Health

Budget 2021: What you need to know

Budget 2021 sees the ‘the biggest lift in a generation’ to benefits, $1 billion for Māori housing, health and education, as well as an overall investment…

The Cook Islands Travel bubble opens today

As miserable weather starts to settle in across the country, New Zealanders will be able to have the perfect island escape. 

New Zealanders can now officially travel…

A third of young people develop a mental health problem after a concussion, new research shows

The literature review involved nearly 90,000 under 18-year-olds in nine countries including NZ.

Young workers in NZ are three times more burnt out than others

New Zealand workers under the age of 30 are three times more likely to be burnt out than other demographics.

Do you feel like you’ve got nothing…

Guys and violence: Am I weak if I back down? | One For the Boys | Ep 1

“Imagine if all your boys jump into a fight and you don’t? You’re just the one standing there.”

The New Zealand health system is getting a complete overhaul

All 20 district health boards will be combined into a single national health organisation, to be called Health New Zealand, and new public and Māori health…

Covid-19 Live Updates

The key facts you need to know about Covid-19 in Aotearoa.

Teens should get special contraception consults, study says

Researchers say contraceptives should be proactively offered to teenagers. 

The study Proactively Providing Contraception to New Zealand Adolescents from the University of Otago was published on Tuesday…

Why did Labour and the Greens vote against a medical cannabis bill?

Last week a National Party bill to make medicinal cannabis more readily available was voted against by Labour, the Greens and the Māori party. Why?

On March…

Pill testing doesn’t make you any more likely to take drugs, research finds

New research has found pill-testing services do not result in people taking MDMA if they had not used the drug before.

The research also found that pill…

Why Māori need to be a priority for the Covid-19 vaccine

Today the government announced who will be prioritised to receive the Covid-19 vaccine. Two million New Zealanders will get their first dose in the next four…

Growing weed indoors is actually really bad for the environment

According to research published today, growing cannabis indoors produces up to 5000kg of carbon dioxide per one kilogram of dried flower. 

That’s roughly 4850 times the emissions…

In photos: living with a mother with dementia

Tāmaki Makaurau-based photographer Todd Henry captured these photos of his mother-in-law, Nisi, who lives with dementia. The images show love, care and all the little details…

Why we can’t afford to forget about dementia

After Covid-19, dementia is one of the most pervasive and costly health concerns we will face. But how many of us are prepared? 

Too many of us…

The first Covid-19 vaccines will be in NZ next week

NZ border workers will be first to receive the Pfizer jab.

40 percent of MDMA in NZ this summer was actually cathinones

Drug checking organisation Know Your Stuff has found nearly 40% of MDMA was actually eutylone.

I have an invisible disability. It feels like I'm ignored by our health system

If you become disabled as a result of an accident in New Zealand, ACC will pay for your treatment. But those disabled through medical conditions, illness…

It’s now easier for gay men to donate blood, as long as you haven't had sex recently

As long as you haven’t had sex in the last three months.

  • 14 Dec 20

These patients have been given a prescription for nature, rather than pills

A number of Kiwis are opting for fresh air and exercise instead of depending on traditional Western medicine.

A green prescription is an instruction from a health…

Why people are taking the 'date rape' drug

With rising hospitalisations from liquid ecstasy experts say drug checking at festivals is needed.

One of these teens with cystic fibrosis has access to a life-saving drug. The other doesn't | Side…

Bella and Osiris, both 17 years old, were born with cystic fibrosis, a life-threatening disease.

Covid-19 Live Updates

The key facts you need to know about Covid-19 in Aotearoa.Monday 1 October

Auckland will move to level 1 this Wednesday at 11.59pm.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern made…

Covid-19 Live Updates: 3 new cases

The key facts you need to know about Covid-19 in Aotearoa.Sunday 23 August, 1pm

There are 3 new cases today. One is linked to the Auckland cluster…

I tried Shibari, the kinky Japanese art of rope bondage

Sex journalist Sam Te Kani tries shibari and talks about BDSM, consent and whether NZers are prudes.

How to watch porn ethically

We spoke to a porn performer, a sexuality coach and an academic about how to watch porn ethically.

10 mental health tips for the return to lockdown

As mental health advocate Claudia Ibbotson states at the beginning of this video, existing in times of uncertainty is hard. During our second round of lockdown,…

Auckland moves back into alert level 3 lockdown, rest of country moves to level 2

There are four new cases of Covid-19 in Auckland, believed to be community transmission. There is no clear link to a managed isolation facility or to…

Observations of a rural nurse

Photographer Sara McIntyre has lived in the tiny town of Kākahi for the last ten years. She’s spent most of that time working as a district…

Recognising Matariki as a public holiday enables society to thrive

In February 2021 the government announced Matariki would be made a public holiday. 

In this essay from 2020, Qiane Matata-Sipu writes about her hope that decision-makers would prioritise wellness,…

Most women literally tear during birth but only a fraction are funded for physio care

Many women experience health issues after giving birth, but only a fraction receive funded care.