Latest Health Headlines
Bridging The Gap In HIV Prevention For Māori: Insights And Resources Now Available
Wednesday, 21 May 2025, 8:35 am | Research For Maori Health and Development
The research, Investigating Barriers and Enablers to Preventive HIV Access for Māori Communities, reveals that Māori continue to face cultural, systemic, and personal barriers to HIV prevention — including stigma, fear, and healthcare services that ... More >>
Funding Primary Care Nurses The Answer To The Health Crisis
Tuesday, 20 May 2025, 4:38 pm | NZNO
NZNO chief executive Paul Goulter says after recent wage rounds come into effect in July, most primary and community care nurse will still earn an average of 10% or $10,129 less a year than their hospital counterparts. More >>
‘Natural’ Pacemaker Successfully Tried In Humans
Tuesday, 20 May 2025, 3:43 pm | Waipapa Taumata Rau
A pacemaker with a 'beat' that responds to breathing is showing good results in studies and is now being trialled in Kiwi heart patients. More >>
Nōku Te Ao Symposium: Bringing Together Voices On Mental Distress, Stigma And Discrimination Under One Roof
Tuesday, 20 May 2025, 12:49 pm | Noku te Ao
Many of the barriers New Zealanders once faced when reaching out for support while experiencing mental distress have been bent. But, these barriers have not yet been broken. More >>
Pharmac Proposes To Fully Fund Nutrition Replacements For Some People With Crohn’s Disease
Tuesday, 20 May 2025, 11:24 am | PHARMAC
Pharmac wants to remove this additional cost on Ensure Plus and Fortisip so people with Crohn’s disease, who use them as their only source of nutrition, can continue to access and benefit from nutrition replacements. More >>
Aotearoa’s Smokefree Setback Offers A Warning For Countries Advancing Tobacco Control
Tuesday, 20 May 2025, 11:08 am | Public Health Communication Centre
Despite strong public support and compelling evidence showing the laws would reduce smoking and save lives, the Coalition Government used urgency to repeal them, cutting out public consultation. More >>
Anaesthetists Are Key To Improving Access And Outcomes In Surgical Care
Tuesday, 20 May 2025, 10:21 am | New Zealand Society of Anaesthetists
The New Zealand Society of Anaesthetists (NZSA) is raising concerns with some of the approaches towards increasing the outsourcing of public surgical cases to private facilities, emphasising the critical role anaesthetists play throughout a patient’s ... More >>
“RunIt” Contact Event Poses Serious Risk To Brain Health, Says Leading Sports Scientist
Tuesday, 20 May 2025, 9:48 am | Auckland University of Technology
The “RunIt” event, which involves participants sprinting directly at each other in high-speed collisions, has been widely criticised by medical professionals and researchers. Despite its viral popularity online, Professor Hume says the format ... More >>
Urgent And After-Hours Care Support Welcome, But Budget Must Tackle GP Funding And Retention
Tuesday, 20 May 2025, 8:45 am | Genpro
Looking forward, the best thing the Budget could contain is a 10 percent uplift in the government’s contribution to general practice, which covers approximately half a patient’s consultation fee More >>
Minister Of Health Needs To Accept European Invitation To Join Useful World Leading Cancer Study
Tuesday, 20 May 2025, 7:51 am | Prostate Cancer Foundation
Prostate cancer kills over 700 men a year in New Zealand. The Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand says the invitation is significant and useful to men’s health. Mr Bedingfield strongly urges the Government to accept. More >>
Patients Paying Over $200 To Visit After-Hours In Palmerston North
Monday, 19 May 2025, 4:49 pm | RNZ
It can cost up to $260 for a medical consult. More >>
Headway Calls For Urgent Action To Stop “Run It Straight”
Monday, 19 May 2025, 2:56 pm | Headway
The organisation says the format and promotion of the Run It Straight events appear to deliberately target financially vulnerable people by offering large prize pools up to $20,000. More >>
GPs Scratching Their Heads About Government’s $164 Million Urgent Care Promise
Monday, 19 May 2025, 2:05 pm | General Practitioners Aotearoa
“The very first thing the Government needs to be asking,” says GPA chair Dr Buzz Burrell, “is why do so many people go to urgent care facilities?” More >>
Investment In Rural Health Welcome But Need Remains High
Monday, 19 May 2025, 1:51 pm | Rural Women New Zealand
Sandra Matthews, National President of Rural Women New Zealand, says the investment recognises some of the current issues faced by rural communities, but a sustained effort is needed to address the challenges rural people face in accessing their healthcare ... More >>
Crafting Friendship And Community
Monday, 19 May 2025, 1:41 pm | TECT
Te Puke Menz Shed is a fully equipped wood working workshop for men over 60 to participate in projects repairing and making goods for themselves and the wider community. More >>
Hato Hone St John Welcomes Government Investment In Urgent And Rural Healthcare
Monday, 19 May 2025, 1:33 pm | Hato Hone St John
The funding, which also covers maintaining existing urgent and after-hours services and enhancing support in rural and remote communities, will complement Hato Hone St John’s work in delivering timely care and emergency support. More >>
More Doctorless Or Closed Hospitals In NZ?
