Stories by Stephen Forbes
News
Alcohol pressure group celebrates Auckland Council decision to support MP’s bill
A group battling against new booze shops in south Auckland is welcoming a council decision to support a bill aimed at tackling alcohol harm.
Notorious Auckland intersection: 'Just waiting for someone to get killed'
Papakura residents say action needs to be taken before someone is killed at a notorious intersection which has been the scene of a number of serious crashes.
Pharmac criticised over delayed delivery of antiviral drug to treat Covid-19
Kiwis have been left waiting for a new drug to treat Covid-19 because Pharmac was too slow to sign a supply contract with the manufacturer, a patient advocacy group says.
Manukau Sports Bowl redevelopment could feature indoor pool, covered velodrome
An indoor aquatic centre, a covered cycling velodrome and a synthetic athletics track are all options on the table as part of a planned redevelopment of Manukau Sports Bowl.
'Folk are struggling': South Auckland property values up, tenants face rent hikes
A number of Auckland's lowest socio-economic areas have been hit hard, facing rates rises of about 13 percent.
Abuse of Middlemore staff worsening, union says
A Middlemore Hospital worker and the nurses union say verbal abuse against health staff is worsening under Covid-19 visitor restrictions.
'Hospitals have been slammed by this' - Doctors' union to Bloomfield
A medical association is disputing Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield's claim that Middlemore Hospital has the capacity cope with the recent surge in Omicron cases.
Covid-19: Counties Manukau DHB postpones surgeries, scans amid Omicron surge
Counties Manukau Health is postponing an average of 13 elective surgery and outpatient appointments a day in a bid to manage the Omicron outbreak.
Covid-19: Children and young people dominating south Auckland Omicron cases
Papakura Marae Health Clinic GP Dr Matire Harwood is seeing a rapid rise in Omicron case numbers and most of them are children.
South Auckland healthcare providers welcome $140m Omicron funding
South Auckland healthcare providers say a $140 million Omicron support package for Māori and Pasifika will allow them to "hold the line" against Covid-19, as case numbers surge.
Positive test texts will heap 'more pressure' on Covid-19 cases - expert
A new online Ministry of Health system to notify people of positive Covid-19 tests and aid contact tracing needs to be streamlined, says a public health expert.
Counties Manukau accounts for almost half of all cases in Omicron outbreak
Almost half of New Zealand's active Covid-19 cases are in the Counties Manukau District Health Board, according to the clinical director of Middlemore Hospital's emergency department Dr Vanessa…
Council taken to task over abandoned Ōtāhuhu town centre upgrade
Auckland Council is being asked to finish what it started after a multi-million dollar upgrade of Ōtāhuhu's town centre was put on the back-burner.
Counties Manukau DHB braces for Omicron impact on frontline staff
Counties Manukau DHB is preparing for the impact a surge in Omicron cases could have on staffing levels and hospital services.
Collins wants more investment in south Auckland after Covid-19 cutbacks
South Auckland is still playing catch-up after two years of the council's budget cutbacks, mayoral candidate Efeso Collins says.
Covid-19: Community isolation scheme needs to be overhauled - study
New Zealand needs to overhaul its Covid-19 community isolation scheme and better fund GPs and primary healthcare workers on the front line, a new paper says.
Roadworks cause concern for locals after crashes in Franklin
A series of road diversions due to roadworks on State Highway 22 are dangerous and leading to an increase in serious car crashes, residents say.
Waiuku developers face hefty bill for wastewater treatment plant
Auckland developers seeking to build 700 homes have been told they will have to foot the bill for a wastewater treatment plant and infrastructure before the project can go ahead.
Call for more social housing in the face of Omicron outbreak
Omicron highlights the need for more social housing, so families living in overcrowded conditions can self-isolate, a chief executive working in the sector says.
South Auckland GPs brace for surge in Omicron cases
South Auckland GPs say they are preparing for a surge in Omicron cases, but there needs to be more coordination from the Ministry of Health and district health boards to help them deal with the next…
Covid-19: Govt cites privacy concerns over call to release Māori child vax data
The Ministry of Health says it will have to consult with a number of parties, including the privacy commissioner, before considering releasing data on Māori children who are eligible for the Covid-19…
Plans for more legal action over Māori data: 'How many times do we have to go to court'
The Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency says it plans to take further legal action against the Ministry of Health to get it to release data on Māori children who are now eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine.
Omicron 'likely to have significant impact' on South Auckland - expert
It is only a matter of time until there is community transmission of Covid-19's new Omicron variant in South Auckland, says a Pacific public health expert.
Middlemore Hospital introduces escalation plans to cope with ED surge
Counties Manukau Health is reporting a spike in people reporting to Middlemore Hospital's emergency department as a result of the easing of Covid-19 restrictions.
Auckland Council to consult mana whenua, urban Māori on creating Māori seats
Auckland Council will consult mana whenua and urban Māori on a proposal to create three Māori seats in time for the 2025 local body elections.