logo
No new measles cases, Health NZ says

No new measles cases, Health NZ says

RNZ News19-05-2025

As of 9am Monday, 36 out of the 78 contacts referred to on Friday remain in quarantine.
Photo:
RNZ /Dom Thomas
Health New Zealand say there are no new
measles cases
since the original case notified on 10 May.
That person was no longer infectious and was now out of isolation with no new locations of interest at this time, Health New Zealand's public health medicine specialist Dr Matt Reid said.
"As noted in Friday's update, the 19 people undergoing serology testing were included in the 78 people in quarantine at the time.
"While we don't as a rule comment on an individual's immunity status, anyone not considered immune has been offered vaccination once quarantine has been completed.
"As of 9am today, 36 out of the 78 contacts referred to on Friday remain in quarantine, with the majority of these expected to be released on Wednesday (21/5). All others have been released," he said.
Reid said a further update would be provided later this week.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter
curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Fieldays spotlight: Christchurch start-up's sheepskin collagen powder
Fieldays spotlight: Christchurch start-up's sheepskin collagen powder

RNZ News

timean hour ago

  • RNZ News

Fieldays spotlight: Christchurch start-up's sheepskin collagen powder

A Christchurch start-up is extracting proteins from sheepskin and processed them into a collagen powder for health and wellness products. Photo: RNZ / Kate Green A Christchurch biotechnology start-up is using sheepskins diverted from waste to create a world-first collagen powder for the booming health and wellness market. The company, Tertiary Extracts Ōtautahi, extracted protein from sheepskin to create its branded bioactive protein Ovitage that was then processed into a collagen powder and marketed in various health products. The company was up for an early-stage innovation award at this week's Fieldays event in Waikato against more than 30 others. Founder and chief science officer Dr Rob Kelly said the company developed the technology to isolate and extract valuable protein ingredients from the sheepskin and make it into the unique collagen powder. "The composition of our signature protein, which is ovitage collagen, is quite different to any collagen that's been made before," Kelly said. "The amino acid profile is really quite different. People haven't seen this before and the particular amino acids present leads to significant health benefits in areas that are in particular demand in New Zealand and overseas as well." Kelly, no stranger to research and development within the sheep sector, had links to the Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand (WRONZ), Keratec and Keraplast Technologies. He said Tertiary Extracts Ōtautahi sourced the sheepskin material from producers who only used sheep from New Zealand. "We have an abundance of sheepskin materials, between 6-7 million sheepskins are produced each year, and they currently don't have good uses," Kelly said. He said most skins were by-products of the red meat sector that were low value and cost producers to dispose of. "Sheepskin is an issue for the sector as a whole, and so we're really trying to present a whole-of-industry solution," he said. Tertiary Extracts Ōtautahi's head of research and development Dr Alisa Roddick Lanzilotta and chief scientist officer Dr Rob Kelly are behind the process to extract valuable proteins from sheepskin to create a collagen powder. Photo: SUPPLIED/Tertiary Extracts Ōtautahi Kelly said its Ovitage product targeted the health and wellness segment domestically in New Zealand and via export into the United States. He said bovine and marine made up the bulk of the $15 billion global market for collagen, and demand was continuing to grow. "We've put a lot of investment and science and research into the novel process that we've developed and we're really excited by the market opportunities and the export opportunities," Kelly said. Tertiary Extracts Otautahi will be in the Innovation Hub at Mystery Creek this week - ahead of the Innovation Awards ceremony on Thursday, and its product Everee Women could also be found in the health and wellbeing hub. On Friday, Kelly will also feature in the event's Tent Talks, on New Zealand's ability to turn scientific breakthroughs into globally competitive export businesses. The company was also a finalist for a technology innovation award at the Primary Industries NZ Awards in two week's time. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

Opportunities Identified To Strengthen Equitable Access To Midwifery Continuity Of Care
Opportunities Identified To Strengthen Equitable Access To Midwifery Continuity Of Care

Scoop

time6 hours ago

  • Scoop

Opportunities Identified To Strengthen Equitable Access To Midwifery Continuity Of Care

