Latest Health Headlines
Regulators Removing Health Workforce Cultural Safety Risks Clinical Safety
Wednesday, 30 April 2025, 7:19 pm | Te Tiratu
Not The Time To Retreat — It’s Time To Double Down More >>
Auckland Theatre Nurses To Strike Tomorrow
Wednesday, 30 April 2025, 3:39 pm | New Zealand Nurses Organisation
NZNO delegate and perioperative nurse Alissa Baker says nurses are standing up against involuntary overtime. This stand is part of the current collective agreement bargaining between NZNO and Te Whatu Ora. More >>
Statement On Behalf Of The PHO Caucus*: PHO Services Agreement Amendment Protocol
Wednesday, 30 April 2025, 3:00 pm | GPNZ
The PHO Caucus is embarking on negotiations which begin tomorrow (1 May) in good faith, and welcomes the commitment on the part of Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora to conduct a transparent, collaborative and high trust process. More >>
Health Equity And Inclusion Remain Fundamental To #endMalaria
Wednesday, 30 April 2025, 2:26 pm | Citizen News Service
We cannot divorce equity and inclusion from malaria response. And we cannot dislocate #endMalaria goals from other SDGs for sustainable elimination of the disease worldwide “where no one is left behind.” More >>
AUT And Abbott Team Up To Tackle Concussions & Women’s Health
Wednesday, 30 April 2025, 12:10 pm | AUT
Under the collaboration, Abbott has installed the ARCHITECT® ci4100 analyser, one of its Core Laboratory platforms, in AUT’s SPRINZ biochemistry lab at AUT Millennium, a hub for many of New Zealand’s high-performance sports organisations and Olympic ... More >>
Nearly 400 Doctors Call For Caution And Care In Health Workforce Reform
Wednesday, 30 April 2025, 10:37 am | NZ Women in Medicine
While NZWIM supports efforts to streamline regulatory processes, it stresses that reform must be part of a wider strategy to address workforce shortages, staff wellbeing, and the sustainability of healthcare services. More >>
Hauora Taiwhenua Wins 21st WONCA World Rural Health Conference
Wednesday, 30 April 2025, 10:15 am | Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network
This is the first time the global rural health conference for family doctors has been hosted by New Zealand, and we are very proud to be able to provide this unbeatable opportunity to our rural health community. The Conference runs from 10-13 April 2026, ... More >>
ANZMES Advocates For Equitable Healthcare In Regulatory Reform Submission
Tuesday, 29 April 2025, 8:06 pm | ANZMES
In our submission, ANZMES emphasised the pressing need for systemic change, outlining practical and impactful solutions to enhance healthcare delivery for individuals with ME/CFS and other underserved communities. More >>
Healthcare Providers Funding Immunisations Out Of Own Pockets, Health NZ Admits 'Work To Do'
Tuesday, 29 April 2025, 6:18 pm | RNZ
Health NZ admits there is still some work to do, as Māori and Pacific immunisation providers say funding is too low to cover services. More >>
History Shows Patients At Risk From Physician Associates
Tuesday, 29 April 2025, 5:35 pm | New Zealand Nurses Organisation
The introduction of physician associates is an unnecessary quick and cheap fix to the doctor shortage when we have a competent and experienced nurse practitioner workforce available to do this work. More >>
Medical Council To Regulate The Physician Associate Profession
Tuesday, 29 April 2025, 4:37 pm | Medical Council of New Zealand
Council’s focus will be on setting clear and appropriate standards for PAs working in Aotearoa New Zealand, to ensure public safety. Regulation will provide clarity for patients, PAs, and doctors about the role and expectations of PAs within our ... More >>
Government Focus On Physician Associates A Distraction From Real Issues
Tuesday, 29 April 2025, 4:23 pm | General Practice Owners Association
The biggest change the government can make to improve health care is immediately invest in general practice to retain the GPs we have now and to make it more attractive for GPs to come to New Zealand. More >>
Protecting Our Youngest Citizens: Put People Before Profit In Infant Formula Rules
Tuesday, 29 April 2025, 4:15 pm | Health Coalition Aotearoa
Health Coalition Aotearoa supports a U-turn in the policy and a recommitment to the infant formula standard. We strongly oppose any move to prioritise corporate profits over population wellbeing. More >>
Alcohol And Mental Health Symposium At Parliament - 5 May 2025
Tuesday, 29 April 2025, 4:10 pm | Alcohol Healthwatch
We will be bringing a range of people together including those with lived experience, young people, professionals, and community champions from the wide range of sectors impacted by alcohol and mental health challenges. More >>
International Day Of Immunology 2025: Brain And Immunity
Tuesday, 29 April 2025, 1:35 pm | Malaghan Institute of Medical Research
Few conditions inspire more dread than the creeping shadow of neurodegenerative disease. At times, it feels almost taboo to talk about, perhaps because it touches on something deeper than physical decline. More >>
Health NZ Disappointed That Association Of Salaried Medical Specialists Strike To Go Ahead
Monday, 28 April 2025, 6:40 pm | RNZ
Hospitals and emergency departments will remain open, and the union is working with Health NZ to ensure life-preserving services continue. More >>
COVID-19 Inquiry Receives More Than 31,000 Submissions
Monday, 28 April 2025, 4:42 pm | Royal Commission Covid-19 Lessons Learned
“It’s clear that the pandemic is still top of mind for many people in Aotearoa New Zealand, particularly those areas like Auckland and Northland that were affected by longer lockdowns during the COVID-19 response,” says Grant Illingworth KC, Chair ... More >>
