Health
'Dying is hard to do': Cancer patient struggles to withdraw KiwiSaver
"I've got limited time, and fighting with someone that's holding my money and refusing to give it up is just one more stress I can't afford."
Midday Report Essentials for Wednesday 4 February 2026
More New Zelaanders are out of work with unemployment rising to its highest level in more than a decade. Auckland and Wellington are hit hard as people lose their jobs in the cities. We unpack the job… Audio
People are avoiding seed oils, but are they really that bad?
Are they really the dietary villains they're being made out to be?
Pharmac Minister Seymour on potential Wegovy funding
A Pharmac advisory panel has provisionally recommended funding the weight loss drug Wegovy, or chronic weight management in people with high BMIs and associated conditions. Pharmac Minister David… Audio
'A lot of excitement': Lab-grown tumours will assist cancer drug testing
A project at the cutting edge of cancer research hopes to build a collection of tiny lab-grown tumours at the University of Auckland. Audio
Endurance events are booming, but why?
Organisers are struggling to keep up with demand during a boom driven by women and younger athletes.
Should I take a fish oil supplement for my heart, joints or mood?
Modern interest in fish oil for health surged in the '70s.
Measles outbreak officially over but risk remains
It's been with 42 days since the last confirmed connected case.
628,000 Kiwis report recent migraine symptoms
A new survey has found a high number of people reporting migraine symptoms, but many aren't receiving a formal diagnosis. Audio
Diabetes care in NZ: Who's being left behind?
Analysis - At first glance, it can look like the result of individual choices, but that doesn't hold up.
Health NZ says youth mental health services have improved since teen's death
Maddie Hall, 16, died in March 2023, despite dozens of clinician checks and 40 suicide attempts over the previous three years.
NZ on alert with dengue fever still present in the Pacific
The Cook Islands health ministry says New Zealand has raised concerns travelers are returning from holiday in Rarotonga with symptoms of dengue fever. Audio
Warning to travellers as dengue fever cases rise in Pacific again
People who become unwell during or within three weeks of returning from their trip are advised to seek immediate medical advice.
More than 2000 complaints about 'horrific' stench from treatment plant
The smell has left people battling nausea, worsening asthma, sleepless nights and deteriorating mental health. Audio
What Kiwis should know about the Nipah virus
Explainer - What is the Nipah virus, and why is it raising concerns about travel from parts of Asia? Here's what you need to know. Audio
Call for Pharmac to fund weight loss medication for teens
A paediatric specialist said not funding Wegovy for teenagers would be like "closing the gate after the horse had bolted." Audio
Teens grieving parents left with questions after coroner's ruling
This story deals with suicide and mental health. The parents of a Tauranga teenager who took her own life are calling for improvements to the country's mental health system. 16-year-old Maddie Hall… Audio
Thousands of complaints about stench from treatment plant
Thousands of reports have flooded in about a vile, sickening smell coming from Christchurch's burnt out waste water treatment plant. The pong has plagued the suburb of Bromley and surrounding areas -… Audio
Can you help find Doug the Pug?
It's about a missing dog - Doug the Pug is his name and he has been missing since the middle of January. Now, Doug is no ordinary dog, he is a therapy animal, used at The Northern Health School with… Audio
Morning Report Essentials for Tuesday 3 February
With a Pharmac advisory panel provisionally recommending funding weight loss drug Wegovy, we spoke with Auckland University Professor of Global Health and Nutrition Boyd Swinburn. Plus, we asked… Audio
