More Kiwis turning to methamphetamine and the worst of the weather is over
The worst of the weather is over, more Kiwis turning to methamphetamine and Drs are back at the negotiating table.
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Pharmac Urged To Widen Access To Covid Vaccines
Aotearoa Covid Action (ACA) is calling on Pharmac to reconsider its proposal to award principal supply of Covid-19 vaccines exclusively to Pfizer's Comirnaty, citing concerns over limited access and equity. The group has urged its members and others to support Pharmac maintaining and widening vaccine access to all who want them before the public consultation closes today at 5:00 PM. Pharmac's current proposal would fund only the Comirnaty vaccine, with alternative brands available solely through its Exceptional Circumstances framework. ACA believes this creates an exclusionary barrier that may prevent some people from getting vaccinated or boosted at all. 'If the goal is for as many Kiwis as possible to be vaccinated and boosted, they must feel engaged and empowered. Having a few options does this. Comirnaty is an mRNA vaccine. It is contraindicated for some, and some simply prefer a different, protein-based vaccine such as Novavax. Pharmac should accommodate these needs and preferences instead of promoting a one-size-fits-all model,' says Julia Schiller, a spokesperson for ACA. In its own submission on the proposal, ACA also suggests Pharmac widen the pool of New Zealanders eligible for Covid vaccinations and boosters, noting for example that regular boosters are unavailable to the nearly 2 million Kiwis under the age of 30 and that children under five cannot ordinarily receive any vaccination at all. 'Pharmac itself has acknowledged that protection wanes significantly over time, so it's odd that they are not looking to widen eligibility for boosters. Many of our under-30s would have last had a booster years ago,' said Schiller. The organisation points out that recent New Zealand research identified an 'urgent need to revise New Zealand's eligibility criteria [and] make vaccines available and accessible to younger age groups'. 'The more we learn, the more we see that Covid infections present a potential risk to all the body's organs and systems. Data suggests Long Covid is a real consequence of at least 10% of infections. We simply must do more to protect our tamariki and rangitahi and their teachers, both for their own health and to reduce spread of infections from schools to families to the greater community. We need a diversified and accessible vaccination strategy,' said Schiller. Widening vaccine availability aligns with the third demand of ACA's ongoing petition campaign, which advocates for more accessible vaccinations and boosters, among other measures to slow the transmission of airborne diseases. 'Winter has arrived and with it, a jump in cases of influenza and Covid, in particular the new variant NB.1.8.1,' Schiller added. The World Health Organisation has designated NB.1.8.1 a variant under monitoring. As of 29 May, it accounted for 21.6% of Aotearoa's current Covid cases, according to ESR's wastewater monitoring. 'Pharmac must ensure that a choice of vaccines is not only available but also easily accessible to all, regardless of location or circumstance. Pharmac approved five different formulations of the flu vaccine this year so it seems reasonable to ask they offer a choice of at least two different Covid vaccines.' Aotearoa Covid Action encourages individuals and organizations to email their feedback on the proposal to vaccines@ For more information on Aotearoa Covid Action's stance and to support their petition, visit Aotearoa Covid Action's Website and Clean Air in Schools Petition.
