Category: MIL-OSI

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Local study pathways on offer at EIT Tairāwhiti event

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology

14 hours ago

EIT Tairāwhiti will host its annual Information and Enrolment Day this week, giving people across the region the chance to explore local study options ahead of 2026.

The event will be held tomorrow (January 22) at the EIT Tairāwhiti Campus in Gisborne, with additional sessions available at the Wairoa Learning Centre from 10am to 2pm. Ruatoria will now hold their Information and Enrolment Day on Thursday, January 29 10am to 2pm.

EIT Tairāwhiti Executive Director Tracey Tangihaere says the day is about helping people see what is possible through study and training in the region.

“For many people, deciding what to study or where to begin can feel overwhelming. This day gives people the chance to talk things through, ask questions and see what options are available to them right here in Tairāwhiti.”

Tracey says the event is designed to be welcoming and practical, with staff available to provide clear guidance and support.

“Our tutors and student support teams will be on site throughout the day to help with course advice, enrolment and study planning,” she says.

“Whether you’re just starting out, returning to learning or thinking about a change, we’re here to help you take that next step with confidence.”

Visitors will be able to meet tutors and student support staff, tour campus facilities and discuss study pathways aligned with their career goals.

EIT offers a wide range of qualifications, from certificates and diplomas through to degrees and postgraduate programmes, with flexible full-time, part-time and online study options available.

The Information and Enrolment Day is free to attend, and no booking is required.

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Several people unaccounted for following slip, Mount Maunganui

Source: New Zealand Police

Several people are unaccounted for following a slip near a campsite in Mount Maunganui.

Emergency services were called to Adams Ave just after 9:30am.

The campsite has been evacuated, and Adams Ave is closed while emergency services work to locate anybody who remains in the area.

Members of the public are advised to avoid the area.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

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Meeting sleep guidelines 2024/25: New Zealand Health Survey

Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health

Publication date:

Getting enough quality sleep is important for brain function, emotional wellbeing and physical health. The New Zealand Health Survey asks respondents how much sleep they usually get in a 24-hour period. This page summarises sleep results, focusing on how different population groups compare when it comes to meeting the sleep duration recommendations.

The Ministry of Health’s sleep recommendations are adapted from the National Sleep Foundation recommendations. Note that some people naturally sleep slightly more or less than the recommended hours.

The recommended hours of sleep in a 24-hour period, including all naps and sleeps, are:

  • For children (aged 0-14 years):
    • Newborn (0–3 months): 14 to 17 hours
    • Infant (4–11 months): 12 to 15 hours
    • Toddler (1–2 years): 11 to 14 hours
    • Preschool (3–4 years): 10 to 13 hours
    • School age (5–13 years): 9 to 11 hours
    • Teens (14 years): 8 to 10 hours
  • For adults (aged 15+ years):
    • Aged 15−17 years: 8 to 10 hours
    • Aged 18−64 years: 7 to 9 hours
    • Aged 65+ years: 7 to 8 hours

Key findings

  • Most New Zealanders are meeting sleep duration recommendations.
  • Those living in the most deprived areas were less likely to meet sleep duration guidelines than those living in the least deprived areas.
  • Disabled adults were less likely to meet sleep duration guidelines than non-disabled adults.

Most New Zealanders are meeting sleep duration recommendations

  • In 2024/25, adults on average slept for 7.3 hours and two out of three (67.4%) usually got the recommended amount of sleep in a 24-hour period.
  • Children were more likely to meet guidelines, with three out of four (77.2%) usually getting the recommended amount of sleep.
  • 27.0% of adults and 18.0% of children usually slept less than recommended, while 5.7% of adults and 4.8% of children usually slept more than recommended.

Figure 1. Usually met sleep duration recommendations in a 24 hour period, by adults and children, 2017/18 – 2024/25

Use arrow keys to navigate the key indicator items.

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Those living in the most deprived areas were less likely to meet sleep duration guidelines than those living in the least deprived areas

  • 62.0% of adults living in the most deprived areas (Quintile 5) met sleep duration recommendations, compared with 72.7% of adults living in the least deprived areas (Quintile 1).
  • 68.3% of children living in the most deprived areas met sleep duration recommendations, compared with 83.7% of children living in the least deprived areas.
  • Across NZDep quintiles, adults and children had similar rates of usually sleeping more than the recommended guidelines. However, those living in the most deprived areas were more likely to sleep less than recommended.
  • 31.5% of adults and 26.8% of children living in the most deprived areas slept less than recommended, compared with 22.8% of adults and 12.1% of children living in the least deprived areas.

