Health
Children as young as 11 going to GP pregnant
Northland MP says local GPs have treated patients as young as 11 who are pregnant, prompting political discussion on what age reproductive education should begin. Audio
Greymouth schools and businesses forced to shut due to water
Schools and businesses in the West Coast town of Greymouth have been forced to shut with locals needing to boil their water because of possible contamination. A boil water notice has been in place… Audio
Cut in colonoscopies after Covid funding ran out
The reduction in the number of colonoscopies outsourced to the private sector last year was due to a temporary "surge" the year before - paid for by leftover Covid funding, Health NZ says.
Thousands to benefit as Pharmac widens access to four medicines
The drug-funding agency estimated that 1200 patients would benefit this year, rising to more than 5000 annually after 2030.
New $9 million Auckland Hospital ED officially opened
The Minister of Health says the old ED was overcrowded and not fit-for-purpose with 80,000 patients per year.
E Coli found in Palmerston North drinking water
A sample taken Wednesday afternoon showed a very low presence of the bacteria - only just above detectable levels.
Health NZ looks to axe jobs from team that brings in millions
The team is dedicated to clawing back over-payments, hunting down fraud and auditing. Audio
Music Therapy helping diverse communities across motu
It's Music Therapy week, therapist Luke Stothart told Nathan about how therapy helps those in need Audio
Experts warn hospitals aren't ready to face violent patients alone
The second phase of the police initiative to step back from mental health callouts will begin on Monday. Audio
NZ's largest farm clear of bovine tuberculosis
New Zealand's largest working farm, Molesworth Station, has declared its cattle free of bovine tuberculosis for the first time in nearly 40 years.
Probe launched after child dies following routine tonsil surgery
Southern Cross Healthcare says it is devastated a child died following a routine surgery at one of its hospitals.
Doctor on police's mental health callout changes
Police will be going to the next phase of their withdrawal from mental health callouts on the 14th of April, bringing in a 60 minute limit for emergency department transfers. New Zealand Faculty for… Audio
Shower Thoughts: Can your muscles actually twist into knots?
Can your muscles actually twist into knots? Or is it something else entirely? Audio
Energy drinks banned at Wellington school
A Wellington school is banning highly caffeinated energy drinks from next term, after a spike in the number of students going to the sick bay after drinking them. Audio
Police delay roll out of mental health changes again
Police have pushed out the starting date for phase two of the police reduction of support to mental health events even further, after advice from a governance group for the programme.
Wellington boys school bans energy drinks
A Wellington boys school is banning highly caffeinated energy drinks from next term after a spike in students going to the sick bay after drinking them. A post on the Saint Patrick's College website… Audio
Cryptosporidiosis cases linked to Wellington pools double over two weeks
The majority of cases were from the Hutt Valley, mostly people who used a pool, or had contact with someone who used a pool.
Six ideas NZ could borrow from Australia to cut smoking rates
New Zealand seems unlikely to achieve its goal to reduce smoking to 5% of the population or less.
Colonoscopy wait times increase as fewer procedures funded
Health New Zealand data shows the number of publicly-funded colonoscopies dropped by more than 7 percent. Audio
Wait times for colonoscopies increase
Wait times for urgent, non-urgent and surveillance colonoscopies all grew last year after Health New Zealand failed to keep up with demand. Ruth Hill reports. Audio
