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In the news: New dementia research highlights deprivation as major reason Māori and Pacific people more at risk
… Following our Briefing, The growing burden of dementia in Aotearoa: Scope for prevention , lead author … is a factor fuelling the country’s soaring rates of dementia. Dr Ma'u from the Department of Psychological Medicine at the University of Auckland, …
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PHCC Newsletter: July 2025
… the Public Health Communication Centre in the July edition of our newsletter . Briefings over the last month had a focus … on core public health infrastructure, including the safety of our food supply and fresh water. We also published … when they started smoking as teenagers, and the challenge of enforcing new vaping laws. A common feature of these …
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In the media: Govt response to Long Covid inadequate: Report
… Even a conservative estimate puts the number of New Zealanders suffering from Long Covid at more than … Covid can also lead to a 'substantially increased' risk of sudden death and 'silent' damage to cells and organs which … organ damage is a real problem, we think, for future development of disease. When you're young and healthy, you …
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Media release: Social media age restrictions needed to protect young people from harm
… Samantha Marsh, a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Auckland, the Briefing outlines growing evidence that social media use is linked to a range of mental and physical health problems in youth. It … restricting access to social media for those under the age of 16. “Introducing an age restriction is the only …
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Media release: Call for transparency from the Government on tobacco industry influence and connections
… , Professor Janet Hoek and co-authors from the University of Otago have compared statements by coalition ministers with … policies from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry,” says Professor Hoek. New Zealand … Support for smokefree legislation is very high; 67% of people polled in a recent survey supported or strongly …
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Media release: Decades-old nutrition data leave NZ in the dark
… eat outside the home, and diets have evolved with the rise of ready-made meals, plant-based eating, paleo and keto … foods. These shifts create major gaps in our understanding of current nutrition trends , say researchers in the latest … co-author Prof Cliona Ni Mhurchu from the University of Auckland warns that without current data, policymakers, …
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Media release: Aotearoa New Zealand ranks lowest in international alcohol policy comparison
… has placed Aotearoa New Zealand at the bottom of the list, highlighting urgent gaps in policy settings that … Control Policy Index is used to assess the strength of alcohol policy across four areas with the strongest evidence of effectiveness: pricing, availability, marketing, and drink …
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Media release: Associate Health Minister’s tobacco policy contradicts official advice, aligns with industry lobbyists
… lobbyists' talking points, according to an analysis of recently released documents. Prof Janet Hoek and … from the ASPIRE 2025 research group at the University of Otago, Wellington, have examined the Ministry of Health’s advice on repealing smokefree legislation and …
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Media release: Tighter controls on vape marketing due, but gaps remain
… to expand their customer base. Vaper retailers’ use of free products, rewards, discounts, loyalty schemes and … people who are more price sensitive,” says University of Otago Professor Janet Hoek, a tobacco control expert. “The … do not address the widespread availability and clustering of vape stores, particularly in low-income communities. As of …
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Concluding the Public Health Solutions Series 
… “ remains under massive strain ” and with the relaxing of covid rules this issue is unlikely to ease in the near future. The ongoing demands of Covid-19, long covid and deferred routine care will … in Aotearoa. These blogs have presented evidence of policies that can improve overall health and wellbeing …
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