Health
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.
What you need to know about this week's mega strike
Explainer - There's a huge strike coming. Who's taking part, why are they protesting and what's so 'mega' about it? Audio
Feature interview: Why do headaches remain such a mystery?
Headaches. We all get them. Yet despite centuries of study, we still don't really understand their causes and cures. Author and journalist Tom Zeller Jr has spent years trying to understand the kind… Audio
Midday Report Essentials for Monday 20 October 2025
Inflation has edged to a 15-month-high on the back of higher rents, rates, electricity, and food, touching the top of the Reserve Bank's target band but unlikely to prevent further rate cuts; Local… Audio
What are the implications of us all living longer?
In the next 25 years the number of people over 65 is set to double. That is quite a shift from our current reality, where fewer than one in five of us are over 65. In 2078, that becomes one in three… Audio
CTU responds to govt open letter ahead of strike action
The government is continuing to question unions' motivations, as more than 100 thousand workers across education and healthcare prepare to strike this week. Council of Trade Unions president Richard… Audio
Calls for cross-party action to prepare for ageing population
A new report from The Helen Clark Foundation is calling for urgent and cross-party action to prepare for our rapidly ageing population. Retirement Commissioner Jane Wrightson spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss. Audio
Tenfold increase in East Coast women giving birth in Tauranga
The number has jumped, since Whakatāne Hospital lost its obstetric services in January.
Urgent concerns raised over sun safety policies
Experts are raising urgent concerns over sun safety policies as skin cancer remains one of our most common and preventable cancers. Dr Bronwen McNoe is the lead-author of a new report demanding… Audio
ACC paid out $92k for delays in medical treatment
More than 1100 people were covered over roughly five years but that number doesn't reveal the full extent of those who missed out on care.
Simon Mills: Herbal remedies in mainstream healthcare
Simon Mills, a world leading expert in herbal medicine has led the movement to bring herbal remedies into mainstream healthcare. Audio
Troubled Starship Hospital unit 'working extremely well right now' - Patron
Staff have alleged bullying at Starship Hospital's Te Puaruruhau unit, but Dame Naida Glavish says those problems were in the past.
Girl violently sick for 10 days after drinking water at campground
At least 10 others got sick from E.coli contaminated water at Hanmer Springs Forest Camp last month.
Health Minister takes deep dive into pay packets of doctors
The Health Minister has taken a deep dive into the pay packets and perks of senior doctors during a speech at their annual conference. Simeon Brown accused them of crossing an "ethical line" for… Audio
Ownership change disregarding patient care - Pharmacist
The government is changing the law around pharmacy ownership, a move one pharmacist said is putting commercial interest above patient care. Currently pharmacies must be majority owned and effectively… Audio
Online help services not designed for acute mental health crises, coroner warns
A young man had multiple interactions with two helpline services sharing his suicidal thoughts before he died.
