Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Latest Health Headlines
Te Mātuku Launches Community Health Plan To Enhance Māori Wellbeing
Wednesday, 12 March 2025, 8:22 pm | Te Matuku
The plan emphasises key health priorities, including mental health and wellbeing, rural access and healthcare sustainability, mokopuna ora (child and adolescent wellbeing), kaumātua ora (health of older peoples), and preventative health initiatives. More >>
Urgent Call To Prioritise Kidney Disease As Dialysis Demand Soars
Wednesday, 12 March 2025, 7:55 pm | Kidney Health NZ
KHNZ Board Member and kidney specialist Dr Curtis Walker (Te Whakatōhea, Ngāti Porou) says chronic kidney disease is on the rise in New Zealand and long-term planning and a strategy are urgently needed. More >>
Sustainable Funding For Hospices
Wednesday, 12 March 2025, 7:20 pm | Hospice NZ
Hospices Under Significant Cost Pressure – New Funding Model Urgently Needed As Report Shows The Real Value Of Hospices To Health System More >>
Veterinary Council Welcomes Change Allowing Dental Procedures To Be Performed By Veterinary Nurses
Wednesday, 12 March 2025, 11:34 am | Veterinary Council Of New Zealand
Veterinary nurses doing these procedures will free up time for veterinarians to deliver more advanced care and treatment. More >>
NZVA Celebrates Welcome Additional Support From Veterinary Nurses
Wednesday, 12 March 2025, 9:44 am | NZ Veterinary Association
NZVA Companion Animal Veterinarians Branch Immediate Past President Natalie Lloyd said it was great to hear vet nurses would once again be able to perform subgingival (below the gum line) procedures on cats and dogs that are under general anaesthesia. More >>
Bright Minds, Bright Futures: The Child & Adolescent Mental Health Conference Returns To The Gold Coast
Tuesday, 11 March 2025, 7:17 pm | Child Adolescent Mental Health Conference
The 2025 conference theme, Bright Minds, Bright Futures: Enhancing Child and Adolescent Wellbeing, reflects the ongoing commitment to reshaping the future of youth mental health through collaboration, innovation, and evidence-based approaches. More >>
Desogestrel Funding A Major Boost For Endometriosis Patients
Tuesday, 11 March 2025, 2:11 pm | Endometriosis New Zealand
"Pharmac's decision is a vital step towards ensuring that every person with endometriosis can access desogestrel, regardless of their financial situation." More >>
Hāpai Te Hauora Calls For Equitable Bowel Screening
Monday, 10 March 2025, 1:32 pm | Hapai Te Hauora
Targeted bowel screening pilots have already proven to be successful. Hāpai Te Hauora urges the government to reinstate targeted funding to ensure equitable screening access and better health outcomes for Māori and Pacific communities. More >>
New Insulin Medicine Proposed For People With Diabetes
Monday, 10 March 2025, 1:06 pm | PHARMAC
The new medicine (branded as Ryzodeg) is a combination of two other medicines: insulin degludec (an ultra-long-acting insulin) and insulin aspart (a rapid-acting insulin). More >>
Concerns Grow Over Lack Of Oversight In Private Healthcare
Sunday, 9 March 2025, 12:36 pm | Health Consumer Advocacy Alliance
Relieving the pressure on our overstretched health system is necessary, but without strong oversight, private hospitals may prioritise efficiency and financial incentives over safety, leaving patients vulnerable to harm. More >>
Experts On Why Bowel Cancer Screening Changes Are A Concern
Friday, 7 March 2025, 8:49 pm | RNZ
Cancelling a plan to lower the age for Māori has been described as "institutionalised racism", though some experts say the move overall will save lives. More >>
Government Prioritises Digital Health Infrastructure After A Year Of Setbacks
Friday, 7 March 2025, 6:18 pm | Digital Health Association
"It’s encouraging to see the Government recognise that digital infrastructure is not just a ‘nice to have’ but an essential pillar of a functioning health system," says DHA chief executive Ryl Jensen. More >>
Yet More Government Health Plans And Priorities: NZNO
Friday, 7 March 2025, 6:15 pm | NZNO
NZNO Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku says the Minister’s acknowledgement of the issues facing the health system is good for patients and health care workers. More >>
