682 Results

  • Can pandemic threats justify border closure for island nations like NZ?

    … infectious agents and possible synthetic bioweapons. In a study we just published in a journal, we explored the … and benefits of complete border closure in NZ in response to new pandemic threats. We found that there were some very … optimal response. In particular, such plans should include how the military, police and customs enforce border controls …
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  • A 100 years ago today – the likely first NZ death from the 1918 influenza pandemic

    … Prof Michael Baker The 1918 influenza pandemic began to kill New Zealanders 100 years ago today. Ultimately it … by far the largest natural disaster to hit this country. In this blog we reflect on this event and draw links with the … pre-pandemic period. More work is also probably needed on how to prioritise limited supplies of such treatments (on the …
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  • Local alcohol policies: What’s the opportunity to reduce harm?

    … Local Alcohol Policies (LAPs) are developed by councils, in consultation with communities, to guide where and when alcohol is sold. LAPs were intended … alcohol in 2020. 3 National maximum trading hours are long at 8am-4am for on-premises (eg restaurants and pubs) and …
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  • What can we learn from Healthy Housing Initiatives? New evidence from the Wellington Well Homes scheme

    … Zealanders, and we know which interventions are required to ensure good quality housing that supports health. Healthy … can promote good health.  New Zealand research has shown how low indoor temperatures and mould impair children’s lung … some people would be better served by public housing, yet long waiting lists meant that moving to public housing was …
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  • World Ventil8 Day – How do our buildings measure up?

    … year on the 8 November is World Ventil8 Day. This day aims to raise awareness of the importance of ventilation as a … rely on occupants to ventilate buildings – that means how fresh the air is comes down to how often and how well … visible CO 2 monitors and good ventilation would also go a long way to improving indoor air quality in these spaces. …
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  • More courage needed from our political parties—reviewing our election series

    … Summary To make an informed decision this election, voters need to … We surveyed the parties about their policies on long-term planning and catastrophic risk, tax reform, water … long-term and catastrophic risk? Survey answer: nowhere .” How proactive will the next Government be at protecting water …
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  • Lime E-Scooters – Avoiding a collision course with public health?

    … while critics suggest they risk unacceptable overall harm to pedestrians, users themselves, and to taxpayers, who fund … the public health implications of Lime e-scooters, review how policy makers could maximise the potentially desirable … that injuries may decline depend on riders becoming long-term users; observations in Dunedin indicate that many …
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  • Tobacco Excise Taxes and the Smokefree 2025 Goal: Some Ways Forward

    … directions. On the one hand, excise tax increases continue to stimulate quit attempts among smokers yet, on the other … and increase retail crime. In this blog, we explore how allocating a proportion of tobacco tax revenue to assist … enhanced tobacco control measures and have stated: “ As long as tobacco is still for sale in Aotearoa, the tax paid …
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  • A Statue of Merit: Dr Margaret Cruickshank and the 1918 influenza pandemic

    … the racist history of the Southern United States. But in this blog we briefly look at a particular New Zealand … in Charlottesville. The controversy has also started to involve some memorials to US doctors whose activities can be regarded as unethical . …
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  • Potential health co-benefits from eradicating rats, stoats and possums in NZ towns and cities

    … of some introduced pests such as rats, stoats and possums in New Zealand, seems increasingly feasible with a new … city level eg, Wellington. The primary benefits will be to native birds and enhanced biodiversity, as well as for … for a “predator-free” Wellington City (1) are part of a long-term trend that has seen successful pest eradication on …
    Briefing

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Public Health Expert Briefing (ISSN 2816-1203)