Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Radio New Zealand

Drivers have been warned of flooding in some parts of Northland, after heavy rain, while some areas have been isolated by slips and floods.

On Sunday morning Whangārei District Council said drivers should not travel in or out of Ngunguru, Helena Bay, Ōakura, Punaruku, or Whangaruru.

MetService forecasters issued a heavy rain warning for Northland through to midday Sunday, with rain continuing to accumulate after flooding overnight.

Nearly 150 millimetres of rain was recorded at Ngunguru between midnight and 5:30am Sunday.

Whangārei District Council said heavy rain and surface flooding had closed roads, isolating some communities.

“Drive with great care expecting slippery roads and possible hazards like fallen trees or flooding,” they said on Facebook.

“Expect river and stream levels to be much higher than usual, and to be flowing with a lot more force. Levels may also continue to rise rapidly.”

Do you know more? Email iwitness@rnz.co.nz

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Pharmac is seeking clinical advice on whether weight loss medication should be funded.

New Zealand has the third-highest adult obesity rate in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

One in three people over the age of 15 are classified as obese and one in eight children aged between 2-14.

Pharmac received two applications to fund Wegovy or semaglutide – a GLP-1 receptor agonist for weight loss.

The first was in September, for people with an established cardiovascular disease (such as someone who has had a heart attack or stroke) and a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 27 or higher. The second was in October, for chronic weight management in people with a BMI of 30 or higher, with at least one weight-related comorbidity.

Pharmac director of advice and assessment David Hughes said guidance was expected to be published later this month.

“Our expert advisors will assess how effective the medicine is compared with current funded options, and consider its impact on individuals, whānau, caregivers and the wider health system,” he said.

Hughes added that Pharmac also had an application to fund Saxenda or liraglutide for people with very high BMI.

That application was currently under assessment.

On Monday, Australia announced that Wegovy would be subsidised, after being listed on the country’s equivalent to Pharmac.

The ABC reported that Australia’s Health Minister Mark Butler committed to listing the drug on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme for patients with an established cardiovascular disease and a BMI of 35 or higher. No clear timeline for was established.

However, that would reduce the cost to AU$25 (NZ$29) per script or AU$7.70 (NZ$9) for a concession card holder.

Wegovy costs $459.99 per month in New Zealand.

Associate Minister of Health David Seymour could not comment on what Pharmac should or should not fund.

“However, I am urging them to improve their budget bids for more money, by considering how funding new drugs might save the taxpayer money elsewhere,” he said.

“That shift could lead to drugs such as this one being funded sooner, but the final decision remains with Pharmac.”

Weight loss specialist Dr Gerard McQuinlan also believed that funding Wegovy would save the taxpayer money in the long run.

He told RNZ that obesity was related to more than 200 other diseases.

“If I just take one of them, like diabetes, the risk for developing Type 2 diabetes if you have obesity is about 12 times, right?

“If you look at the cost of Type 2 diabetes to the taxpayer – this is from the Ministry of Health – it costs about $2.1 billion per year, so just reducing just one disease, like diabetes, you can save a lot of money.”

He did not think funding Wegovy would create a shortage, especially once the pill form was available in New Zealand.

He said obesity was a chronic, relapsing and progressive disease, with a 95 percent chance the weight would return, if the disease was not managed through medication.

“We don’t want people to lose weight and then stop the medication, and the weight comes back on, because usually, they’ll gain more weight than what they started with,” he said.

“People put on more weight after dieting, eventually, because it’s not a willpower problem – it’s a hormone problem. It’s to do with hormones that regulate hunger, appetite and particularly the feeling that people have had enough food.

“That’s the problem with obesity – people don’t feel that they’ve eaten enough. The signal’s lost.

“The Wegovy, that is the hormone that controls satiety, the feeling that you’ve had enough to eat.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Staff at Te Nukuau Wellington Zoo are mourning the death of Sundar, one of the zoo’s popular red pandas and a familiar face to generations of visitors.

Sundar was euthanised last weekend at the age of 12 after his health declined, with keepers and veterinarians concerned he was experiencing ongoing pain from a hip condition and age-related dental disease.

Acting animal care manager Rob Harland said the decision was not taken lightly, but was made in the interests of Sundar’s welfare.

“He was a pretty old animal,” Harland said.

“Red pandas in the wild typically live between eight and 10 years. In human care they can live a bit longer, and Sundar was over 12 and a half, so he was quite elderly.”

Harland said Sundar had been closely monitored and received a series of medical interventions, but arthritic changes in his hips were increasingly affecting his ability to climb, a vital behaviour for the largely tree-dwelling species.

“If they lose the ability to climb efficiently, their ability to behave in a species-typical way is impacted quite a lot,” he said.

“We felt it was the kindest thing to do.”

Zoo staff said Sundar’s loss had been felt deeply by the team, many of whom had cared for him for more than a decade.

“It’s been a sad week for the keepers, the veterinary team, and everyone at the zoo,” Harland said.

“He was a beloved animal, and when you’ve invested so much time and care over so many years, saying goodbye is really hard.”

Sundar arrived at Wellington Zoo from Auckland Zoo more than 11 years ago as part of an international conservation breeding programme for the endangered species. He later became a father, with his son Ngima born at the zoo in a rare and celebrated breeding success.

Harland said Sundar was also one of the zoo’s standout animal ambassadors, particularly through the Close Encounter programme.

“Over the years he met thousands of visitors, helped people learn about red pandas, and even met prime ministers and other well-known guests,” he said.

“He was an incredible ambassador for his species.”

Red pandas are classified as endangered, with an estimated wild population of around 2,500.

Habitat loss remains the biggest threat to their survival, with many populations living in remote and politically complex regions.

“That’s what makes the work we do in zoos so important,” Harland said.

“It helps build understanding, knowledge, and support for conservation efforts in the wild.”

Wellington Zoo is now home to two red pandas: Sundar’s breeding partner Khusi and their son Ngima, who live separately in line with the species’ typically solitary nature.

While keepers believe the remaining pandas were unlikely to have been affected by Sundar’s passing, Harland said staff will take time to grieve.

“One of the things we focus on in zoos is making sure an animal’s welfare is prioritised at the beginning, middle and end of their life,” he said.

“As sad as it is, we know this was the right decision for Sundar.”

The zoo may look to bring in another red panda in the future as part of the international breeding programme, but for now the focus is on caring for Khusi and Ngima.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Orcas have been spotted scouting the waters of Wellington Harbour.

Footage, captured on Saturday from Seatoun Wharf, shows two orcas exploring Wellington Harbour.

The orcas are reportedly named Funky Monkey and Pickle.

According to the Department of Conservation, orcas commonly venture into Wellington Harbour throughout spring and summer looking for food, often stingrays.

Orcas are often seen exploring the northern end of the harbour, oriental Parade, Frank Kitts Park, the Lagoon, and the Kapiti Coast.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

A warning has been issued after a sewage leak in Wellington.

Wellington Water said partially treated wastewater was released into the ocean after a mechanical failure at the Seaview treatment plant around 6pm on Saturday.

It said the water near the leak may look cloudy and could smell.

People are advised to avoid the water near Pencarrow.

An investigation is underway into what went wrong.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand