Blues Moving For Their MATES In Construction
Taking place throughout April, the Blues join hundreds of Kiwis moving for their MATES. The campaign calls on New Zealand to come together, get active and raise awareness for suicide prevention and mental health in the construction industry and across ... More >>
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
35 minutes ago
- Scoop
Men's Health Week Chance To Check In On Your Mental Health
Press Release – New Zealand Government This Government is making help more accessible through grassroots organisations and nationally available digital and telehealth services. Minister for Mental Health Men's Health Week is a good and timely reminder that no one should ever feel ashamed or afraid to reach out for support with their mental health challenges in their time of need, Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey says. 'New Zealand has made strides over the last couple of decades in reducing stigma and discrimination when it comes to talking about mental health in New Zealand, however we know that there's still more work needed to continue breaking down the barriers,' Mr Doocey says. 'We know men are less likely to reach out for help and are overrepresented in New Zealand's suicide statistics. This Government is working at pace to increase access to support so we can ensure when people are reaching out for support, they receive it when and where they need it. 'However, we know that there are still too many Kiwis who aren't reaching out in their time of need. That is why this Government is making help more accessible through grassroots organisations and nationally available digital and telehealth services. 'More people are now able to access free counselling sessions through Gumboot Friday, we've used the Mental Health Innovation Fund to scale up and support great initiatives like Mates in Construction, YouthLine and the Mental Health Foundation. 'This Government has also boosted spending on mental health in the Budget and prioritised frontline services, strengthened the focus on early intervention and prevention to take action earlier when someone is confronting a challenge. 'As New Zealand's first Minister for Mental Health, I've been leading a programme of work to improve access to support and make sure we have the workforce to answer the call when someone needs help. 'Whether it's men's health week or any other day, talking to your mates, family or a mental health practitioner, I would encourage you to have the conversation about how you're really doing. The first step is often the hardest but it's important to remember asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.'
Scoop
35 minutes ago
- Scoop
Coeliac NZ Urges Restaurants To Raise The Gluten-Free Standard Amid Growing Need
Press Release – Coeliac New Zealand Despite this growing need, Coeliac NZ says many restaurants still lack awareness of proper gluten-free food safety practices. Even trace amounts of gluten through cross-contamination can cause serious illness for coeliac customers, making safe … Coeliac New Zealand is urging restaurants nationwide to raise the bar on gluten-free dining, ensuring safer dining out options for the growing gluten-free community and helping to revitalise the struggling hospitality sector. More than 100,000 Kiwis are estimated to be living with coeliac disease, with thousands more likely undiagnosed due to the wide-ranging and often silent symptoms. The only treatment is a strict gluten-free diet, making access to safe dining options essential. Others avoid gluten for lifestyle reasons, further driving demand for trustworthy food choices. 'For people with coeliac disease, dining out isn't just about enjoying a meal – it's navigating a minefield of hidden ingredients, cross-contamination risks, and the fear of being misunderstood or dismissed,' says Coeliac NZ general manager Wendy Bremner. 'A single misstep in the kitchen can result in hours or days of illness, pain and recovery.' Despite this growing need, Coeliac NZ says many restaurants still lack awareness of proper gluten-free food safety practices. Even trace amounts of gluten through cross-contamination can cause serious illness for coeliac customers, making safe practices not just a courtesy, but a necessity. 'CNZ conducted a member survey recently and overwhelmingly safe eating out options remain the biggest challenge. For many, the risk is just too high – so they choose not to dine out at all. That's a missed opportunity for restaurants,' Bremner says. 'Investing in training isn't just about earning trust, it's about upskilling staff in allergen management and ensuring venues can confidently serve a growing market. Safe dining builds loyalty, enhances reputation and ultimately supports business success.' Marisa Bidois, CEO of the Restaurant Association of NZ adds: 'At a time when many hospitality businesses are doing it tough, investing in gluten-free food safety training and improving gluten-free offerings is a smart way to attract new customers and show existing ones they're valued. It's not only the right thing to do, it makes good business sense.' The call to better cater for to gluten-free customers – particularly those with coeliac disease – comes during Coeliac Awareness Week (9-15 June) under the theme 'Coeliac Disease is Different for Every Body.' Coeliac NZ says more needs to be done to recognise the wide variety of symptoms which are often atypical or silent. These can include neurological issues, skin conditions and fertility problems. Increased awareness, improved screening and redefining diagnostic criteria are vital to earlier intervention and better health outcomes. 'Coeliac Disease is different for every body,' Bremner adds. 'The more people understand the diverse symptoms, the better equipped we are to support those affected both in their everyday lives and for their long-term health.' For more information about Coeliac Awareness Week 2025, visit About Coeliac Disease Coeliac disease triggers an autoimmune response, damaging the small intestine and impairing nutrient absorption. While classic symptoms like diarrhoea and cramping are well known, many people remain undiagnosed due to mild or atypical symptoms. Yet if left untreated, coeliac disease can lead to serious health issues, such as osteoporosis, fertility issues, and nervous system disorders. Greater awareness leads to earlier diagnosis and better health outcomes. For more information on Coeliac Disease and Gluten-Free Food Safety Training, visit Coeliac Awareness Week 2025 is proudly supported by Allergywise, Bakels, Bin Inn, Eat Choice, FreshLife, Gluten Free Shop, Griffin's, Lee Kum Kee, My Food Bag, Ocho, Tip Top, Synergy Health and Waitoa.