Monday, 19 May 2025, 12:36 pm | Patient Voice Aotearoa
A description of “open to any availability” or “open to availability”, means the hospital is in extreme need of one or more locums. More >>
Have You Heard Of Capitation? This One Weird Word Is Why You Can’t Get A GP Appointment
Monday, 19 May 2025, 11:19 am | General Practitioners Aotearoa
Many GPA members who work at corporate-owned practices and even some privately-owned practices report they are working in awful conditions, and forced to deliver substandard healthcare so the practice can break even. More >>
Hauora Taiwhenua Celebrates Government Investment In Rural Urgent Care Services While Waiting For Support In Budget 2026
Monday, 19 May 2025, 11:06 am | Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network
Six rural and remote communities across Aotearoa have been selected as prototype sites, including Great Barrier Island, Coromandel, Te Kuiti, Tūrangi, Golden Bay, and Twizel. More >>
Creating Visualisations To Help Child Cancer Patients
Monday, 19 May 2025, 9:17 am | University of Auckland
The Auckland Medical Research Foundation granted Dr Jones a Postdoctoral Fellowship of more than $279,000 for her to complete the project, while the University of Auckland School of Medicine has pitched in an extra $8590. More >>
Stay Bright This Winter: Airflow Hygiene And Teeth Whitening Now On Offer In Auckland CBD
Sunday, 18 May 2025, 1:26 pm | Customs Street Dentist
Located on Customs Street East, the clinic offers general, cosmetic and hygiene dentistry for adults in a private, modern setting. Online booking is available. More >>
Understanding And Escaping Those With NPD
Saturday, 17 May 2025, 1:53 pm | Hugh Grant
It's crucial to be cautious throughout this process since narcissists frequently attempt to regain control when they feel like they're losing it. More >>
Newborn Vitamin D Deficiency Linked To Higher Risk Of ADHD, Schizophrenia, Autism
Friday, 16 May 2025, 8:24 am | University of Queensland
“We found evidence that people with lower vitamin D concentration as a baby had an increased risk of schizophrenia, ASD and ADHD,” Professor McGrath said. More >>
The Value Of Hospice Care In New Zealand
Thursday, 15 May 2025, 8:41 pm | Hospice Tairawhiti
Without ongoing concerted and committed investment by the government, hospices throughout New Zealand—such as Tairāwhiti Hospice—may struggle to meet the growing and complex care needs of their communities. More >>
Enabling Te Arawa Hauora Data Stories
Thursday, 15 May 2025, 7:39 pm | Atawhai Creative
Enabling autonomy and transparent analysis of Māori health data can assist IMPBs nationally to self-determine priorities and monitor health sector performance for enhancing hauora Māori. More >>
Community Groups, Oral Health Professionals Welcome The Green Party's Re-Commitment To Free Dental Care
Thursday, 15 May 2025, 7:14 pm | Dental for All
The proposal to provide free, universal dental services for all is a transformative step towards equitable healthcare, recognising oral health as integral to overall well-being. More >>
Brainy Beanies Exhibition Comes To Christchurch In Support Of Brain Tumour Awareness Month
Thursday, 15 May 2025, 6:58 pm | Brain Tumour Support New Zealand
This marks the first time Brainy Beanies comes to Christchurch, offering locals a chance to be part of this heartwarming movement. More >>
Public Doctors Will Quit If Easy Operations Are Outsourced To Private Hospitals, Radiologist Says
Thursday, 15 May 2025, 5:17 pm | RNZ
Private hospitals are being tasked with clearing 20,000 simple cases for the public system. More >>
LifeXDNA Responds To Rising Demand For Personalised Genetic Health Insights
Thursday, 15 May 2025, 2:16 pm | Life X DNA
LifeXDNA’s flagship offering, the Ultimate Pro Pack, leverages next-generation sequencing and AI-driven analysis to interpret over 85 million genetic variants. More >>
Iwi Invest To Build New Masterton Medical Centre
Wednesday, 14 May 2025, 7:59 pm | Ngati Kahungunu ki Tamaki-nui-a-Rua
The new centre will house all services already available to patients including the pharmacy, health coach and health improvement practitioner. More >>
GPNZ Backs New Pay Equity Claim To Deliver The Same Fairness Won By Te Whatu Ora Nurses
Wednesday, 14 May 2025, 7:53 pm | GPNZ
“We had anticipated that this claim would ultimately lead to a fair and equitable pay structure for primary care nurses, so it is deeply disappointing and frustrating to see this move,” says Michael McIlhone, Chair of the GPNZ nurse leaders rōpū.” More >>
Southland Hospital Struggling With ‘Too Small’ ED
Wednesday, 14 May 2025, 7:43 pm | Matthew Rosenberg - Local Democracy Reporter