Health Warning Lifted For Algal Bloom In Lake Pegasus
Monday, 28 April 2025, 2:42 pm | Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand
Dr Cheryl Brunton, Medical Officer of Health for the National Public Health Service, says monthly visual assessments and sampling of Lake Pegasus will be undertaken during the winter months, with fortnightly sampling of Lake Pegasus beginning again in September. More >>
Te Whatu Ora’s Failed Pay Offer Cements Strike Action For Senior Doctors
Monday, 28 April 2025, 2:21 pm | Association of Salaried Medical Specialists
"On an annualised basis, Te Whatu Ora’s offer would increase pay by 0.77 per cent," ASMS executive director Sarah Dalton says. More >>
Hanmer War Hospital Brought Back To Life
Saturday, 26 April 2025, 6:22 pm | David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter
The former Soldiers' Block in Hanmer Springs has been restored, and a new Culverden war memorial unveiled on Anzac Day. More >>
Physician Associate Regulation ‘A Watershed Moment’ For NZ Health Sector
Saturday, 26 April 2025, 12:35 pm | Gore Health
It’s so exciting that the sector is finally going to get to truly appreciate and embrace the skills PAs bring to the table. Gore Health CEO Dr Karl Metzler said he would love to see a PA training programme up and running in New Zealand within three ... More >>
Physician Associates Regulation To Boost Access To Quality Care Across Aotearoa
Saturday, 26 April 2025, 12:32 pm | NZPAS
This long-anticipated move marks a major step toward improving timely access to high quality healthcare. More >>
Work To Finally Begin On Long-Awaited Rangiora After-Hours
Friday, 25 April 2025, 4:06 pm | David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter
Work is set to begin on the promised North Canterbury after-hours medical centre, with a funding agreement confirmed between South Link Health and the Waimakariri District Council. More >>
Low Risk To Public Health Following Fire At South Taranaki Hotel
Thursday, 24 April 2025, 4:06 pm | Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand
Health New Zealand Medical Officer of Health Dr William Rainger says while testing of debris found asbestos in the building, there was a very low risk to public health. More >>
Public Submissions To The COVID-19 Inquiry Close On Sunday 27 April 2025 At Midnight
Thursday, 24 April 2025, 1:38 pm | Royal Commission Covid-19 Lessons Learned
By reviewing these decisions, the Inquiry will be able to provide recommendations to the Government on how Aotearoa New Zealand could better prepare for and manage any future pandemics. More >>
ANZMES Highlights Lessons From The COVID-19 Pandemic In Submission To Royal Commission
Thursday, 24 April 2025, 12:29 pm | ANZMES
ANZMES’s submission reflects a steadfast commitment to advocating for systemic reform and fostering collaboration with policymakers, healthcare providers, and communities to build a resilient and equitable healthcare system. More >>
Aid Cuts Threaten The Lives Of 110,000 Children With Severe Malnutrition Reliant On Emergency Treatment
Wednesday, 23 April 2025, 2:01 pm | Save The Children
Globally, one in five deaths among children aged under 5 are attributed to severe acute malnutrition, making it one of the top threats to child survival. More >>
We Want To Hear From As Many People As Possible, Says COVID-19 Inquiry Chair
Wednesday, 23 April 2025, 8:31 am | Royal Commission Covid-19 Lessons Learned
The Inquiry’s public submissions portal has been open since 3 February 2025, and closes at midnight on 27 April 2025. Anyone who wants to make a submission can either fill in the on-line form at www.covid19inquiry.nz, or by calling 0800 500 306. More >>
Norwegian Healthcare Model May Be Key To Improving NZ’s Ovarian Cancer Survival Rates
Tuesday, 22 April 2025, 4:07 pm | GSK New Zealand
The new network, which is set to have its first meeting early this year, aims to tackle critical challenges in cancer care, including expanding workforce capacity to meet rising demand, creating sustainable and equitable care models and addressing ... More >>
Life X DNA Helps Kiwis Personalise Health Plans With At-Home Genetic Testing
Tuesday, 22 April 2025, 11:11 am | Life X DNA
Testing is performed via a non-invasive, saliva-based DNA kit delivered directly to the customer’s door. Once returned for analysis, users receive a detailed and confidential report highlighting key findings and actionable recommendations. More >>
New Zealanders Turn To Genetic Testing For Deeper Insight Into Heart Health And DNA Methylation
Monday, 21 April 2025, 11:08 am | Life X DNA
Life X DNA provides genetic testing for heart disease in the same home-based DNA test kit. This includes analysis of markers associated with cardiovascular issues such as hypertension, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia, and heart rate variability. More >>
Australians Explore Epigenetics as Interest in Personalised DNA Health Testing Grows
Sunday, 20 April 2025, 1:20 pm | Life X DNA
As public awareness of preventative health strategies expands, services like those offered by Life X DNA are contributing to a broader interest in evidence-based, individualised health tools. More >>
Demand Rises For Cosmetic And Urgent Dental Services In Hawke’s Bay
Saturday, 19 April 2025, 2:21 pm | Golden Apple Dental
Golden Apple Dental continues to invest in modern treatment methods and patient-centred care, aiming to support both urgent dental needs and long-term oral health outcomes for communities throughout the Hawke’s Bay region. More >>
