Ruth Hill
Midday Report Essentials for Monday 3 November 2025
In today's episode, Three of the country's largest secondary schools are now affected by the measles outbreak, with 17 known cases so far nationwide; Consumer advocates are warning not to let the lure… Audio
Seventeen confirmed cases of measles nationwide
Three of the country's largest secondary schools are now affected by the measles outbreak, with 17 known cases so far nationwide. Health Correspondent Ruth Hill and Associate Professor Mark Thomas… Audio
Babies not required to be immunised despite measles outbreak
Health New Zealand says the outbreak has not yet reached the point where babies under the age of one need to be immunised early. Ruth Hill reports. Audio
Officials fear measles is spreading undetected in the community
Health officials are scrambling to track down people who have been exposed to measles, which they fear is spreading undetected in the community. Ruth Hill reports. Audio
Northland resident driven to hospital due to ambulance shortage
A rural Northland resident who was acutely unwell with an infection says a friend had to drive him to hospital last month because no ambulances were available. Ruth Hill reports. Audio
GPs increasingly replaced by corporate employees on video calls
The traditional family doctor who knows you and your medical history - and probably your mum as well - is increasingly being replaced by corporate employees and video screens. Ruth Hill reports. Audio
Health Minister scolds senior doctors over strike plans
Health Minister Simeon Brown has scolded senior doctors in a take-no-prisoners address to their annual conference in Wellington today. In his speech, he accused them of crossing an "ethical line" for… Audio
Whakatane Hospital goes without obstetricians since January
More than 240 women have been forced to travel from eastern Bay of Plenty to Tauranga to give birth this year - a third of those being emergency transfers. Ruth Hill reports. Audio
Brain injury claimants see sharp drop in ACC payments
There's been a huge spike in the number of people with traumatic brain injuries losing their ACC weekly compensation. Ruth Hill reports. Audio
Nurses turn their back on the Health Minister
Health Minister Simeon Brown says he doesn't rate his accomplishments by applause - which is just as well, because he didn't get any today at the Nurses Organisation annual conference in Wellington… Audio
Father battles ACC after son's double trauma
The father of a man assaulted with a steel bar as a teenager and then hit by a truck has been battling ACC for 10 years. Ruth Hill reports. Audio
Hospice and Plunket nurses fear they will never see pay equity money if successful with new claim
Nurses working for hospices and Plunket fear that even if they succeed in their new pay equity claims, they may never see the money. Ruth Hill reports. Audio
Doctors concerned about overhaul of Healthy Futures Act
Doctors have made impassioned pleas to the government to step back from a law change they say will stop them from speaking out, and cost patient lives. Ruth Hill reports. Audio
Health NZ to employ more graduate nurses on part-time hours
A leaked document reveals Health NZ is planning to employ more graduate nurses on part-time hours and cut the amount of on-the-job training they receive. Ruth Hill reports. Audio
US funding cuts make NZ vaccine research more critical
The US Health Department's recent announcement that it is cutting funding for mRNA vaccine research sent shockwaves through the scientific world and it also has ripple effects for New Zealand. Ruth… Audio
Mum battles red tape to get help for child with OCD
A child who spent months in a psychiatric hospital with a severe obsessive compulsive disorder was sent home and offered just an hour of therapy a week. Ruth Hill reports. Audio
Dargaville Hospital patients sign disclaimer as no doctor on site overnight
Patients admitted to Dargaville Hospital overnight are asked to sign a disclaimer confirming they understand there is no doctor on site because of staff shortages. Ruth Hill reports. Audio
Chronic under-resourcing of cardiac care costing lives
Heart disease is costing the country nearly $14 billion a year in direct costs to the health system and early deaths of one in five New Zealanders. That was the stark analysis from Otago University… Audio
Advertising unapproved medicines not legal despite govt claim
A legal expert says it's still a criminal offence to advertise unapproved medicines in New Zealand - despite a government announcement that it has lifted the ban. Ruth Hill reports. Audio
Nurse says hospital conditions are 'worst in 30 years'
36,000 nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants are on strike for 24 hours over what they say is Health NZ's refusal to staff hospitals at safe levels. One emergency department nurse described the… Audio