assessed. See how ↓

2 of 4 done

Form 3 of 4

Two people who know you

We email each of them a short questionnaire.

Mum · Knew you as a child · Done

Alex

Knows you now

Reminder sent

The informant reports

Two people who know you see what you can’t.

No one to ask? There’s another route, and it doesn’t stop you being assessed.

1 · YOU CHOOSE

Mum
Knew you before 12

Ideally a parent, older sibling or relative who knew you as a child.

2 · WE EMAIL A LINK

From: ADHD Simple
Can you help Sam with an ADHD assessment?
About 15 minutes · no account needed

They answer on their phone or computer, in their own time.

3 · THEY ANSWER

At primary school, how often did Sam lose things or forget homework?

Rarely

Often

Very often

What you were like at school, at home and with friends when you were young.

4 · YOUR CLINICIAN READS IT

✓

Alongside your own forms, before your interview. It shows whether things started in childhood.

The informant reports

Two people who know you see what you can’t.

No one to ask? There’s another route, and it doesn’t stop you being assessed.

1 · YOU CHOOSE

Mum
Knew you before 12

Ideally a parent, older sibling or relative who knew you as a child.

2 · WE EMAIL A LINK

From: ADHD Simple
Can you help Sam with an ADHD assessment?
About 15 minutes · no account needed

They answer on their phone or computer, in their own time.

3 · THEY ANSWER

At primary school, how often did Sam lose things or forget homework?

Rarely

Often

Very often

What you were like at school, at home and with friends when you were young.

4 · YOUR CLINICIAN READS IT

✓

Alongside your own forms, before your interview. It shows whether things started in childhood.

The informant reports

Two people who know you see what you can’t.

No one to ask? There’s another route, and it doesn’t stop you being assessed.

1 · YOU CHOOSE

Mum
Knew you before 12

Ideally a parent, older sibling or relative who knew you as a child.

2 · WE EMAIL A LINK

From: ADHD Simple
Can you help Sam with an ADHD assessment?
About 15 minutes · no account needed

They answer on their phone or computer, in their own time.

3 · THEY ANSWER

At primary school, how often did Sam lose things or forget homework?

Rarely

Often

Very often

What you were like at school, at home and with friends when you were young.

4 · YOUR CLINICIAN READS IT

✓

Alongside your own forms, before your interview. It shows whether things started in childhood.

Step 2 · The clinical interview

90 minutes, by video, all about you.

Not a test, nothing to pass or fail. Your clinician has read your forms, so the time goes on the detail. Real examples help most: the half-finished tasks, the missed appointments, the things people have said about you for years.

Cameron Houston, ADHD Simple founder, shown in an illustrative consultation preview

90-minute clinical interview · by video

Why you’re here

What brought you, and what you most want help with.

How ADHD shows up today

Focus, restlessness, organisation and emotions, with real examples from work, home and relationships.

Childhood and school

What you were like before 12, what reports said, and what your informants described.

The rest of the picture

Mood, anxiety, sleep, alcohol, physical health and family history, to rule other things out.

Where things stand

Your clinician shares their thinking and what happens next.

Set up

A quiet spot, a decent connection and your camera on. Phone, tablet or laptop all work.

Bring someone

A partner or whānau member is welcome to join, and breaks are fine whenever you need one.

Behind your clinician

A psychiatrist oversees every assessment, so complex questions don’t mean a new referral.

DSM-5

Every assessment is measured against the five DSM-5 criteria for ADHD, the standard clinicians use worldwide, so a diagnosis means the same thing wherever it’s made.

Step 3 · Your outcome

A clear answer, then the full picture in writing.

Your clinician shares their thinking at the end of your interview. Your written report follows in 3 days on average, and within 10 days at most. It’s yours, and you choose whether we share it with your GP.