Unsafe Recreational Water Quality At Motu-kauati-rahi, Duvauchelle Bay/ Kaitouna And Tikao Bay/ Ōkoropeke
Friday, 7 March 2025, 3:41 pm | Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand
Dr Ramon Pink, Medical Officer of Health for the National Public Health Service, says “Water quality at affected sites is not considered suitable for recreational uses including swimming because of the risk to health from the bacteria and other ... More >>
Nurses Call To Revive Pay Equity Claims
Friday, 7 March 2025, 2:39 pm | New Zealand Nurses Organisation
NZNO President Anne Daniels says there are many hurdles to cross before women in Aotearoa are paid fairly and equally. More >>
Health Warning Lifted At Ōtaia River At Ōtaia Gorge & Waihao River At Bradshaws Bridge And Gum Tree Road
Friday, 7 March 2025, 11:24 am | Health New Zealand
Latest water testing results show faecal bacteria levels in Ōtaia River at Ōtaia Gorge, and Waihao River at Bradshaws Bridge & Gum Tree Road are now below guideline values and the health warning issued on 21 Feb 2025 has been removed with the water ... More >>
Largest Iwi Māori Partnership Board Welcomes Bowel Screening Expansion & Calls For Māori-Focused Equity In Access
Friday, 7 March 2025, 9:46 am | Te Tiratu
“Screening is an essential tool for prevention and early detection, and expanding access will definitely save lives,” said Hagen Tautari, co-chair Te Tiratū Iwi Māori Partnership Board. More >>
Alignment With Australia’s Bowel Screening Programme - What Will The Government’s Promise Actually Mean?
Friday, 7 March 2025, 9:39 am | Federation of Womens Health Councils
The lack of discussion about the positivity threshold is worrisome and further concerning as NZ’s programme has not yet been fully evaluated. More >>
Hey Minister, How About Saving 700 Lives?
Friday, 7 March 2025, 9:03 am | Prostate Cancer Foundation
“While it’s admirable that Minister Brown has increased the eligibility for bowel cancer screening, funded more kiwis to train as doctors, and injected $285 million into general practice, it’s disappointing that once again there’s nothing for ... More >>
New Zealanders Warned – Lifestyle Choices Could Be Harming Brain Health
Friday, 7 March 2025, 8:41 am | Dementia New Zealand
“There’s a growing body of evidence showing that what we do throughout our lives influences our brain health as we age,” she says. “We want people to understand that brain health isn’t just something to think about later in life. It starts ... More >>
Health Warning - Unsafe Recreational Water Quality Temuka River And Waihi River
Thursday, 6 March 2025, 5:15 pm | Health New Zealand
Dr Ramon Pink, Medical Officer of Health for the National Public Health Service, says “Water quality at affected sites is not considered suitable for recreational uses including swimming because of the risk to health from the bacteria and other ... More >>
Cyanobacteria Health Warning Placed On Lake Rotokaeo
Thursday, 6 March 2025, 4:46 pm | Health New Zealand
“People should avoid any activity in or near these lakes that could lead to skin contact with the affected water, or the water being swallowed,” says Medical Officer of Health Dr Richard Vipond. More >>
Changes To Bowel Screening Age At The Expense Of Māori Programme Deeply Disturbing
Thursday, 6 March 2025, 4:04 pm | NZ College of Public Health Medicine
Bowel screening saves lives. Early-stage cancers have a much better chance of being treated successfully. Most Māori diagnosed with bowel cancer are under the age of 60, compared to just under a third of non-Māori. More >>
Nurses Call For Bowel Screening Changes To Be Reversed
Thursday, 6 March 2025, 3:19 pm | New Zealand Nurses Organisation
Bowel Cancer New Zealand has said removing the younger screening eligibility would result in 100,000 Māori and Pacific people aged 50 not getting earlier screening. These people are at greater risk of having later stage bowel cancer when they are ... More >>
Chronic Staff Shortages At Palmerston North Hospital: Services Could Be Paused
Thursday, 6 March 2025, 11:07 am | Patient Voice Aotearoa
