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The alarms are flashing red: Five reasons to upgrade our Alert Level system before the next Covid-positive traveller visits a major city
… and the system needs to change with it to keep NZ ahead of the pandemic. In this blog we summarise our … the Alert Level system and describe the benefits of an upgraded system: to better protect us from outbreaks, … food sovereignty (Māra Kai/community food gardens) and development of culturally appropriate protocols for funerals …
Briefing
Pandemic terminology: getting it right matters for effective risk communication and management
… a stand-out success story by ending community transmission of COVID-19. While there have been some well-publicised … quarantine organisation), there has still been no evidence of community transmission for many weeks. Nevertheless, … scope for improvement. In this blog, we focus on a set of key terms where consistent, accurate use is important: …
Briefing
Long Covid Update – a threat that continues to demand a strong response
… Covid-19 infection or reinfection. It includes a syndrome of long-term symptoms, a substantially increased risk of sudden death, and silent cell and organ damage that may … three increase risk more than two. 64 79 One positive development in NZ is that the incidence of Covid-19 …
Briefing
Cyclone Gabrielle by the numbers – A review at six months
… significant damage across northern and eastern regions of the North Island of Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) in February 2023. It joined the list of NZ’s mass fatality events with 11 people losing their …
Briefing
Progress towards a Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 Action Plan: Congratulations to the Government
… tobacco products to be sold in only a small number of stores; reducing the nicotine in tobacco products to very low levels; and restricting the legal sale of tobacco products to people born before a certain fixed … in full, the Action Plan offers a realistic chance of realising the 2025 goal to achieve minimal smoking …
Briefing
Analysis of a new NZ Treasury Report on soft drink tax
… tax price elasticities has just emerged. It has the look of a strategically published document that if and when – … obesity. Therefore a comprehensive plan for obesity will, of necessity, contain strategies which have incomplete evidence of impact by themselves, but collectively may help at the …
Briefing
Hearing loss & social isolation – the silent burden
… Untreated hearing loss is a large direct cause of disability and is associated with increased risk of social isolation, depression and anxiety. Māori are at … is undertaken to ensure appropriate speech and language development in children. In adults, various funding streams …
Briefing
Potential health co-benefits from eradicating rats, stoats and possums in NZ towns and cities
… The eradication of some introduced pests such as rats, stoats and possums in … benefits from the eradication or near-complete control of these pest species. The recently announced plans for a “predator-free” Wellington City (1) are part of a long-term trend that has seen successful pest …
Briefing
What will the Government’s free vape starter kit programme achieve?
… Summary As part of the Government’s plan to achieve the Smokefree 2025 goal, … impact free vape starter kits will have on the number of people who stop smoking, using both optimistic and … to stop smoking this year. This estimate is less than 1% of the 82,000+ people who need to quit if we are to achieve …
Briefing
Tobacco industry ‘transformation’ – more smoke and mirrors?
… Tomorrow’ (Figure 2) – by reducing the health impact of their business through ‘Portfolio transformation’ that … NNTPs to adult current and former smokers is not a sustainable business model. For example, the market for NNTPs … that the tobacco industry and its associates may shape the development, framing and language of ‘transformation’ and its …
Briefing

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