Five ways to lift our health beyond pandemic

Health researchers have recommended five actions which they say would dramatically improve the health of all New Zealanders beyond the Covid-19 pandemic.

In an open letter published in the New Zealand Medical Journal, the researchers say that until now, entrenched problems within the country’s health system have seemed hopelessly lost causes.

Now, they say, New Zealand has an opportunity to get ahead.

“The following interventions could be rapidly implemented and would have long-lasting benefits for the population.

“And would contribute to reducing inequities if paired with Maori-led capacity of development and leadership,” they write.

The five actions are:

Sale and supply of liquor

Full implementation of the recommendations from the 2010 report of the Law Commission on the regulatory framework for the sale and supply of liquor. This includes increased taxes, regulation of alcohol advertising and sponsorship, and increased investment in treatment and support services.

Sugar tax

Introduction of a tax on sugary drinks in line with the NZ Dental Association Consensus Statement on Sugary Drinks, which aligns with advice from the WHO. This comes after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said late last year that a sugar tax was not being considered.

Restrict junk food marketing

Limitation of marketing of junk food to children and increased authority of local authorities to audit licensing of fastfood premises. Also to reduce the availability of fast-food outlets.

Reduce pokies

A commitment to reducing pokies in the communities most affected by gamblingrelated harm, regulation of the online gambling industry, and the introduction of sustainable funding opportunities for communities to reduce reliance on pokies revenue.

Supply reduction of tobacco

Introduction of supply reduction policies for tobacco to complement existing interventions, in order to reach the Smokefree 2025 goal.

The letter was signed by Selah Hart, Maori health agency Hapai te Hauora chief executive; Emma Espriner, final year medical student at University of Auckland; Garth Poole, Middlemore Hospital general surgeon; Chris Wilkins, leader of the drug research team at Shore and Whariki Research Centre; Karl Parker, statistician at Shore and Whariki Research Centre; Thomas Graydon-Guy, technical officer at Shore and Whariki Research Centre.

Archer finally hugged her younger sibling in the front yard of Baker’s home on Wednesday. It was their first reunion in six years.

“Words can’t explain how I feel, to be honest,” Archer told ABC in an interview aired yesterday.

“I’m just so happy that I finally got to be here and be with her. The past two weeks have been the hardest or the longest two weeks of my life.”

Archer was surprised her persistence paid off. But she is adamant that Australia made the right decision.

“I honestly don’t know what they were thinking. I know it’s an awful time at the moment with the virus but, I mean, there are some things you’ve got to be a bit lenient on and I felt this was one of them,” she said.

“I didn’t think I was ever going to see Gail again. That would’ve been the worst thing in the world if that had happened,” she added.

Australia has had success in slowing the spread of the virus, although New South Wales remains the worst-affected state.