News Ngā karere

The Government has made changes to the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products 1990 Act to better protect children and young people by reducing their access to vaping products. 

Today, consultation opened on a proposal by Pharmac and the Ministry of Health (Medsafe) to improve access to stimulant medicines used in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

The report provides a snapshot of abortion services for the 2023 calendar year.

The Ministry of Health is today marking the 20th anniversary of the ground-breaking Smoke-free Environments Amendment Act 2003 coming into force. 

The Director-General of Health has reconfirmed the directions issued to 14 local authorities to fluoridate one or more of their water supplies. This followed the completion of a court-ordered Bill of Rights Act assessment.

Health agencies have confirmed today that Aotearoa New Zealand is now in the early stages of a whooping cough epidemic, with a nationally coordinated response now in place. 

The Ministry of Health is today releasing an evidence brief and position statement on the use of puberty blockers for gender identity issues and outlining a more cautious approach to their use.

The Ministry has published results from the 2023/24 New Zealand Health Survey today.

The Ministry is encouraging people to take steps to help ensure important medicines, such as antibiotics, can remain effective for treating infections.

The COVID-19 Public Health Response Act 2020 will self-repeal on 26 November, marking the end to the potential use of COVID-19 specific legal tools to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today the Director-General of Health, Dr Diana Sarfati, alongside the Government, and other Chief Executives will apologise for the abuse suffered in state care between 1950-1999. 

The Ministry of Health is now inviting New Zealanders to share their views on its latest Long-term Insights Briefing topic, ‘Unlocking the Potential of Active Ageing’ which looks at the challenges we face with an ageing population.

Two new guides have been developed to support women to make decisions about treatment options for stress urinary incontinence.

“This MedSafety Week, we want to emphasise the importance of taking medicines as directed to reduce the risk of side effects,” Medsafe Group Manager Chris James says.

The Office of Radiation Safety will be closed for the holiday period from the end of the day, Monday 23 December 2024 and re-open on Wednesday 8 January 2025. In the case of a radiation emergency, where people or the environment may be harmed, please call: 021 393 632 immediately.