ADHD Assessment Report

PATIENT NAME
Sam Citizen

OUTCOME

Not ADHD

DOB
14/10/1991

ASSESSED
30/10/2026

CONTACT DETAILS

GP INFORMATION

What’s inside

✓

Outcome

Your difficulties are not best explained by ADHD.

✓

The reasoning

What your clinician found, and why, in plain English.

✓

What may explain things

Other possible explanations worth looking into.

✓

Where to go next

Practical next steps, so you’re not left with nothing.

Example. Your report is written about you.

Six things every good assessment includes

Based on the DSM-5 and standard assessment practice

✓

Your story from childhood. ADHD starts before 12, so a good assessment looks back, not just at today.

✓

Someone who knows you. A parent, partner or friend adds what you can’t see yourself.

✓

Standard rating scales. Recognised questionnaires, scored the same way for everyone.

✓

Ruling other things out. Anxiety, low mood, sleep, alcohol and physical health can look like ADHD.

✓

A registered clinician. With real ADHD experience, registered with the Medical Council or Nursing Council.

✓

A written report. The outcome and the reasoning, not just a yes or no.

Whichever route you choose, if a provider skips any of these, ask why.

2 · Your options in New Zealand

Four ways in. Side by side.

Choose what matters most to you and we’ll highlight it across every route.

Free

Public mental health service

Typical wait

Often months, mostly for complex needs

Typical cost

Free

Who assesses you

Yes, a psychiatrist or specialist team

Team behind them

Yes, a multidisciplinary team

ADHD training

Specialist mental health training

GP referral

Yes, from your GP

By video

Rarely

Best if

Cost is the main barrier and your needs are complex.

Since Feb 2026

Your GP

Typical wait

Varies. Not every GP assesses

Typical cost

GP fees, often several long appointments

Who assesses you

Your GP, not an ADHD specialist

Team behind them

Usually working alone

ADHD training

Up to each GP to train themselves

GP referral

By video

Sometimes

Best if

Your GP offers assessments and your needs are straightforward.

Specialist

Private psychiatrist

Typical wait

Often months

Typical cost

Often $1,500 to $3,000+

Who assesses you

Yes

Team behind them

Often works solo

ADHD training

Specialist psychiatry training

GP referral

Usually, from your GP

By video

Sometimes

Best if

You want a named psychiatrist and can wait.

From home

Specialist ADHD clinic, online

Typical wait

Days to weeks

Typical cost

Fixed fee, varies by clinic

Who assesses you

Varies. Look for clinicians who only do ADHD

Team behind them

Varies. The best have a full MDT

ADHD training

Varies. Ask how clinicians are trained

GP referral

Usually not

By video

Yes

Best if

You want to start soon, from home, at a known price.

Where ADHD Simple sits

Psychologist or psychiatrist?

It comes down to one question: might you want medication?

A psychologist can diagnose ADHD, but can’t prescribe. That makes a psychologist a good pathway for some people, and a detour for others.

A psychologist suits you if

✓

You’re sure you don’t want medication

✓

You mainly want to understand how your brain works

✓

You’d like therapy or practical strategies alongside

A prescribing team suits you if

✓

You might want medication, now or later

✓

You don’t want a second assessment and another wait

✓

You want one team from diagnosis to the right dose

A medication pathway built in. At ADHD Simple, medication is never assumed. But if you’re diagnosed and it’s right for you, the same team starts it and helps you find the right dose. No second assessment, no new list.

Who

Diagnose ADHD

Start medication

Adjust the dose

Clinical psychologist

✓

Yes

Psychiatrist

✓

Yes

✓

Yes

✓

Yes

✓

Yes

✓

Yes

✓

Yes

Nurse practitioner

✓

Yes

✓

Yes

✓

Yes

GPs and nurse practitioners have been able to start ADHD medication for adults since February 2026.

Typical waits and costs vary by area and provider. They are general ranges, not quotes for any specific provider. Medication funding through Pharmac applies whichever route diagnoses you.

2 · Your options in New Zealand

Four ways in. Side by side.

