Health
NZ's drug spend less than half of other countries
New Zealand's drug spend is less than half that of other comparable countries according to a new report by the Institute of Economic Research. It also found Aotearoa spends the highest percentage of… Audio
Feature interview: Priya Parker
Self-help isn't helping one of the biggest problems of our time: we've forgotten how to come together. Priya Parker has written a Substack guide on the lost art of coming together. Audio
Brand of oestrogen patches being investigated by Medsafe
"The patches don't appear to be releasing the medication like they should," one user says. Audio
Measles in New Zealand: What you need to know about the deadly virus
Explainer: Measles cases may be spreading in the community. Here’s what you need to know about the deadly disease.
Medsafe investigating Estradot oestrogen patches
Medsafe is investigating a brand of oestrogen patches, after receiving multiple reports from users who say they are experiencing a lack of adhesion and efficacy. Crystal spoke to Corin Dann. Audio
'Strong likelihood' measles spreading in community
Four cases of the illness, including in two children, have been confirmed this week. Audio
Escalated national risk of measles, say health officials
Health officials say there's an escalated national risk of measles, after three new cases were detected in different parts of the country. Health New Zealand's Public Health Medicine Specialist Dr… Audio
Health NZ misconduct hotline: No coordinator at the other end
Health NZ misconduct hotline complaints could not be followed up after a coordinator was made redundant last year.
Three new measles cases confirmed, including two children
Three new cases of measles have been reported in the Manawatū and Nelson today, including two children.
'Trying to stay alive': Aussies 'welcoming' to blood cancer patient
Toby Fuller who has had chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant may need a drug that isn't funded in New Zealand. Audio
'Frightening accident': Man killed by falling tree as gales bound Wellington
"We've seen close calls before, we've seen falling branches just miss people", says the woman who came across the man hit by a falling branch.
Cancer patient forced to move to Australia for treatment plans to become doctor
A young blood cancer patient who's moved to Australia to access treatment that's not funded in Aotearoa plans to become a doctor so he can give back to his adopted country. Toby Fuller exhausted all… Audio
School spending hundreds of thousands on counsellors to deal with social media damage
A school north of Auckland says it is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars a year on counsellors for students to help repair damage done by social media. Whangaparaoa College is funded for one… Audio
Hipkins caught off guard by Labour's health announcement
Labour's leader has admitted he "forgot" his health spokesperson was set to release policy today.
Midday Report Essentials for Tuesday 21 October 2025
On today's episode... Power cuts, gale force winds, flight troubles and rain are causing chaos across the country; Proposed secondary school curriculum changes making outdoor education a vocational… Audio
Man with infection can't get ambulance to hospital, finds 50 people in waiting room
Told by a doctor to call 111, a seriously ill man found his own lift after being told no ambulances were available, then found a full ED with intubated patients in triage areas and beds gridlocked… 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
The crippling stomach pain was not in her head
As her daughter got sicker and sicker, Maddy Turner's quest for answers dragged on. Now she has them.
The question of freezing eggs
"For the longest time, I was hoping and expecting it to happen organically and now it feels like intervention is required."
New measles case spent hours in Auckland hospital while infectious
The person was at Auckland City Hospital's emergency department for nearly 10 hours on Friday, but Health NZ says there is a low risk of spread to the community.