States chair of PVA, Malcolm Mulholland “Given the number of chronic staff shortages affecting departments within the hospital, and much like what is happening with surveillance colonoscopies, I have been warned that certain services are under threat of being ... More >>
Vape Companies Hunt Loopholes Ahead Of Law Change
Thursday, 6 March 2025, 10:23 am | Asthma and Respiratory Foundation
The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation is calling out vape retailers for their blatant attempts to bypass the new laws aimed at protecting our tamariki. More >>
University Welcomes Primary Care Announcements
Wednesday, 5 March 2025, 4:39 pm | University of Auckland
The government’s announcements this week of support for more locally trained doctors and nurses to work in primary care are welcomed by the University of Auckland’s Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences Dean, Professor Warwick Bagg and Head of Nursing ... More >>
Brain Health Wake-Up Call: Simple Advice From NZ Memory Experts For Brain Awareness Month In March
Wednesday, 5 March 2025, 3:46 pm | Brainfit
The brain continues to grow and adapt throughout life, and we have the power to influence three of the four key factors that contribute to brain aging. In this article, Brainfit shares simple yet powerful ways to boost your memory and overall brain health. More >>
More Nurses In Primary Care Will Be A Welcome Boost Says ProCare
Wednesday, 5 March 2025, 2:47 pm | ProCare Health
Increasing the number of skilled nurses will undoubtedly support primary care practices. However, it’s crucial to ensure they receive equitable remuneration compared to their hospital counterparts. Without this, we risk facing the same challenges we ... More >>
Health Warning Lifted For Algal Bloom In Waikirikiri-Selwyn River At Whitecliffs
Wednesday, 5 March 2025, 2:40 pm | Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand
Recent cyanobacteria surveys of the Waikirikiri-Selwyn River at Whitecliffs have shown the cover of potentially toxic algae (benthic cyanobacteria) in the river has reduced and is now below levels that are of concern to public health. More >>
Boost For Primary Care Nursing Workforce
Wednesday, 5 March 2025, 11:44 am | GPNZ
Speaking following Health Minister Simeon Brown’s announcement of the additional funding at his Porirua Union clinic Dr Betty said: "This initiative recognises the critical contribution of the nursing workforce and opens more opportunities for rewarding ... More >>
$285 Million GP Funding Boost A Good Start, But More Information Needed
Wednesday, 5 March 2025, 8:43 am | General Practitioners Aotearoa
“We are excited about this announcement, and are waiting with bated breath to find out if the funding will end up on the front line where it is desperately needed,” says GPA chair Dr Buzz Burrell. More >>
Primary Care Funding A Positive Step In The Right Direction, Says College Of GPs
Tuesday, 4 March 2025, 3:31 pm | Royal NZ College of General Practitioners
College President Dr Samantha Murton says, "Any additional funding for primary care will ultimately benefit our patients and improve health outcomes, and as specialist GPs and rural hospital doctors who work in the community, this is our priority. More >>
Health Warning Lifted For Algal Bloom In Hurunui River At SH1
Tuesday, 4 March 2025, 2:55 pm | Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand
Dr Ramon Pink, Medical Officer of Health for the National Public Health Service, says Environment Canterbury’s monitoring of Hurunui River will continue to the end of this recreational water season and then will resume next season when there ... More >>
Chief Ombudsman Releases Report Into Secure Aged Care Facilities
Tuesday, 4 March 2025, 2:07 pm | Office of the Ombudsman
Mr Boshier has today released a report on his inspections and visits to 148 secure residential aged care facilities across the country from 2021-2024. More >>
ProCare Welcomes Health Minister's Announcement Around Funding Uplift For Primary Care
Tuesday, 4 March 2025, 1:15 pm | ProCare Health