Choose what matters most to you and we’ll highlight it across every route.

Free

Public mental health service

Typical wait

Often months, mostly for complex needs

Typical cost

Free

Who assesses you

Yes, a psychiatrist or specialist team

Team behind them

Yes, a multidisciplinary team

ADHD training

Specialist mental health training

GP referral

Yes, from your GP

By video

Rarely

Best if

Cost is the main barrier and your needs are complex.

Since Feb 2026

Your GP

Typical wait

Varies. Not every GP assesses

Typical cost

GP fees, often several long appointments

Who assesses you

Your GP, not an ADHD specialist

Team behind them

Usually working alone

ADHD training

Up to each GP to train themselves

GP referral

By video

Sometimes

Best if

Your GP offers assessments and your needs are straightforward.

Specialist

Private psychiatrist

Typical wait

Often months

Typical cost

Often $1,500 to $3,000+

Who assesses you

Yes

Team behind them

Often works solo

ADHD training

Specialist psychiatry training

GP referral

Usually, from your GP

By video

Sometimes

Best if

You want a named psychiatrist and can wait.

From home

Specialist ADHD clinic, online

Typical wait

Days to weeks

Typical cost

Fixed fee, varies by clinic

Who assesses you

Varies. Look for clinicians who only do ADHD

Team behind them

Varies. The best have a full MDT

ADHD training

Varies. Ask how clinicians are trained

GP referral

Usually not

By video

Yes

Best if

You want to start soon, from home, at a known price.

Where ADHD Simple sits

Psychologist or psychiatrist?

It comes down to one question: might you want medication?

A psychologist can diagnose ADHD, but can’t prescribe. That makes a psychologist a good pathway for some people, and a detour for others.

A psychologist suits you if

✓

You’re sure you don’t want medication

✓

You mainly want to understand how your brain works

✓

You’d like therapy or practical strategies alongside

A prescribing team suits you if

✓

You might want medication, now or later

✓

You don’t want a second assessment and another wait

✓

You want one team from diagnosis to the right dose

Who

Diagnose ADHD

Start medication

Adjust the dose

Clinical psychologist

✓

Yes

Psychiatrist

✓

Yes

✓

Yes

✓

Yes

✓

Yes

✓

Yes

✓

Yes

Nurse practitioner

✓

Yes

✓

Yes

✓

Yes

GPs and nurse practitioners have been able to start ADHD medication for adults since February 2026.

Swipe the medication table sideways to see all four columns.

Typical waits and costs vary by area and provider. They are general ranges, not quotes for any specific provider. Medication funding through Pharmac applies whichever route diagnoses you.

3 · Specialist, without the wait or the cost

Specialist involvement, without the wait or the cost.

Most routes make you trade something away: a specialist, a short wait, or an affordable price. A specialist ADHD clinic with a full multidisciplinary team (MDT) means you don’t have to.

More specialist involvement →

Seen sooner →

Public service

Often only for complex needs

Private psychiatrist

Specialist, months to wait

Your GP

Not an ADHD specialist, usually no team

Online screening quiz

Quick, but not a diagnosis

Specialist ADHD clinic with an MDT

Psychiatrists on the team, seen soon, one price

Where ADHD Simple sits

ADHD is all we do

40 full-time clinicians, including GPs with a special interest in ADHD. Every one goes through specialised training with one-to-one mentoring and coaching, and the team sees hundreds of patients a week.

A full MDT behind you

A multidisciplinary team: ADHD-trained GPs, nurse practitioners and psychiatrists. A psychiatrist oversees every assessment, and complex questions stay in the team, with no new referral or wait.

Seen in days, not months

By video across New Zealand, often within days. Your report in 3 days on average, and 10 at most.

One known price

$799, including your written report. A private psychiatrist is often $1,500 to $3,000+.

