09 Jul 2026
4 months ago
971 views
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey officially opened Gisborne’s new Crisis Recovery Café, a safe, non-clinical space where people experiencing mental health and addiction challenges can receive peer support and connect with community services without a referral. The café, run by Te Kupenga Net Trust, operates weekdays and aims to provide an alternative to emergency departments, emphasizing the importance of wraparound support and peer workers who understand lived experiences. This initiative is part of a broader rollout of eight Crisis Recovery Cafés nationwide to improve mental health support through trusted community organizations.
08 Jul 2026
4 months ago
793 views
A new Women’s Health Hub has been launched in New Zealand to provide trusted, practical health information tailored to women’s needs at different life stages. Developed by the Ministry for Women and Health New Zealand, the online platform consolidates reliable resources, guidance for healthcare appointments, and educational videos to support informed decision-making. This initiative addresses women’s feedback about overwhelming health information and aims to help them take an active role in managing their health and wellbeing.
07 Jul 2026
4 months ago
976 views
Health Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the ratification of a new collective agreement for approximately 1,000 Medical Imaging Technologists (MITs) employed by Health New Zealand, which includes pay increases of 2.5% in 2026 and 2% in 2027. The agreement supports a transition to seven-day service provision, enhancing scanning capacity to enable quicker diagnosis and treatment for patients. This ratification follows similar approvals for various other healthcare professional groups, reflecting constructive engagement between APEX and Health New Zealand.
04 Jul 2026
4 months ago
817 views
New Zealand has passed landmark legislation to overhaul its mental health laws for the first time in over 30 years, modernizing compulsory care, strengthening rights, and ending seclusion for young people. The reforms introduce new protections to keep mothers and babies together during compulsory care, limit the use of seclusion for adults, enhance supported decision-making, increase family involvement, and restrict electroconvulsive therapy use. These changes, influenced by feedback from those with lived experience and recommendations from the Royal Commission, aim to improve safety, dignity, and recovery-focused care, and will take effect in two years.
04 Jul 2026
4 months ago
965 views
New Zealand has passed landmark legislation to overhaul its mental health laws for the first time in over 30 years, modernizing compulsory care and strengthening patients' rights. Key reforms include ending seclusion for young people, introducing protections to keep mothers and babies together, enhancing supported decision-making, and tightening safeguards around electroconvulsive therapy. These changes, influenced by recommendations from the Royal Commission and input from those with lived experience, aim to improve safety, dignity, and recovery-focused care, with implementation set for two years from now.
03 Jul 2026
4 months ago
728 views
The new $5 million Clyde Primary Maternity Unit in Central Otago will provide modern, comprehensive maternity care closer to home, replacing the existing Alexandra facility and opening in mid-2027. Designed with families and healthcare professionals in mind, it features private ensuite rooms, a birthing pool, flexible clinical spaces, and strong connections to existing health services. This investment supports the Government’s commitment to strengthening regional maternity services, ensuring quality care for families while integrating with specialist services as needed.
02 Jul 2026
4 months ago
816 views
Defence veterans who served in maritime security operations around the Middle East and East Africa will receive health, rehabilitation, and financial support for deployment-related conditions, covering service periods from 1991 to 2026. Their efforts in disrupting drug smuggling and protecting shipping routes have been crucial to New Zealand’s regional security and economic prosperity. Veterans Minister Chris Penk emphasized the government’s commitment to valuing and supporting veterans’ wellbeing now and in the future.
02 Jul 2026
4 months ago
864 views
New Zealand’s new Healthy Futures (Pae Ora) Amendment Act prioritizes patients by strengthening accountability, reducing bureaucracy, and ensuring timely access to quality healthcare with measurable outcomes. The legislation replaces vague principles with clear health targets to improve system performance, transparency, and delivery after years of poor results under the previous government. Early improvements include reduced emergency wait times, faster treatment, higher immunization rates, and increased investment in hospitals and primary care.
01 Jul 2026
4 months ago
952 views
The Health and Safety at Work Amendment Bill, passed in New Zealand, focuses on preventing serious workplace harm by prioritizing critical risks and reducing regulatory burdens, especially for small businesses. It strengthens Approved Codes of Practice and clarifies duties for directors, aiming to simplify compliance and improve safety outcomes. The reforms, effective from April 2027, balance strong worker protections with practical guidance to support businesses and enhance economic growth.
01 Jul 2026
4 months ago
869 views
New Zealand is rolling out a home faecal immunochemical test (FIT) for people with bowel cancer symptoms to prioritize colonoscopies for those at higher risk, thereby reducing wait times and freeing specialist capacity. This initiative supports the government’s goal to lower the bowel screening age from 60 to 56 and beyond, enabling earlier detection and treatment of bowel cancer. By reducing unnecessary colonoscopy referrals by up to 30%, the test helps manage increased demand while improving timely access to care for symptomatic patients.
01 Jul 2026
4 months ago
832 views
Grieving parents in New Zealand can now register their stillborn babies through Whetūrangitia, a dedicated website designed to provide a more compassionate and supportive experience compared to the previous SmartStart system. The new platform, informed by those who have experienced loss, offers tailored information, birth certificate ordering, and access to mental health support, with Budget 2026 allocating $5 million to enhance these services. This initiative aims to reduce distress and provide coordinated care for the approximately 700 to 900 families affected by perinatal loss annually, as well as those impacted by miscarriage.
30 Jun 2026
4 months ago
952 views
The New Zealand Government is making it mandatory for new corded blinds to meet internationally recognised safety standards to protect young children from cord entanglement hazards. This move follows multiple child fatalities and coroner recommendations, aiming to reduce risks through shorter cords, warning labels, and safety devices, while minimizing costs for compliant businesses. Parents are also urged to raise awareness and take precautions with existing blinds to ensure home safety.
30 Jun 2026
4 months ago
946 views
Associate Health Minister David Seymour supports Pharmac’s proposal to remove all eligibility criteria for Rosuvastatin access from October 2026, allowing clinicians to prescribe it based on clinical need regardless of ethnicity. This change aims to improve management of high cholesterol, reduce heart attack and stroke risks, and is expected to increase the number of users by up to 108,000 over five years without affecting current patients. Pharmac will fund this expansion through savings from its 2025/26 Annual Tender, reflecting strong support from health professionals and consumers for timely access to the medicine.
30 Jun 2026
4 months ago
921 views
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey announced six new locations for mental health co-response teams, expanding New Zealand's crisis response to prioritize mental health support over criminal justice intervention. Funded by Budget 2025, this expansion will triple the number of teams from five to fifteen, with a focus on serving both urban and rural communities based on data-driven need. The government aims to ensure faster, tailored mental health support nationwide, addressing previous funding cuts and building on positive outcomes from existing teams.
26 Jun 2026
4 months ago
1185 views
Construction has begun on the new Hawke’s Bay Cancer Centre, which will provide the region's first local radiation treatment service, significantly reducing the need for patients to travel long distances for care. The $44.8 million project includes advanced technology such as a Linear Accelerator (LINAC) machine and will offer comprehensive oncology and haematology services, improving treatment outcomes and patient comfort. This centre is a key part of the wider Hawke’s Bay Hospital redevelopment aimed at enhancing healthcare access and capacity for the growing population.