NZ Herald | 22 Feb 2016 Is the National Government harming New Zealand’s corruption-free status? Recent reports and controversies suggest that the Government has some transparency and accountability problems. Is the National Government harming New Zealand’s corruption-free status? New Zealand’s reputation for low levels of corruption was hurt last month when the annual Transparency International…
Scoop | 15 Feb 2016 A shameful day it was, for those Whakatane District Councillors who voted to reverse the decision to stop fluoridation. The Council decision to support the District Health Board in starting a targeted dental health programme, based on the successful Scottish CHILDSMILE programme, was also reversed. Non-fluoridated Scotland has cut the…
Daily Mail | 10 Feb 2016 A woman claims to have cured a melanoma on her chest using black salve ointment, a controversial alternative medicine condemned by doctors. Brita Hollows, from Taupo in New Zealand, opted for the alternate treatment after noticing a freckle on her chest had started to rise and change colour in…
Radio NZ | 1 Feb 2016 Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne said fluoridation is the most effective way to limit tooth decay, particularly in young people. Whakatane district council is the latest local body to adopt a no-fluoridation policy, with councillors voting six to five to scrap fluoride, despite majority support for adding it to…
Scoop | 29 Jan 2016 Whakatane Stops Water Fluoridation: Money to Be Spent on Oral Health Care Programme After 44 years of water fluoridation, Whakatane District Council has voted to end the out-dated practice. Instead, they will consider providing funds to the District Health Board for targeted oral health programmes, like CHILDSMILE, which has been…
NZ Herald | 28 Jan 2016 SOUNDS MURDERS SPECIAL REPORT • Sounds murders photo mystery: Is this Olivia? • Wishart: Sounds case solved • Careful tracing of boat clears Watson, says author Scott Watson is serving 19 years in prison for the murders of Olivia Hope, 17, and Ben Smart, 21. The pair disappeared on…
NZ Herald | 27 Jan 2016 New Zealand’s public sector is the most corrupt it has been in almost 20 years – but we still rate highly compared to other countries according to a new report. The 2015 Corruption Perceptions Index, released today, points to the Oravida affair, Saudi sheep deal and SkyCity convention centre…
Stuff | 10 Jan 2016 The Ministry of Health is unfazed by questions being asked by a US congressional committee about whether current bird flu vaccines will be effective in the event of a pandemic. The ministry, which is going to tender for 300,000 doses of vaccine to fight the H5N1 bird flu influenza, says…
RNZ | 18 Dec 2015 The search of a journalist’s house was a gamble by police who had no evidence they would find anything relevant to their investigation, says Nicky Hager’s lawyer. The High Court in Wellington has found police failed to disclose relevant information to the judge who issued the search warrant for Nicky…
Scoop | 6 Nov 2015 Auckland Council Rejects Fluoridation for Onehunga in Landslide Auckland Councillors yesterday overwhelmingly voted to reject a proposal to add hazardous fluoride chemicals to the drinking water of Onehunga residents, voting 18 to 3 against the motion. The vote is in keeping with councils around the country not wanting to take…