The costs of doing business have outstripped any increases in capitation, and a significant number of practices are struggling to meet the rising costs of supporting their patients, meeting population health needs and providing a service to their local communities. More >>
Primary And Community Care Will Remain In Crisis Until Nurses Receive Pay Parity
Monday, 3 March 2025, 8:53 pm | NZNO
NZNO College of Primary Health Care Nurses chair Tracey Morgan says the funding gives health care providers outside hospitals a temporary reprieve from the financially crippling co-payment system. More >>
General Practice Gives Cautious Thumbs Up To Primary Healthcare Boost
Monday, 3 March 2025, 6:43 pm | General Practice Owners Association
While general practice will welcome the focus on growing the numbers of GPs - which is essential to an accessible high-quality GP service - and we’re pleased to see investment in nursing, we are disappointed that the key issue of nurse pay parity ... More >>
“We Feel Heard” – Investment Is A Vital First Step Towards Improving Access To General Practice
Monday, 3 March 2025, 6:39 pm | GPNZ
“This investment will help ensure that patients receive the care they need when they need it, while also strengthening the sustainability of the workforce,” says Porirua-based Specialist General Practitioner and Chair of GPNZ, Dr Bryan Betty. More >>
Brain Injury NZ Launches The Brain Injury Awareness Ribbon
Monday, 3 March 2025, 5:58 pm | Brain Injury NZ
Brain Injury New Zealand want people to know that while brain injury can be life-altering, those affected are not alone in navigating recovery. There are Brain Injury Associations throughout the motu available to provide assistance. More >>
Interns Help PHO With Pasifika Immunisation Picture
Monday, 3 March 2025, 10:42 am | WellSouth
Author of the WellSouth Pacific Health Strategic Framework, WellSouth Clinical Advisor – Pasifika, Dr Letava Tafuna’i, says that students are typically hosted by a Pacific healthcare provider, however this year WellSouth requested to have students ... More >>
New Funding Of Treatment Will Help Many Of The Over 300 New Zealanders Diagnosed With Liver Cancer Each Year
Saturday, 1 March 2025, 9:39 pm | Roche
From 1 March 2025, TECENTRIQ (atezolizumab) in combination with bevacizumab, will be funded for eligible patients within the public system for the first time. More >>
"Concussion Isn’t Just A Sports Injury—It Can Happen To Anyone, Anywhere"
Friday, 28 February 2025, 10:05 pm | Headway
35,000 New Zealanders Suffer Brain Injuries Every Year – But Thousands Aren’t Seeking Help More >>
Health Inequity Called Out As A ‘Scandal’
Friday, 28 February 2025, 6:46 pm | Diane McCarthy - Local Democracy Reporter
The forum was six hours including breaks, and received 205 views within 24 hours. More >>
Staffing Shortages Putting Patient Safety At Risk At Nelson Hospital
Friday, 28 February 2025, 3:45 pm | Association of Salaried Medical Specialists
An email sent to clinicians earlier today advised between 1600 and 2200 the hospital will have no medical registrar. Nelson’s emergency department is staffed to see 70 to 80 patients a day, but they regularly see more than 100 a day. More >>
Anaesthetist Receives $1.4m Grant To Improve Surgery Outcomes
Friday, 28 February 2025, 3:38 pm | ANZCA
Dr Daniel Frei, a cardiothoracic anaesthetist at Wellington Regional Hospital, secured the funding from the Health Research Council of New Zealand for the Hospital Operating Theatre Randomised Oxygen clinical trial, or HOT-ROX. More >>
Hauora Taiwhenua Presents 10-Point Action Plan For Rural Māori Health
Friday, 28 February 2025, 3:25 pm | Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network
The completion and submission of this action plan mark a significant step forward in addressing the long-standing inequities in rural Māori healthcare. Hauora Taiwhenua looks forward to collaborating with the Ministry to implement these actions and ensure More >>
Healthline Diverts 83 Patients Daily from Te Manawa Taki (Midlands) Region Emergency Departments
Thursday, 27 February 2025, 6:35 pm | Telehealth Services
"These findings confirm what we've always believed -- that Healthline plays a crucial role in connecting New Zealanders with the right care at the right time," says Glynis Sandland, CEO of Whakarongorau Aotearoa. More >>