Press Release – NZ College Of Midwives A new analysis commissioned by Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora, Analysis of claims under the Primary Maternity Services Notice, reinforces the vital role of the midwifery lead maternity carer (LMC) model of care in delivering quality maternity report recognises that continuity of care is the standard that all pregnant women, gender diverse people and their whānau should be able to access and shows that three quarters of women receive care from an LMC across the full course of pregnancy, labour, and the postnatal period. The findings provide strong evidence for Health NZ to invest in strengthening and supporting the LMC model to ensure equitable access for whānau who don't currently receive full continuity of care. The analysis of 2022 maternity care data shows that 91.5% of women registered with an LMC in pregnancy and over 95% of LMCs are midwives. This highlights LMC midwives' commitment to meet communities' needs despite a 40% workforce shortage at that time. However, the data also highlights inequity of access to midwifery care, driven by significant workforce shortages in Auckland, Counties Manukau, and Hutt Valley. These shortages disproportionately affect Māori, Pacific, Indian, and MELAA families. The College has long been calling for targeted investment to expand access to midwifery continuity of care and to establish navigational support to register with a midwife in pregnancy. This report provides clear data supporting that call — especially in regions facing chronic midwife shortages and among communities that lack equitable access to care. 'The Kahu Taurima policy work being undertaken by Health NZ offers a critical opportunity to reimagine maternity funding and workforce strategies,' says Alison Eddy, CE of the College of Midwives. 'We have strong evidence and a dedicated midwifery workforce. Now is the time to back our maternity system with the investment it needs to deliver equitable access to continuity of care for all.' Additional information Analysis of Claims under the Primary Maternity Services Notice 1. What is this report about? The report analyses payment data under the Primary Maternity Services Notice to understand how maternity care was accessed and provided in 2022. It focuses particularly on continuity of care provided by Lead Maternity Carers (LMCs), most of whom are midwives. 2. Why was 2022 such a significant year for midwifery? In 2022, midwifery was the most acutely understaffed health profession in Aotearoa, with a documented workforce shortage of around 40%. Despite this, the majority of women still received continuous care from midwives—an achievement that deserves recognition. 3. What positive findings are highlighted in the report? • 95.2% of LMCs were midwives. • 91.5% of pregnant women were registered with an LMC. • 74% received full continuity of care from a single midwife across antenatal, birth, and postnatal care. • 89% of clients who registered with an LMC midwife received all care modules. • 93.3% of women received labour care from a midwife they had met during pregnancy. These figures are especially impressive given the workforce strain at the time. 4. Does the report show problems with access to care? Yes, but the issue is more nuanced than the framing suggests. About 8.2% of birthing women in 2022 didn't access an LMC during pregnancy. This access issue was not related to rurality, but was strongly linked to ethnicity and concentrated in a few districts: Auckland, Counties Manukau, Hutt Valley, and Marlborough. The report is not able to clarify the reasons people did not receive LMC midwifery care. 5. Is continuity of care still the standard in NZ? Yes. Despite significant system pressure, three out of four women received complete care from a single LMC midwife. Even where more than one midwife was involved, most women still received all modules of care (antenatal, birth, postnatal), showing the commitment of midwives to providing wraparound support. 6. What does the report say about postnatal care models? The report found that 10% of midwives claimed only for postnatal care, mostly in Auckland and Hutt Valley. This indicates that 90% of midwives continued to offer care across the full maternity spectrum. While some practice models split care stages, continuity remains a key feature of most midwifery practice. 7. Were there any issues with the report's data or analysis? Yes. The analysis combines data from two different sources, one of which (MAT) appears to cover only five months and ends in December. This could skew results, especially as women due over the Christmas period may be less likely to have access to full continuity. Some statistical methods and definitions (e.g. what constitutes a change of LMC) are also unclear, which may impact interpretation. 8. What are the areas for improvement? The report reveals: • Ethnic inequities in access to LMC continuity of care. • Regional variations, particularly in urban centres under workforce strain. • Opportunities to improve postnatal continuity and reduce care fragmentation. These findings point to the need for targeted, equity-focused investment to ensure improved access to the optimal model of care. 9. What does the College of Midwives recommend? We are calling for: • Sustainable investment in the midwifery workforce to ensure consistent coverage and continuity. • Targeted support in high-need areas to address inequity in access. • Funded navigational support for whānau needing to access maternity care • Funding and policy reform to protect and strengthen continuity of care models. • Recognition of the resilience and professionalism of midwives, who continue to deliver high-quality care even under pressure.