1 In 6 New Zealanders Is Disabled. Why Does So Much Health Research Still Exclude Them?
Friday, 18 April 2025, 6:18 pm | The Conversation
When people with lived experience contribute to the design and delivery of health care and research, it means services are used more and fairer outcomes achieved. More >>
Three Hato Hone St John Tutors Travel To Niue To Teach First Aid And Life-saving Skills
Friday, 18 April 2025, 3:06 pm | Hato Hone St John
HHStJ Senior First Aid Tutor Margaret Smith and two colleagues Sheree King and Glen ‘Ping’ Gould, have recently returned from teaching seven courses over four days in Niue’s capital Alofi. More >>
Medical Testing Company Awanui Loses Millions Amid 'Funding Gap', Staff To Strike Over Pay
Friday, 18 April 2025, 12:23 pm | RNZ
The result is the third straight year with no dividend payment to shareholders. More >>
PsychologyCare Highlights Depth-Oriented Therapeutic Approaches For Long-Term Mental Health Change
Friday, 18 April 2025, 12:13 pm | PsychologyCare
PsychologyCare’s clinicians tailor each treatment plan to the individual, with a focus on long-term change rather than short-term symptom management. More >>
Auckland Theatre Nurses Strike Over Unpaid Overtime Claim
Friday, 18 April 2025, 11:05 am | New Zealand Nurses Organisation
About 370 perioperative (which includes preoperative, theatre and postoperative) nurses working at Auckland City Hospital, Starship Hospital and Greenlane Clinical Centre will strike for two hours on 1 May. More >>
Paediatric Society Of New Zealand Launches New Network To Strengthen Child Health Services In Aotearoa
Thursday, 17 April 2025, 5:36 pm | Paediatric Society of NZ
This network gives us a chance to rethink care from a mokopuna-centric, whānau-focused, whānau-led perspective. We need to deliver services not just to whānau, but with them – in ways that reflect their needs, aspirations, and mana. More >>
‘Cultural Safety’ Must Not Trump Speech Rights And Qualified Care For Patients
Thursday, 17 April 2025, 5:34 pm | Free Speech Union
Practitioners face increasing overreach from regulators that threatens to undermine not only their individual liberties, but the important contribution dissent, debate, and the contest of ideas play in our healthcare sector. More >>
Give Physios Authority To Sign-off Return To Work, Saving Millions In ACC Claims
Thursday, 17 April 2025, 5:22 pm | EMA
EMA Manager of Employment Relations and Safety Paul Jarvie says returning to work is a fundamental part of injury recovery, but there simply aren’t enough GPs across New Zealand for the number of workers needing certification. More >>
Hīkoi For Health Declares Band-Aid Day On May 8th To Highlight Healthcare Crisis
Thursday, 17 April 2025, 3:38 pm | Hikoi for Health
The concept of Band-Aid Day serves as a poignant symbol of the government's approach to the ongoing healthcare crisis. More >>
Healthcare Crisis Drives Cross-Country Protest: Hīkoi For Health Set To Begin
Thursday, 17 April 2025, 3:36 pm | Hikoi for Health
The Hīkoi will journey from Kaitaia in Northland to Parliament, collecting healthcare stories and ideas for reform from communities along its route. More >>
Proposed Change To Asthma Inhaler Access Could Save Lives
Thursday, 17 April 2025, 2:09 pm | Asthma and Respiratory Foundation
Under the plan, eligible patients would be able to collect a three-month supply in one pharmacy visit, instead of returning each month for a repeat. More >>
Pharmac Plans To Improve Access To Asthma Inhalers
Thursday, 17 April 2025, 11:21 am | PHARMAC
Pharmac is also proposing a change which would provide further support for New Zealanders moving onto these inhalers. More >>
Braemar Hospital Surges Ahead With Surgical Robot
Thursday, 17 April 2025, 10:18 am | Braemar Hospital
Braemar Hospital prides itself on being at the forefront of surgical firsts for the region and across New Zealand, to ensure its community has access to a wide range of safe, high-quality procedures. More >>
Government’s Public Consultation To Address Healthcare Crisis “Badly Flawed”
Thursday, 17 April 2025, 9:59 am | General Practice Owners Association