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2 days ago
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Over 1.1 Million Meals Delivered Amid Soaring Living Costs – Meet The Need Launches Inaugural Impact Report
Press Release – Meat The Need Powered by donations from New Zealand farmers and agribusinesses, Meet the Need continues to grow in reach and scale delivering over 2.9 million meals since its inception in 2020 and supporting more than 130 foodbanks and community organisations every … Nationwide, New Zealand – As thousands of Kiwi families continue to struggle with skyrocketing grocery bills and food insecurity, New Zealand charity Meet the Need has released its Inaugural Impact Report, revealing more than 1.19 million mince and milk meals were delivered to families in need across Aotearoa between April 2024 and March 2025. Powered by donations from New Zealand farmers and agribusinesses, Meet the Need continues to grow in reach and scale — delivering over 2.9 million meals since its inception in 2020 and supporting more than 130 foodbanks and community organisations every month. 'Each meal we deliver is a message: 'You are not forgotten,'' said Zellara Holden, General Manager of Meet the Need. 'We're incredibly proud of the impact we've made together, connecting the food grown on our farms directly to whānau who need it most.' Key Impact Stats from the 2025 Report: 655,684 mince meals delivered 539,952 milk meals shared 1,195,636 total servings delivered in the last 12 months 130+ foodbanks and community groups supported monthly 659 unique donors in the last year, 2,047 total to date 2.9 million meals delivered since 2020 Real stories behind the numbers: 'Your delicious meals were like a hug every day… the sense of being supported and not alone meant so much,' shared one Wanaka recipient. One foodbank client wrote: 'I hadn't bought meat for 8 months. When I saw mince in the freezer, I cried.' And from 10-year-old Brodie Smith in Taranaki: 'Instead of Christmas gifts, I asked my parents to donate to Meet the Need.' Board Chair Nick Fisher says the organisation's mission is more urgent than ever: 'One in five children in Aotearoa experience food insecurity. Meet the Need is about everyday Kiwis helping one another in the most tangible way — with quality food. Our focus now is to not just sustain our impact — but scale it.' The report also highlights partner initiatives, including Pack and Give Back events with the Salvation Army, social campaigns like Beef Up Your Summer with Silver Fern Farms, and the Dairy Women's Network series of Long Lunches. New partnerships with Hazlett, Fresh Pork NZ and Green Meadows Beef.
Scoop
2 days ago
- Scoop
Over 1.1 Million Meals Delivered Amid Soaring Living Costs – Meet The Need Launches Inaugural Impact Report
Press Release – Meat The Need Powered by donations from New Zealand farmers and agribusinesses, Meet the Need continues to grow in reach and scale delivering over 2.9 million meals since its inception in 2020 and supporting more than 130 foodbanks and community organisations every … Nationwide, New Zealand – As thousands of Kiwi families continue to struggle with skyrocketing grocery bills and food insecurity, New Zealand charity Meet the Need has released its Inaugural Impact Report, revealing more than 1.19 million mince and milk meals were delivered to families in need across Aotearoa between April 2024 and March 2025. Powered by donations from New Zealand farmers and agribusinesses, Meet the Need continues to grow in reach and scale — delivering over 2.9 million meals since its inception in 2020 and supporting more than 130 foodbanks and community organisations every month. 'Each meal we deliver is a message: 'You are not forgotten,'' said Zellara Holden, General Manager of Meet the Need. 'We're incredibly proud of the impact we've made together, connecting the food grown on our farms directly to whānau who need it most.' Key Impact Stats from the 2025 Report: 655,684 mince meals delivered delivered 539,952 milk meals shared shared 1,195,636 total servings delivered in the last 12 months delivered in the last 12 months 130+ foodbanks and community groups supported monthly supported monthly 659 unique donors in the last year, 2,047 total to date in the last year, 2,047 total to date 2.9 million meals delivered since 2020 Real stories behind the numbers: 'Your delicious meals were like a hug every day… the sense of being supported and not alone meant so much,' shared one Wanaka recipient. shared one Wanaka recipient. One foodbank client wrote: 'I hadn't bought meat for 8 months. When I saw mince in the freezer, I cried.' And from 10-year-old Brodie Smith in Taranaki: 'Instead of Christmas gifts, I asked my parents to donate to Meet the Need.' Board Chair Nick Fisher says the organisation's mission is more urgent than ever: 'One in five children in Aotearoa experience food insecurity. Meet the Need is about everyday Kiwis helping one another in the most tangible way — with quality food. Our focus now is to not just sustain our impact — but scale it.' The report also highlights partner initiatives, including Pack and Give Back events with the Salvation Army, social campaigns like Beef Up Your Summer with Silver Fern Farms, and the Dairy Women's Network series of Long Lunches. New partnerships with Hazlett, Fresh Pork NZ and Green Meadows Beef. The full report here: Content Sourced from Original url