Opportunities Identified To Strengthen Equitable Access To Midwifery Continuity Of Care
Opportunities Identified To Strengthen Equitable Access To Midwifery Continuity Of Care

Scoop

time8 hours ago

  • Scoop

Opportunities Identified To Strengthen Equitable Access To Midwifery Continuity Of Care

Press Release – NZ College Of Midwives The Kahu Taurima policy work being undertaken by Health NZ offers a critical opportunity to reimagine maternity funding and workforce strategies, says Alison Eddy, CE of the College of Midwives. A new analysis commissioned by Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora, Analysis of claims under the Primary Maternity Services Notice, reinforces the vital role of the midwifery lead maternity carer (LMC) model of care in delivering quality maternity care. The report recognises that continuity of care is the standard that all pregnant women, gender diverse people and their whānau should be able to access and shows that three quarters of women receive care from an LMC across the full course of pregnancy, labour, and the postnatal period. The findings provide strong evidence for Health NZ to invest in strengthening and supporting the LMC model to ensure equitable access for whānau who don't currently receive full continuity of care. The analysis of 2022 maternity care data shows that 91.5% of women registered with an LMC in pregnancy and over 95% of LMCs are midwives. This highlights LMC midwives' commitment to meet communities' needs despite a 40% workforce shortage at that time. However, the data also highlights inequity of access to midwifery care, driven by significant workforce shortages in Auckland, Counties Manukau, and Hutt Valley. These shortages disproportionately affect Māori, Pacific, Indian, and MELAA families. The College has long been calling for targeted investment to expand access to midwifery continuity of care and to establish navigational support to register with a midwife in pregnancy. This report provides clear data supporting that call — especially in regions facing chronic midwife shortages and among communities that lack equitable access to care. 'The Kahu Taurima policy work being undertaken by Health NZ offers a critical opportunity to reimagine maternity funding and workforce strategies,' says Alison Eddy, CE of the College of Midwives. 'We have strong evidence and a dedicated midwifery workforce. Now is the time to back our maternity system with the investment it needs to deliver equitable access to continuity of care for all.' Additional information Analysis of Claims under the Primary Maternity Services Notice 1. What is this report about? The report analyses payment data under the Primary Maternity Services Notice to understand how maternity care was accessed and provided in 2022. It focuses particularly on continuity of care provided by Lead Maternity Carers (LMCs), most of whom are midwives. 2. Why was 2022 such a significant year for midwifery? In 2022, midwifery was the most acutely understaffed health profession in Aotearoa, with a documented workforce shortage of around 40%. Despite this, the majority of women still received continuous care from midwives—an achievement that deserves recognition. 3. What positive findings are highlighted in the report? • 95.2% of LMCs were midwives. • 91.5% of pregnant women were registered with an LMC. • 74% received full continuity of care from a single midwife across antenatal, birth, and postnatal care. • 89% of clients who registered with an LMC midwife received all care modules. • 93.3% of women received labour care from a midwife they had met during pregnancy. These figures are especially impressive given the workforce strain at the time. 4. Does the report show problems with access to care? Yes, but the issue is more nuanced than the framing suggests. About 8.2% of birthing women in 2022 didn't access an LMC during pregnancy. This access issue was not related to rurality, but was strongly linked to ethnicity and concentrated in a few districts: Auckland, Counties Manukau, Hutt Valley, and Marlborough. The report is not able to clarify the reasons people did not receive LMC midwifery care. 5. Is continuity of care still the standard in NZ? Yes. Despite significant system pressure, three out of four women received complete care from a single LMC midwife. Even where more than one midwife was involved, most women still received all modules of care (antenatal, birth, postnatal), showing the commitment of midwives to providing wraparound support. 6. What does the report say about postnatal care models? The report found that 10% of midwives claimed only for postnatal care, mostly in Auckland and Hutt Valley. This indicates that 90% of midwives continued to offer care across the full maternity spectrum. While some practice models split care stages, continuity remains a key feature of most midwifery practice. 7. Were there any issues with the report's data or analysis? Yes. The analysis combines data from two different sources, one of which (MAT) appears to cover only five months and ends in December. This could skew results, especially as women due over the Christmas period may be less likely to have access to full continuity. Some statistical methods and definitions (e.g. what constitutes a change of LMC) are also unclear, which may impact interpretation. 8. What are the areas for improvement? The report reveals: • Ethnic inequities in access to LMC continuity of care. • Regional variations, particularly in urban centres under workforce strain. • Opportunities to improve postnatal continuity and reduce care fragmentation. These findings point to the need for targeted, equity-focused investment to ensure improved access to the optimal model of care. 9. What does the College of Midwives recommend? We are calling for: • Sustainable investment in the midwifery workforce to ensure consistent coverage and continuity. • Targeted support in high-need areas to address inequity in access. • Funded navigational support for whānau needing to access maternity care • Funding and policy reform to protect and strengthen continuity of care models. • Recognition of the resilience and professionalism of midwives, who continue to deliver high-quality care even under pressure.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store