Mandatory Vaccinations for Health and Education Workforce. Lock downs Continue for Auckland, Waikato and Northland

New Zealand’s Cabinet has decided that COVID-19 vaccination will become mandatory for the health and education workforce. COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins announced that “high risk” workers in the health…

Medsafe Grants Provisional Approval of Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine

New Zealand’s regulatory authority Medsafe has granted provisional approval of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine for individuals 18 years of age and older. COVID-19 Minister Chris Hipkins says the approval of…

New Report Highlights Challenges of Healthcare for Pacific People in New Zealand

A report released today paints a concerning picture of the health care challenges faced by Pasifika peoples in New Zealand and calls for ambitious changes to the system to be made…

New Zealand Medicine Regulations Changed to Increase Vaccinators

A call has gone out to retired and overseas-trained health professionals and the wider health workforce to join the New Zealand vaccinator team. COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins announced today…

Wellington Moves to Alert Level 2 as of 6 pm Tonight

COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins and Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield addressed media this afternoon regarding the alert level change for Wellington. As of 6 o’clock tonight the Wellington region…

Vaccination Campaign to Begin for Māori and Pasifika Communities in Southland and Otago

The Southern District Health Board has launched its campaign to vaccinate more than 32,000 Māori and Pasifika peoples across Southland and Otago. The rollout includes multiple approaches for reaching Māori…

Pasifika Education, Employment, Health, and Languages Targeted in NZ Budget 2021

New Zealand Finance Minister Grant Robertson delivered the 2021 Budget Statement Taukī Pūtea in Parliament today which contained around $67 million additional support for Pasifika Education, Employment, Health, and Languages as…

COVID-19 24 Hour Lockdown Underway in Nadi and Lautoka in Fiji

Government of Fiji announced a lockdown for parts of Fiji early this morning (4am FJT). The lockdown comes as the report of a 53-year-old woman registered a positive COVID-19 test…

Government Minister Urges Wahine get a Regular Smear Test After Cancer Diagnosis

Minister for Emergency Management Kiri Allan is urging all Wahine to get a regular smear test after she revealed today she has been diagnosed with stage 3 cervical cancer. Thousands…

NZ Vaccination Rollout Plan Announced With Vaccination Clinic up and Running

The New Zealand Government has announced its COVID-19 vaccination rollout plan and a schedule to provide free vaccines to everyone in New Zealand. The announcement comes a day after the…

Concerns Over Lack of Pacific Voice for Pharmac Review

The president of the Pacific Pharmacists’ Association has expressed disappointment at the lack of a Pacific voice with the upcoming Pharmac review, given one of the issues to be addressed…