Search | PHCC

Smoking prevalence and trends: key findings in the 2022-23 NZ Health Survey
… Overall smoking prevalence trends As outlined in Figure 1, daily smoking prevalence in 2022/23 was 6.8% (95%CI: 6.1-7.5%) which equates to an estimated 284,000 New Zealanders … smoke daily and 36% of people who smoke currently. 17.1% of Māori smoke daily (estimated to be 108,000 people). …
Briefing
Lessons from jurisdictions that are battling their own Delta variant outbreaks
… use, more targeted vaccinations, a revised pandemic plan [1] , revisions to the Alert Levels and improvements to … is the Delta variant such a concern? The Delta variant (B.1.617.2, originating in India in October 2020 ) has become … than many other viral infections such as influenza (R o =1-3) or Ebola (R o =2), [4] but is not as high as chicken-pox …
Briefing
Walking and cycling for transport is good for physical activity levels in Kiwis!
… really be considered a bare minimum for health (see Figure 1). In addition, an alarming 1 in 6 of us do less than 30 minutes physical activity each … increases in physical activity levels in the population. 1 Interventions to increase active travel and public …
Briefing
Major vaping reforms: Will they deliver on public health aims?
… gaps still require urgent attention. Previous Briefings 1,2 have highlighted how youth vaping in Aotearoa rose … products’ likely including disposable vapes 4 (Figure 1). Figure 1: Type of vaping device used most often, 2023, New Zealand. …
Briefing
Improving NZ Government communication about COVID-19: Five suggestions
… is typically ranked in the top few performing countries. 1 2 NZ’s economic indicators, such as GDP impacts, also … five areas in which potential improvements could be made. 1. Depoliticise the COVID-19 response and aim for a cycle of … in no way render a NZ citizen “stateless”. Article 1(1) of the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of …
Briefing
New Zealanders strongly support policies to curb alcohol harm – will government listen?
… most harmful drug Alcohol causes approximately 900 deaths, 1,250 cancers, 30,000 hospitalisations, and 130,000 ACC claims per year. 1 Māori face inequitable harms and are twice as likely to die from an alcohol-related cause than non-Māori. 1 Alcohol harms not just individual health, both physical and …
Briefing
Where do the parties stand? Taxes to protect health and reduce inequity
… poverty and inequities in health and financial wellbeing. 1 2 Taxation of harmful products (eg, tobacco, alcohol and … used in Australia? The responses are summarised in Table 1 below, with the full responses in the Appendix . The … raise income tax for the lowest income group (see Table 1 for our calculations). Table 1: Summary of political party …
Briefing
The urgent need for a Covid-19 Action Plan for Schools in Aotearoa New Zealand
… policy settings for Covid-19 in schools During Term 1 2022, the Ministry of Education advised schools to reassure … for their first vaccine dose two weeks before Term 1 began, key ventilation and monitoring equipment had not … concern and that Omicron was spreading in school settings. 1 As the outbreak reached peak transmission levels it became …
Briefing
Public health response to report on potential risk of nitrate from drinking water
… water and food to New Zealanders’ overall nitrate intake [1]. The authors used collated data from international studies … suggesting little cause for public health concern” [1, p32]. “the complete assessment suggests that there is … between drinking-water and food nitrate exposure” [1, p32]. These conclusions are largely based on the …
Briefing
Oral tobacco and nicotine products: Quitting aid or teen addiction risk?
… chewing tobacco and tobacco pouches or ‘snus’ (Figure 1). They are made from tobacco and have been used in many parts of the world for hundreds of years. 1 For example, snus (finely ground tobacco leaves, placed … tobacco market in the USA and many South Asian countries. 1 3 In contrast, NZ has disallowed the sale of oral tobacco …
Briefing

Subscribe

Public Health Expert Briefing