The ED is too small to allow for the efficient flow of patients, this leads to extended times for patients to be placed in a clinical space to be assessed. More >>
Government Axes Vulnerable Patient Helpers
Wednesday, 14 May 2025, 6:46 pm | Craig Ashworth - Local Democracy Reporting
Local Democracy Reporting has found that from July there will be no more money to pay some 130 healthcare guides across the country. More >>
Lindsay Foundation Gait Lab Reopens To Support NZ Children
Wednesday, 14 May 2025, 1:28 pm | Auckland University of Technology
The lab, which has been a cornerstone of the National Clinical Gait Analysis Service in conjunction with Starship Child Health for over a decade, continues its mission to assess and support children and young people with complex walking issues. More >>
How Contrast Therapy Can Enhance Your Ice Bath Experience
Wednesday, 14 May 2025, 7:25 am | Hugh Grant
For therapeutic reasons, ice baths and contrast treatment complement one another and benefit both body and mind differently. Their fluctuating hot/cold surroundings could help your body's natural healing mechanisms and improve your ice bath experience. More >>
Pacific Health Expert Says Auckland Measles Case Is A 'Red Flag'
Tuesday, 13 May 2025, 4:21 pm | RNZ
New Zealand is on alert for measles after a case was identified in Auckland over the weekend. More >>
Hui To Further Raise Awareness On Health Woes
Tuesday, 13 May 2025, 2:17 pm | New Zealand Nurses Organisation
Every sector of the health system is crumbling around health workers’ ears. The Government is not providing adequate funding for safe staffing, and they are disguising their frontline hiring freeze. More >>
Signs Of Progress In Tobacco Control Sector: New Bill And Council Action Offer Hope
Tuesday, 13 May 2025, 10:01 am | Hapai Te Hauora
Health spokesperson Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall has launched the Tobacco Transparency Bill, aimed at stopping tobacco industry lobbying in health policy. More >>
New Zealanders Back Action On Preventing Alcohol Harm
Tuesday, 13 May 2025, 8:38 am | Health Coalition Aotearoa
A new independent poll shows overwhelming support for tighter safeguards on how alcohol is sold and marketed. Clear majorities support firm limits on key problems such as the price of cheap alcohol, online deliveries, and industry involvement in policy ... More >>
Struggling Hospice Nurses Shattered By Pay Equity Changes
Monday, 12 May 2025, 5:42 pm | New Zealand Nurses Organisation
NZNO delegate and hospice nurse Donna Burnett says hospice nurses are demoralised and angered by last week’s announcement. More >>
There’s Nothing More Sobering Than Cancer: Do Dry July And Show Up For The People You Love
Monday, 12 May 2025, 10:59 am | Dry July
Dry July 2025 is officially open for registrations and New Zealanders are being urged to sign up, go alcohol-free for a month and raise funds to provide non-medical support for the people close to them, fighting cancer. More >>
World ME Day: A Call For Transformative Action In ME/CFS Care
Sunday, 11 May 2025, 6:49 pm | ANZMES
ANZMES Urges Leadership to Reclassify ME/CFS and Launch Collaborative Initiatives for New Zealanders. More >>
Hospices At Risk Of Disappearing
Saturday, 10 May 2025, 6:11 pm | Hospice NZ
Wayne Naylor, Chief Executive, Hospice New Zealand, which represents New Zealand’s 32 hospices, says without fair and sustainable funding, hospices, and the critical services they provide, are at risk of disappearing. More >>
Dying NZers & Their Families Will Fund The Shortfall Between Pay For A Nurse In A Hospital & A Nurse In A Hospice
Saturday, 10 May 2025, 6:08 pm | Hospice NZ
“We want to record a cry for help for the 19,000 New Zealanders and their families we care for every year – help us keep our nurses!” says Mr Hospice New Zealand’s Chief Executive, Wayne Naylor. More >>
Emergency 111 Call Ends With Baby Born And An Emotional Reunion For Hato Hone St John Call Handler
Saturday, 10 May 2025, 1:42 pm | Hato Hone St John
“It’s something special knowing you have helped bring a life into this world. For me meeting Kirstene, Lia and Luka has been the highlight of my career,” Emergency Call handler Anna Evans says. More >>
Learn To Be An EpiPen® Lifesaver This Allergy Awareness Week
Friday, 9 May 2025, 2:40 pm | Allergy New Zealand
Allergy New Zealand is calling on Kiwis to learn how to use an EpiPen® this Allergy Awareness Week (11-17 May). Allergy NZ Chief Executive Mark Dixon said; “We want all Kiwis to feel confident to act in an allergy emergency, just as we would with ... More >>