Scoop
2 hours ago
- Scoop
New Zealand Blood Service Needs New Blood – Call Out To Gen Z To Activate Their Superpower And Start Saving Lives
Press Release – New Zealand Blood Service New Zealand currently has just over 130,000 blood and plasma donors less than 4% of the eligible population. 9 – 15 June 2025 This National Blood Donor Week, New Zealand Blood Service is revealing new figures that show a significant drop in the number of youth donors on its registry over the past five years. Since 2020, there has been a 25% decrease in the number of 16–25-year-olds who have donated at least once in a two-year period, dropping from 24,394 in April 2020 to 18,237 in April 2025. The average age of a blood or plasma donor in Aotearoa has increased to 43, and more than 18% (or 25,000) of donors are aged 60 and over. While New Zealand Blood Service is encouraging eligible people of all ages to 'find their superpower' by becoming a blood or plasma donor, Chief Executive Sam Cliffe says the decline in youth donors is a worrying trend. She attributes much of this drop to the impact of COVID-19, which disrupted school-based donation programmes. 'For many people, their first introduction to blood donation was through their school or university. But the COVID-19 lockdowns and the lingering impacts of the pandemic has meant our donor recruitment teams have missed a whole cohort of young people to introduce to blood donation. 'In the last 12-months, 25% of our total donations came from donors aged over 60, and just 9% from donors aged 16-25. We're extremely grateful to all our donors, but when we look at our long-term supply strategy, its essential we start to encourage greater numbers of young people to become blood and plasma donors,' continues Sam. 'Anecdotally, we know that when people join the donor registry when they're young, they're more likely to become life-long donors, which is why historically our engagement through education has been so important. 'Blood and plasma donation is a quiet superpower with a big impact. It doesn't cost anything, doesn't take up too much of your time, but the result is powerful. Our app provides notifications to donors to let them know when their blood has been used to help save a life. And if you're a little bit unsure or nervous about making your first donation, you can do it with a friend!' Bianca Koper, a 25-year-old PhD student and sports scientist for the Blues rugby team, donated for the first time last month at the Epsom Donor Centre. 'I didn't have a reason for not donating, I just never got around to it. One of my friends set herself a challenge to complete 25 donations before her 25th birthday and that was what encouraged me to book my first appointment. 'I was quite surprised by how straightforward the whole process was, it was easy to book an appointment, the reception staff are great at getting you set up with the paperwork, and once I was in the chair, it felt like the donation was over in a matter of minutes. I've already booked another appointment, this time to donate plasma. 'The snacks provided were definitely a bonus, but for me the best part was getting a notification about a week after I donated to say my blood had been used! It's a pretty special feeling knowing something you've done is helping to save lives.' Facts and Stats about Blood Donation in Aotearoa Every year around 30,000 people living in New Zealand have their lives saved or improved by blood, plasma and platelet donors. New Zealand currently has just over 130,000 blood and plasma donors – less than 4% of the eligible population. The average age of a donor who has donated at least once in the past two years is 43, and 18% of these donors are over 60. New Zealand Blood Service needs to collect over 5,000 donations every week to meet demand. There is no alternative to blood, blood donors save lives. Just one whole blood donation can help save the lives of up to three people. Plasma is the liquid component of our blood – it can be donated more often than blood (every two weeks) and turned into up to 11 different lifesaving products. 80% of Kiwis have A and O blood types. Who needs your blood? Cancer patients 24%; accident and trauma patients 22%; people with liver, kidney & heart disease 11%; pregnant women, babies & children 6%; children including those with cancer 3%; bone surgery patients 6% and other medical conditions & surgical treatments 27%. Why do we always need new donors? Demand for plasma products is increasing every year, and in the next 12 months New Zealand Blood Service need to increase the plasma donor database by almost 20%, the equivalent of over 4,000 new donors, to continue to meet demand. Increased demand for plasma is a not just a New Zealand phenomenon. It's happening around the world. Red cells only have shelf life of 35 days, and platelets have shelf life of seven days. Plasma can be frozen for up to two years. This means we are in a constant cycle of collection. Every year around 25,000 people leave the active donor database for a variety of reasons, including health, age, relocation and personal choice. Discover your inner superpower and join New Zealand Blood Service's marvellous donor universe. For more information on donating blood or plasma and to book an appointment, either download the NZ Blood App, visit or call 0800 448 325. About New Zealand Blood Service New Zealand Blood Service (NZBS) in a not-for-profit Crown entity responsible for the collection, processing, testing and storage and distribution of all blood and blood products in New Zealand. We rely on voluntary and non-remunerated blood donations from individuals around the country in order to provide a constant supply of precious blood and blood products used by our health services to save thousands of lives. NZBS also provides cell and tissue products and related services to meet public health needs and maintains national oversight of organ donation and distribution.
