4+ day, 13+ hour ago   (248+ words) New research from the University of Otago suggests many young people feel concerned that oral nicotine pouches (ONPs) may increase use of nicotine products rather than support smoking or vaping cessation. Several participants had seen social media promotions for ONPs,…...

4+ day, 13+ hour ago   (455+ words) Aotearoa New Zealand should not legalise oral nicotine pouches until there is robust independent evidence that they are safe and effective for helping people stop smoking or vaping, say researchers from the University of Otago. A new Public Health Expert…...

5+ day, 13+ hour ago   (138+ words) The right to a decent home is the Human Rights Commission’s framing of the UN’s right to adequate housing, comprising seven interdependent components. In Table 1, we outline each of the seven principles and their public health implications: Dr Clare Aspinall,…...

5+ day, 13+ hour ago   (493+ words) A new report finding government housing policies have gone backwards across all seven principles underpinning the right to a decent home has major implications for population health. The Human Rights Foundation review of progress towards the right to a decent…...

1+ week, 4+ day ago   (385+ words) Air pollution contributes to more than 3,000 premature deaths in Aotearoa New Zealand every year, yet proposed changes to the Natural Environment Bill could weaken the legal protections designed to safeguard the air New Zealanders breathe, according to air quality and…...

1+ week, 4+ day ago   (897+ words) Clean air is a human right. Air pollution is estimated to result in more than 3,000 premature deaths in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) each year. NZ has had health-based national environmental standards for air quality since 2004, which set limits that must…...

1+ week, 5+ day ago   (475+ words) In this Briefing we review the public health and wellbeing benefits associated with drinking fountain provision. These include supporting the use of green spaces, encouraging physical activity, and providing a free, healthier substitute to sugar-sweetened beverages that can help prevent…...

2+ week, 4+ day ago   (125+ words) Public Health Communication Centre Catch up on the latest Public Health Expert Briefings, new public health research and commentary, and upcoming events in the July edition of our newsletter. Children’s health is a strong theme in this month’s Briefings, with…...

2+ week, 6+ day ago   (298+ words) The launch of a new interactive online tool allowing New Zealanders to check whether their drinking water supply is fluoridated coincides with the publication of an analysis confirming that lower rates of tooth decay in children are associated with community…...

2+ week, 6+ day ago   (606+ words) A new interactive online tool allows New Zealanders to check whether their drinking water supply is fluoridated and view the past fluoride concentration of their supply based on monitoring data from public water supplies. Community water fluoridation is the controlled…...