The Briefing | PHCC

Image: Shellie Evans Flickr

New report shows how regional plans could transform freshwater quality

A new report on the failure to protect high-country lakes from degradation highlights valuable and timely lessons for better ways to safeguard and improve freshwater quality.
Continue reading

Issue date

08 June 2023

Author(s)

Marnie Prickett Mike Joy Tim Chambers Michael Baker Simon Hales

Image by Spike Elliott-Jones

Public Health Solutions Series: Improving the cost, composition and availability of foods can save lives

This blog looks at solutions in the food system: reducing the cost and increasing the availability of healthy food and reformulation of processed food.
Continue reading

Issue date

31 August 2022

Author(s)

Cristina Cleghorn Sally Mackay 
Photo by Luke Pilkinton-Ching, University of Otago

Public Health Solutions Series: Two Injury Prevention Strategies to Reduce Pressure on the Health System

This blog briefly considers raising alcohol taxes and further lowering the drink driving limits. There is good scientific evidence supporting both these measures.
Continue reading

Issue date

29 August 2022

Author(s)

Nick Wilson
Image by Amanda Kvalsvig, University of Otago

Public Health Solutions Series: Protecting the healthcare system: a strategic approach to reducing infectious disease impacts in Aotearoa New Zealand

In this blog we outline three immediate approaches to protect people and systems from infectious disease impacts.
Continue reading

Issue date

24 August 2022

Author(s)

Amanda Kvalsvig Jennifer Summers Michael Baker
The Covid-19 experience in Aotearoa New Zealand and other comparable high-income jurisdictions and implications for managing the next pandemic phase

In this blog we briefly explore the experience of the Covid-19 pandemic in several high-income Asia-Pacific jurisdictions: Australia, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ).
Continue reading

Issue date

23 August 2022

Author(s)

Jennifer Summers Nick Wilson Lucy Telfar Barnard Julie Bennett Amanda Kvalsvig Michael Baker
Image by Luke Pilkinton-Ching, University of Otago

Public Health Solutions Series: Good health in childhood is vital for lifelong wellbeing: time for a preventive approach

This blog looks at solutions to improve child health: a child impact lens on policy, lifting income support, action on childhood immunisation.
Continue reading

Issue date

22 August 2022

Author(s)

Amanda D’Souza Nikki Turner
Public Health Solutions Series: Achieving a Smokefree Aotearoa

In this blog, we review two key policy interventions included in the Smokefree Bill currently before Parliament which could rapidly, substantially and equitably reduce smoking prevalence: mandated denicotinisation and a reduction in tobacco retailers.
Continue reading

Issue date

17 August 2022

Author(s)

Richard Edwards Janet Hoek Anaru Waa
Image by Luke Pilkinton-Ching, University of Otago

Public Health Solutions Series: Public policy options to address alcohol-related harm in Aotearoa

This blog looks at solutions to reducing alcohol-related harm through policies on alcohol tax, availability and marketing.
Continue reading

Issue date

15 August 2022

Author(s)

Tim Chambers Anja Mizdrak
Image by Luke Pilkinton-Ching, University of Otago

Public Health Solutions Series: Where the sun enters, the doctor does not

This blog looks at solutions in the housing sector: energy efficient heaters; reducing avoidable home injuries and improving building standards.
Continue reading

Issue date

10 August 2022

Author(s)

Philippa Howden-Chapman Helen Viggers Caro Fyfe Michael Keall
Image by Alistair Woodward

Public Health Solutions Series: Simple transport system changes could quickly relieve the crisis in our hospitals

This blog looks at solutions in the transport sector: low traffic neighbourhoods, creating comprehensive pop-up networks for biking, scooting and wheelchair use and speed limit reductions.
Continue reading

Issue date

09 August 2022

Author(s)

Caroline Shaw Alistair Woodward Alex Macmillan
Image by Luke Pilkinton-Ching, University of Otago Wellington

Introducing the Public Health Solutions Blog Series

For the next few weeks, Public Health Expert blog will be publishing a series of invited blogs on the best public health interventions the government can put in place to reduce pressure on the health system.
Continue reading

Issue date

07 August 2022

Author(s)

Co-editors Caroline Shaw Cristina Cleghorn