Cyanobacteria Health Warning Placed On Lake Hakanoa
Thursday, 27 February 2025, 4:14 pm | Health New Zealand
Lakes Rotokauri, Waikare, and Whangape continue to have cyanobacterial health warnings in place, with an ‘extreme risk’ health warning at Lake Nga Roto. More >>
McCrae Hospitals And Orion Health Expand Viet Nam Footprint Through Key Partnerships
Thursday, 27 February 2025, 10:57 am | Orion Health
McCrae Hospitals is a fully Kiwi owned spinoff from Orion Health, the global New Zealand health technology firm recently acquired by Healwell AI. More >>
Youth Vaping Declines Slightly But Still High By Global Standards
Thursday, 27 February 2025, 9:56 am | Public Health Communication Centre
In the latest Briefing from the Public Health Communication Centre, researchers from the University of Otago ASPIRE team analyse vaping trends, painting a mixed picture. More >>
Healthcare Providers Can Soon Monitor Patients From Home
Thursday, 27 February 2025, 9:09 am | Manage My Health
Launched by the Manage My Health platform, the technology integrates remote patient monitoring (RPM) with its well-established virtual consultations (VC) facility, offering a seamless solution for healthcare providers. More >>
5 Years On, COVID Remains NZ’s Most Important Infectious Disease – It Still Demands A Strong Response
Wednesday, 26 February 2025, 9:13 pm | The Conversation
Hospitalisations and deaths attributed to COVID have dropped significantly since a peak in 2022. But a new variant could still reverse the trend quickly. More >>
Why Health Promotion Matters At Events Like Te Matatini
Wednesday, 26 February 2025, 8:36 pm | RNZ
Hauora has been an important focus for Te Matatini with a zero tolerance for drinking, drugs, smoking, and vaping - but what else is being done at the event to encourage Māori to better look after themselves? More >>
Health Warning Lifted At Church Bay/Kaioruru
Wednesday, 26 February 2025, 4:02 pm | Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand
The latest water testing result shows that faecal bacteria levels in Church Bay/Kaioruru are now below guideline values and the health warning issued on 20/02/2025 has been removed with the water at Church Bay/Kaioruru suitable for recreational use. More >>
Heart Attack And Stroke: Bobby's Recovery Thanks To The Greenlea Rescue Helicopter
Wednesday, 26 February 2025, 3:38 pm | Philips Search and Rescue Trust
As a proud supporter of Greenlea Rescue Helicopter, Bobby never dreamed she’d need a helicopter rescue herself. It would’ve taken more than an hour to get her there by car, and with Bobby in critical danger, any delay would put her in worse danger. More >>
Pharmac Close To Finalising Proposal For More Than One Brand Of Oestradiol Patch
Wednesday, 26 February 2025, 2:34 pm | PHARMAC
Pharmac is in discussions with the suppliers of Estradot and Estradiol TDP Mylan patches and Dr Ngawati says these talks have been progressing well. The oestradiol patches currently in use will continue to be available as Pharmac works through this ... More >>
Mum Needing Essential Heart Scan Faced Life-threatening Delays
Tuesday, 25 February 2025, 7:19 pm | Kia Manawanui Trust The Heart of Aotearoa NZ
Māhina Ngāpō is battling stage three breast cancer and needs an echocardiogram every three months to ensure she can undergo life-saving treatment. More >>
Child Cancer Foundation Calls For Support As High Numbers Of Referrals Roll In
Tuesday, 25 February 2025, 5:07 pm | Child Cancer Foundation
Monica Briggs, Chief Executive of Child Cancer Foundation, says the high number of families needing support over summer highlights the urgent need for continued care and resources. More >>
Health Warning – Algal Bloom In The Ōpihi River At Saleyards Bridge
Tuesday, 25 February 2025, 4:19 pm | Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand
The warning follows finding moderate to high cover of potentially toxic algae (benthic cyanobacteria) in the Ōpihi River. People should avoid the area and animals, particularly dogs, should not be allowed near the water until the health warning has been lifted. More >>