International Nurses Day The Braemar Way
Friday, 9 May 2025, 2:38 pm | Braemar Hospital
The hospital's 165 nurses will continue their dedicated patient care while being given special moments to be appreciated by their colleagues throughout the month of May. More >>
‘Giant In Stroke Research’ Focuses On Role Of Nurses
Friday, 9 May 2025, 1:16 pm | University of Auckland
Slark’s promotion to professor recognised her excellence in research and teaching, yet associatehead of school (pre-registration programmes) Dr Lisa Stewart said what makes her so exceptional is that everything she does comes from a place of caring. More >>
Youthline Advocates For Youth Voice On Proposed Social Media Ban
Friday, 9 May 2025, 12:37 pm | Youthline
Ronald said this is even more important in the face of rising rates of mental health distress being seen through its national Helpline, and an overstretched mental health system. More >>
Good News For Many Advanced Melanoma Patients: Pharmac Drug Funding Announcement Confirms Better Treatment Options
Friday, 9 May 2025, 9:35 am | Melanoma New Zealand
Many New Zealand patients with stage 3B to stage 4 melanoma will now have a much-needed lifeline in their fight against this insidious disease with free access to potentially life-saving and life-extending treatment options. More >>
Shining A Light On STIs
Friday, 9 May 2025, 8:50 am | Hugh Grant
If you choose to be sexually active, it is important to get frequently tested, use external and internal condoms, and become vaccinated after exposure. More >>
New Bill A Vital Step Towards Tobacco-Free Future In Aotearoa
Friday, 9 May 2025, 7:54 am | Health Coalition Aotearoa
This landmark legislation gives real force to Article 5.3 of the World Health Organisation’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control-an agreement New Zealand signed over two decades ago but has never been properly embedded into law. More >>
Early Teen Stress Tied To School And Identity, Study Finds
Thursday, 8 May 2025, 1:02 pm | University of Canterbury
The significance of the high school transition was reflected in the teens’ responses. Workload or getting good grades, making new friends, and trying to fit in were the most common sources of stress. More >>
Major Instability: Risk Of Service Disruption For Health Sector
Wednesday, 7 May 2025, 2:28 pm | Home and Community Health Association
Many essential home services rely on fully funded contracts, but funding has eroded over time and pay rates have been diminishing. The pay equity process with unions and employers has identified undervaluation and discrimination, which must be addressed. More >>
New Test Could Help More Women Beat ‘Silent Killer’
Wednesday, 7 May 2025, 10:06 am | University of Auckland
The Director of Research at the University’s Centre for Cancer Research, Professor Andrew Shelling, says the new test is urgently needed, because many women are missing out on a potentially life-saving treatment for ovarian cancer at present. More >>
Vape Shops Cluster Around Schools
Wednesday, 7 May 2025, 8:01 am | Journal Of Public Health
Almost half of New Zealand schools are within a short walking distance of a specialist vape retailer, despite a law aimed at preventing vape stores near schools. More >>
‘Unsung Hero’: The Woman Redefining Parkinson’s Support For Pacific Families
Tuesday, 6 May 2025, 6:46 pm | Mary Afemata - Local Democracy Reporter
The Samoan woman from South Auckland received national recognition for founding Aotearoa’s first Pacific-focused Parkinson’s support group. More >>
Pay Equity Changes An Attack On Women: NZNO
Tuesday, 6 May 2025, 1:38 pm | New Zealand Nurses Organisation
NZNO chief executive Paul Goulter says nurses will be outraged that historical gender discrimination will not be addressed so the Government can save money. More >>
United For Asthma Awareness Week With Powerful Call To Action
Tuesday, 6 May 2025, 10:43 am | Asthma New Zealand
More than 1 million New Zealanders live with asthma or a respiratory condition. They are the third leading cause of death in Aotearoa and account for one in 11 hospital admissions for adults, with Māori and Pasifika communities among the hardest hit. More >>
Dr Gayle O’Duffy Honoured With 2025 Peter Snow Memorial Award At National Rural Health Conference
Tuesday, 6 May 2025, 9:11 am | Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network
For more than two decades, Gayle has been a cornerstone of rural health in her community. Quietly steadfast & deeply committed, her approach to healthcare is grounded in connection — not just treating individuals, but truly knowing them, their families, & the ... More >>