40 full-time clinicians · 4,000+ assessments · By video from anywhere in New Zealand

See how ADHD Simple does it →

Eight questions to ask any provider

4 · Questions to ask

Ask any provider these eight. Including us.

Common questions

1

“Do I need a GP referral first?”

Getting a GP appointment and a referral can add weeks before you’re even on a list.

5

“Do you have a medication pathway?”

A psychologist can diagnose ADHD but can’t start medication, so you may need a second assessment somewhere else.

2

“How long are the waits, for the assessment and for care after it?”

A quick assessment means little if there’s a second wait to start treatment. Ask about both.

6

“Is every cost broken out up front?”

Assessment, medication reviews, extra appointments and ongoing care can add up. Ask for every price before you start.

3

“Who assesses me, and how were they trained in ADHD?”

ADHD training varies a lot between clinicians. Look for specific ADHD training and people who do it every day.

7

“Can my GP and pharmacist act on the report?”

A good report is detailed enough for other clinicians to continue your care without starting again.

4

“Is there a team behind them?”

A clinician working alone may need to refer you on for complex questions, with a new wait.

8

“Who sees my report?”

Your health information should be yours to share.

1

“Do I need a GP referral first?”

Getting a GP appointment and a referral can add weeks before you’re even on a list.

2

“How long are the waits, for the assessment and for care after it?”

A quick assessment means little if there’s a second wait to start treatment. Ask about both.

3

“Who assesses me, and how were they trained in ADHD?”

ADHD training varies a lot between clinicians. Look for specific ADHD training and people who do it every day.

4

“Is there a team behind them?”

A clinician working alone may need to refer you on for complex questions, with a new wait.

5

“Do you have a medication pathway?”

A psychologist can diagnose ADHD but can’t start medication, so you may need a second assessment somewhere else.

6

“Is every cost broken out up front?”

Assessment, medication reviews, extra appointments and ongoing care can add up. Ask for every price before you start.

7

“Can my GP and pharmacist act on the report?”

A good report is detailed enough for other clinicians to continue your care without starting again.

8

“Who sees my report?”

Your health information should be yours to share.

1

“Do I need a GP referral first?”

Getting a GP appointment and a referral can add weeks before you’re even on a list.

3

“Who assesses me, and how were they trained in ADHD?”

ADHD training varies a lot between clinicians. Look for specific ADHD training and people who do it every day.

5

“Do you have a medication pathway?”

A psychologist can diagnose ADHD but can’t start medication, so you may need a second assessment somewhere else.

7

“Can my GP and pharmacist act on the report?”

A good report is detailed enough for other clinicians to continue your care without starting again.

2

“How long are the waits, for the assessment and for care after it?”

A quick assessment means little if there’s a second wait to start treatment. Ask about both.

4

“Is there a team behind them?”

A clinician working alone may need to refer you on for complex questions, with a new wait.

6

“Is every cost broken out up front?”

Assessment, medication reviews, extra appointments and ongoing care can add up. Ask for every price before you start.

8

“Who sees my report?”

Your health information should be yours to share.

5 · Which suits you

Three taps to your best-fit route.

How soon do you want answers?

What matters most on cost?

How would you like appointments?

YOUR BEST FIT

Answer 3 quick questions to see which route lines up with what matters to you.

Common questions

Once you’ve chosen a route

If a specialist-led clinic suits you, see how we do it.

By video from anywhere in New Zealand. $799, including your written report.

Book an ADHD assessment →

✓

No GP referral needed

✓

Four forms in the app, plus two people who know you

✓

A 90-minute clinical interview by video

✓

A psychiatrist oversees every assessment

✓

Your report in 3 days on average

About this guide

This guide provides general information about adult ADHD assessment in New Zealand. It is not medical advice or a diagnosis. Ask a qualified clinician about your own circumstances.

Costs, waiting times and report turnaround times are indicative, not guarantees. Services, funding and adult eligibility criteria vary by provider. Confirm current fees, eligibility and what is included before booking.