The Bulletin: Advance voting surges ahead of final week

Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Advance voting surges ahead of final week, poll shows John Tamihere in with a chance at Tāmaki Makaurau, and insights into modern drug smuggling revealed. With a week to go before election day, hundreds of thousands of people have already got their vote done and … Read more

Our ancestors were not conspiracy theorists

Our communities need us to listen to the people who have dedicated their lives to making ours better – not those who only want to exploit our fears, writes Christine Ammunson. One in five Sāmoans died when the 1918 pandemic hit our homes. Through whispers I remember elderly aunts recalling the horror of watching the … Read more

Overworked and overwhelmed: How NZ nurses coped with the 1918 pandemic

Nursing historian Pamela Wood looks at the near-impossible task facing nurses at the height of the Spanish flu pandemic. At the heart of nursing is the belief that all those who need medical care should have it, but in many overwhelmed health systems around the world it’s become necessary to triage patient care due to … Read more

Siouxsie Wiles: A simple thing you can do in seconds to help make NZ healthier

The more people take part, the better it will be at spotting potential clusters of Covid-19. Siouxsie Wiles explains. You might have heard the prime minister and the director-general of health mention in recent days something called FluTracking. What’s it all about? Here’s what you need to know. The FluTracking project is a fantastic initiative … Read more

The Bulletin: Coronavirus suspected in Samoa

Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Suspected case of Covid-19 in Samoa, MFAT urges NZers overseas to come home, and aviation support package to be announced today. A suspected case of Covid-19 is currently being tested in Samoa, bringing to light concerns that the coronavirus could be devastating in the Pacific. Stuff reports … Read more

Why equity for Māori must be prioritised during the Covid-19 response

Māori have fared worst in every pandemic New Zealand has seen. Measures must be taken to ensure equity during the Covid-19 outbreak or history will repeat, writes public health physician and senior lecturer Dr Rhys Jones.  Covid-19 is about to hit Aotearoa in earnest. The New Zealand government’s response to date has generally been received … Read more

The Bulletin: UN Migration Pact wounds still fester

Good morning, and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Wounds caused by UN Migration Pact drama still fester, Middlemore sources concerned deadly flu cases contracted in hospital, and rat populations ballooning.  It started off as little more than an obscure, non-binding agreement for the United Nations to mull over. It became a rallying call for … Read more

Flu season is worrying hospital staff and you should be worried, too

Sources at Middlemore Hospital have expressed concern that two patients may have died after catching the flu when being admitted.  As flu season applies pressure to hospital resources around the country, there are concerns two patients may have died after catching influenza at Middlemore Hospital, according to two sources spoken to by the Spinoff. When … Read more

The Bulletin: Digital services tax takes shape

Good morning, and welcome to The Bulletin. Eid Mubarak to all. In today’s edition: Digital services tax takes shape, Corrections makes unexpected money out of prison canteens, and infant formula industry takes hit on China moves.  We’re getting a much better idea of what the digital services tax is going to look like, after the release … Read more

All the stupid myths about the flu shot, busted

Needles may be scary. But do you know what’s worse? The flu. Alex Braae got over his fear and got the flu shot, for the greater good.  I haven’t had a flu vaccination in a couple of years. In that time I’ve also had the flu a couple of times. When I let this slip … Read more