Health
Pasifika reach major vaccination milestone
Pasifika in New Zealand have reached a major vaccination milestone, with 90-percent of Pacific communities have had at least the first covid-19 vaccination. Audio
Covid-19 lockdown highlights 'ridiculous' Pharmac rule for access to safe sex drug
Auckland's Covid-19 lockdown is highlighting "ridiculous" and "arbitrary" Pharmac rules that are restricting access to a safe sex drug common to gay men.
Health officials thought Delta outbreak had peaked by end of August
Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson says no public health advice is perfect, after newly released documents show officials thought the Delta outbreak was under control.
Lockdown means Auckland gay men ineligible for funded drug
Auckland's months-long Covid-19 lockdown means gay men in Auckland are no longer eligible for subsidised access to a commonly-used safe sex drug. Jake McKee reports. Audio
DHBs hope Covid planning makes them ready for holidays
DHBs are hoping their best laid plans will be the bedrock for getting through the summer period.
Since Delta arrived in the country, DHBs outside of Auckland have been planning for its arrival at… Audio
Expert says chronic fatigue syndrome sufferers should be exempt from Covid-19 vaccination
One of the country's leading biomedical scientists has written to the prime minister and director-general of health urging vaccination exemptions for chronic fatigue syndrome sufferers.
'No need to be alarmed' about new SA variant - Robertson
While there are no cases in NZ of the Covid-19 variant causing concern in South Africa, the deputy PM says it is a strong reminder that the global pandemic is far from over. Watch the govt's latest…
Covid-19 update: 173 new community cases, 78 people in hospital
The ministry says it was now supporting 4058 people to isolate at home around Auckland, including 1070 active cases.
Call to be more inclusive of children in Covid-19 response
Child health researcher Julie Spray tells Jesse why we need to be more inclusive of children in our Covid-19 response. Audio
Public health system hostile and racist towards Māori
A new Medical Journal paper shows New Zealand's health system is hostile and racist toward Maori, perpetuating existing barriers and inequities that have been faced over generations.
The paper… Audio
Clarity for businesses with traffic light system guidance
Government officials have released sector-specific guidance to help businesses understand how to operate under the traffic light system.
It explains how the Covid Protection Framework will apply to… Audio
Police, Defence Force must be vaccinated against Covid-19
All sworn and authorised police officers, as well as recruits, will need to get their first Covid-19 vaccinations by January the 17th next year.
So will all Defence Force staff including civilians.
… Audio
Midday News for 26 November 2021
The Government extends the vaccine mandate, and businesses finally get answers on the traffic light system. Audio
Covid-19: Rapid antigen tests 'not going to pick everyone up' - researcher
Rapid antigen tests can miss up to 44 percent of positive Covid-19 cases, according to a new study out in the New Zealand Medical Journal. Audio
Earth Detox: The chemical tsunami and how to deal with it
Chemicals are in our food, our water, the air we breathe and everything we touch. Last year an international team estimated there were 350,000 chemicals registered for production and use, but it's… Audio
Some prisoners have better conditions than MIQ - Ombudsman
The Chief Ombudsman has told MPs that some prisoners have better conditions than some others do in MIQ.
Peter Boshier presented a review of MIQ to a parliamentary select committee yesterday, after… Audio
Covid-19: Pharmacy leaders welcome RATs arriving
Pharmacy leaders have praised the policy to roll out Covid-19 rapid antigen tests through the country's pharmacies.
From mid-December, New Zealanders will be able to buy rapid antigen tests for… Audio
Covid-19: Scientist on rapid antigen tests
Rapid antigen tests are being rolled out to pharmacies and businesses from next month as part of a raft of Covid-19 mitigation measures.
These tests, which detect the presence of specific proteins… Audio
Covid-19 vaccine reduces stroke risk - Stroke Foundation
The Stroke Foundation is urging people to get vaccinated against Covid-19 to help reduce the risk of a debilitating stroke. Audio
Covid-19: Could Christmas delay vaccine for kids?
Medsafe is refusing to say whether it will hit pause on assessing Pfizer vaccines for children over the Christmas break.
Doctors say waiting longer may be no bad thing as more data filters out of the… Audio