The Ministry describes its consultation paper Putting Patients First: Modernising health workforce regulation as “an opportunity to put patients at the centre, modernise and streamline the system, and improve efficiency”. More >>
Crucial Harm Reduction Service Continues To Increase Reach
Thursday, 17 April 2025, 9:36 am | NZ Drug Foundation
The Foundation’s drug checking service tested 3,213 samples at 141 clinics in 2024, representing a 23.5% increase in samples and a 44% increase in clinics compared to 2023 (2602 samples at 98 clinics). More >>
Healthcare Crisis Drives Cross-Country Protest: Hīkoi For Health Set To Begin
Wednesday, 16 April 2025, 4:41 pm | Hikoi for Health
The Hīkoi will journey from Kaitaia in Northland to Parliament, collecting healthcare stories and ideas for reform from communities along its route. This initiative arises from Colquhoun and Nahill's deep concerns about New Zealand’s failing health system. More >>
Health Infrastructure Plan Ushering In Privatisation Of The Health System
Wednesday, 16 April 2025, 4:13 pm | PSA
Privatisation will inevitably mean syphoning money off from providing health services for all to pay profits to private corporations. This will result in only those who can pay being able to access adequate health care and other vital services. More >>
EPA Calls For Information On Tattoo Inks
Wednesday, 16 April 2025, 7:19 am | Environmental Protection Authority
Recent research has shown that some of the ingredients in some tattoo inks, including certain types of pigments and chemicals, could cause adverse effects, such as allergic reactions or infections. More >>
Women Say Thank You, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello
Tuesday, 15 April 2025, 6:23 pm | Women's Rights Party
Women’s Rights Party Co-leader Jill Ovens says the issue is about language being used by Health NZ and the Ministry of Health in policies and health information relating to women's health. It is not about how individuals are treated. More >>
Midwives Advocate For 'And-And' Approach To Pregnancy Language
Tuesday, 15 April 2025, 6:04 pm | RNZ
Associate Health Minister Casey Costello has directed Health NZ to say "women" instead of "pregnant people". More >>
Have Your Say On The Medicines Amendment Bill
Tuesday, 15 April 2025, 10:08 am | Health Committee
This bill proposes to improve access to medication. The Bill seeks to modernise the membership requirements for the Committee, which plays a role in providing access to medicines. More >>
Bringing The Smile Back To Taumarunui: Te Tiratū Iwi Māori Partnership Board Calls For Urgent Action On Dental Equity
Monday, 14 April 2025, 3:22 pm | Te Tiratu
It offered a range of on-the-spot services that included cardiac/diabetes/cancer screening, an eye clinic, immunisations, gall bladder/hernia/haemorrhoid banding specialists, to skin lesion clinics. More >>
Patient Gets Pregnant After GP Fails To Insert Contraceptive
Monday, 14 April 2025, 3:14 pm | RNZ
The pregnancy was a 'huge shock', and the termination an 'extremely traumatic experience', the patient said. More >>
Startling Numbers In New Zealand's Biggest-Ever Study On Dementia
Monday, 14 April 2025, 2:41 pm | RNZ
After knocking on more than 20,000 doors, New Zealand researchers have found high numbers of people who have dementia, but not the diagnosis. More >>
NZ-CN Gut Health Forum: Revolutionising Digestive Health
Monday, 14 April 2025, 2:23 pm | Aroha Gut Health Trust
This pioneering forum, scheduled for 2 May 2025, will take place at the Wave Room – Te Iringa, WG308, WG Building, Auckland University of Technology, 74 Governor Fitzroy Place, Auckland Central, Auckland 1010. More >>
Free Vape Kits Won’t Deliver Smokefree 2025 Goal
Monday, 14 April 2025, 1:44 pm | Public Health Communication Centre
In the latest Public Health Communication Centre Briefing, researchers from the University of Otago assess the likely impact of the initiative, which offers free vape kits through 24 Te Whatu Ora-funded stop smoking services across the country. More >>
Minister Directs Health NZ To Revive Stalled Health Centre
Friday, 11 April 2025, 9:18 pm | Moana Ellis - Local Democracy Reporter
‘Very Encouraging’: Ruapehu mayor Weston Kirton has welcomed the Health Minister’s push for progress on a rural health centre. More >>