Resources for Journalists

Medical testing kits should be regulated in Aotearoa, experts say

Publicly released: Fri 21 Nov 2025 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

New Zealand Medical Journal

We are behind international standards on regulating medical tests used at home or in hospitals, like pregnancy tests, RATs for COVID, and blood glucose meters, write experts in a NZMJ Viewpoint Read more about Medical testing kits should be regulated in Aotearoa, experts say

A child could have painted that! Pollock's painting style closer to kids' than adults'

Publicly released: Thu 20 Nov 2025 at 1600 AEDT, 1800 NZDT

Frontiers in Physics

Richard Taylor, a professor of physics, psychology, and art at the University of Oregon. ... The Covid-19 pandemic saw an increase in stress levels across society and fractals have been shown to be an Read more about A child could have painted that! Pollock's painting style closer to kids' than adults'

EXPERT REACTION: mRNA flu vaccine is up to 34.5% more effective than current flu vaccines

Publicly released: Thu 20 Nov 2025 at 0900 AEDT, 1100 NZDT

New England Journal of Medicine

The study included over 18,000 people, half of whom were given the mRNA vaccine and half of whom were given a conventional flu vaccine. ... There were more side effects in the mRNA vaccine group, although Read more about EXPERT REACTION: mRNA flu vaccine is up to 34.5% more effective than current flu vaccines

Eating disorders can have long lasting health impacts

Publicly released: Wed 19 Nov 2025 at 1030 AEDT, 1230 NZDT

BMJ Medicine

After five years, the risks of renal failure and liver disease were still 2. ... UK rates of eating disorders have risen significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, note the researchers. Read more about Eating disorders can have long lasting health impacts

Social media use soars as kids drop sport, reading and the arts

Publicly released: Wed 19 Nov 2025 at 0600 AEDT, 0800 NZDT

JAMA Open Network

In striking new statistics, experts warn of social media’s growing grip on young people, with use among children and teens soaring by more than 200% since before COVID and showing ... Because these Read more about Social media use soars as kids drop sport, reading and the arts

Molecule that could cause COVID clotting key to new treatments

Publicly released: Tue 18 Nov 2025 at 1022 AEDT, 1222 NZDT

Journal of Clinical Investigation

strains of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus responsible for causing COVID). ... and our study found that during COVID infection, P-selectin also captures SARS-CoV-2 virus in the blood, holding the virus in blood Read more about Molecule that could cause COVID clotting key to new treatments

Online parent help program leads to less anxious, happier children

Publicly released: Mon 17 Nov 2025 at 1554 AEDT, 1754 NZDT

Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry

Parents involved in the study reported significant improvements in their child’s behaviour, their ability to manage emotions and relationships with their peers. ... The rising cost of living combined Read more about Online parent help program leads to less anxious, happier children

Six key factors divided opinion on health issues during COVID

Publicly released: Thu 13 Nov 2025 at 0600 AEDT, 0800 NZDT

Science Advances

Political ideology and partisanship is the biggest of six interlinked factors that caused divided health-related opinions and behaviours during the COVID pandemic, finds a systematic review of Read more about Six key factors divided opinion on health issues during COVID

Leading through crises: Key lessons from school principals

Publicly released: Wed 12 Nov 2025 at 1130 AEDT, 1330 NZDT

School Leadership and Management

From navigating the COVID-19 pandemic alongside cyclones, bushfires, and other natural disasters, school principals are often the unsung heroes leading communities through crises. ... While Australian Read more about Leading through crises: Key lessons from school principals

How did Covid tracing tech fare in NZ?

Publicly released: Fri 7 Nov 2025 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

New Zealand Medical Journal

Public health and tech experts have looked back at how well three digital contact tracing technologies worked in NZ during the Covid-19 pandemic, finding online self-service surveys to be Read more about How did Covid tracing tech fare in NZ?

“The doors keep closing everywhere” - researchers look at accessing healthcare with long Covid

Publicly released: Thu 6 Nov 2025 at 0600 AEDT, 0800 NZDT

PLOS One

Covid-19 may no longer be considered a public health emergency, but long Covid presents an ongoing and complex challenge for those affected. ... A lack of action risks increasing the health and economic Read more about “The doors keep closing everywhere” - researchers look at accessing healthcare with long Covid

What puts a parent at a higher risk of burnout?

Publicly released: Thu 6 Nov 2025 at 0600 AEDT, 0800 NZDT

PLOS One

The team gave 440 Polish parents during the COVID-19 pandemic period three questionnaires aimed to measure their burnout, their ability to identify and describe their emotions, and their attachment Read more about What puts a parent at a higher risk of burnout?

Time to act to improve the air we share indoors

Publicly released: Thu 6 Nov 2025 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

Professor Morawska said every drop of water we drink from the tap and the food that we eat are both highly regulated, yet indoor air is not regulated at all. ... Illnesses such as colds, flu, and COVID-19 Read more about Time to act to improve the air we share indoors

EXPERT REACTION: Covid vaccine linked to smaller risk of heart problems in children than Covid infection

Publicly released: Wed 5 Nov 2025 at 1030 AEDT, 1230 NZDT

The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health

In the six months after Covid-19 infection, children have a higher risk of developing rare and serious heart inflammation, but the Covid vaccine does not have the same effect, according ... They say the Read more about EXPERT REACTION: Covid vaccine linked to smaller risk of heart problems in children than Covid infection

Australia's public health spending is coming down to pre-pandemic levels

Publicly released: Wed 5 Nov 2025 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

which found this decrease brought spending back in line with trends from before the COVID-19 pandemic. ... from 2019–20, mainly driven by government spending on the COVID-19 response. Read more about Australia's public health spending is coming down to pre-pandemic levels

Celebrating the 26th Prime Minister's Prizes for Science

Publicly released: Mon 3 Nov 2025 at 2131 AEDT, 2331 NZDT

These outcomes have guided drug development for malaria and vaccine policies for COVID-19 and mpox. ... I congratulate and thank Professor Morawska for her incredible work over many years which influenced Read more about Celebrating the 26th Prime Minister's Prizes for Science

Serious mental illnesses linked to higher long COVID risk

Publicly released: Thu 30 Oct 2025 at 0200 AEDT, 0400 NZDT

JAMA Network Open

People with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or recurrent major depressive disorder face a higher risk of prolonged COVID-19 symptoms after getting the virus, according to international research. Read more about Serious mental illnesses linked to higher long COVID risk

Simple saliva test could revolutionise heart failure detection

Publicly released: Wed 29 Oct 2025 at 1346 AEDT, 1546 NZDT

Biosensors and Bioelectronics: X

This synthetic biology approach is faster and cheaper than traditional methods, and the same technique can be used to detect different diseases by simply changing the target biomarker. ... Co author Dr Read more about Simple saliva test could revolutionise heart failure detection

Cancer still the disease costing Australia the most

Publicly released: Wed 29 Oct 2025 at 0001 AEDT, 0201 NZDT

3% on a per person basis. This can be attributed to modest health spending growth and a sharp rise in population following the COVID-19 pandemic. ... 5% to $89. 1 billion, mainly due to lower government Read more about Cancer still the disease costing Australia the most

How are the newest crop of COVID-19 vaccines holding up?

Publicly released: Tue 28 Oct 2025 at 0200 AEDT, 0400 NZDT

JAMA Internal Medicine

Updated formulas for the Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax COVID-19 vaccines appear to have similar effectiveness against the variants circulating in late 2024-early 2025, according to US research. Read more about How are the newest crop of COVID-19 vaccines holding up?