Figure 2. Usually met sleep duration recommendations in a 24 hour period, by NZ Deprivation quintile, 2024/25

Use arrow keys to navigate the key indicator items.

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Disabled adults were less likely to meet sleep duration guidelines than non-disabled adults

  • In 2024/25, an estimated 45.5% of disabled adults met sleep duration recommendations, compared with 69.5% of non-disabled adults.
  • Disabled adults were both more likely to sleep more than recommended (13.6% compared with 4.9%) and less than recommended (40.9% compared with 25.6%) than non-disabled adults.

Figure 3. Adults who usually met sleep duration recommendations in a 24 hour period, by disability status, 2017/18 – 2024/25

Use arrow keys to navigate the key indicator items.

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Learn more

This data was taken from the 2024/25 New Zealand Health Survey Annual Data Explorer. For more information on the questions, methodology or design of the survey, please see the New Zealand Health Survey methodology and information page.

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Migraine 2023/24: New Zealand Health Survey

Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health

Publication date:

This page presents information collected from adults aged 15 years and over in the migraine module of the 2023/24 New Zealand Health Survey. This includes symptoms in the 3 months before the survey and lifetime diagnosis. It focuses on symptoms experienced in the 3-month period to provide a point-in-time snapshot of migraine in New Zealand and highlight groups where there is potential to improve health outcomes.

On this page

    …

Key findings

  • 1 in 7 adults (14.6%) reported migraine symptoms in the last 3 months. This represents 628,000 New Zealand adults having recent migraine symptoms.
  • Half of the respondents who had migraine symptoms in the last 3 months reported never being diagnosed with migraine (317,000 out of 628,000).
  • Women (19.2%) were twice as likely as men (9.6%) to have migraine symptoms in the last 3 months.
  • Younger age groups had the highest rates and older age groups had the lowest rates of migraine symptoms in the last 3 months.
  • The percentage of adults with migraine symptoms in the last 3 months varied by ethnic group, ranging from 10.2% in Asian adults to 19.6% in Māori adults.
  • One quarter (25.0%) of disabled adults had migraine symptoms in the last 3 months, which was nearly double the rate of non-disabled adults (13.6%).

How to interpret the results

The migraine indicators on this page cover two timeframes: symptoms in the 3 months before the survey and lifetime diagnosis. Descriptions of each indicator are available in the Definitions and references section. Adults with migraine symptoms in the last 3 months are disaggregated into people with a migraine diagnosis (blue on graphs) and people without a migraine diagnosis (pink on graphs). The total height of the bar on each graph represents everyone with migraine symptoms in the last 3 months.

More information on survey methodology, a link to the questionnaire and a downloadable dataset are all available at the end of the page. The full dataset contains further information such as 95% confidence intervals for all indicators, more subgroups, adjusted rate ratios and data on migraine diagnosis that is not covered on this page.    

These results can show differences between groups, however further research would be needed to understand the reasons for those differences. For example, the results do not tell us whether different groups had different reasons for having migraine symptoms without a diagnosis. Some examples of possible reasons include: respondents’ migraine attacks are very infrequent, misdiagnosis or migraine is well managed.

1 in 7 adults had migraine symptoms in the last 3 months

  • 1 in 7 adults (14.6%) reported migraine symptoms in the last 3 months on the ID-Migraine test™.* This represents 628,000 New Zealand adults.
  • Half of the respondents who had migraine symptoms in the last 3 months reported never being diagnosed with migraine (317,000 out of 628,000).

Women were twice as likely as men to have migraine symptoms

  • Women (19.2%) were twice as likely as men (9.6%) to have migraine symptoms in the last 3 months.*
  • Women (8.6%) were also more likely than men (5.9%) to have migraine symptoms in the last 3 months without ever being diagnosed with migraine.

Migraine symptoms were more common in young people

  • Younger age groups had the highest rates and older age groups had the lowest rates of migraine symptoms in the last 3 months. In the younger age groups, 17.0% of 15-24 year olds and 19.9% of 25-34 year olds had symptoms in the last 3 months.* In contrast, 4.5% of 75+ year olds had symptoms in the last 3 months.
  • Younger age groups had the highest rates and older age groups had the lowest rates of migraine symptoms in the last 3 months without a migraine diagnosis. 10.5% of 15-24 year olds and 10.6% of 25-34 year olds had symptoms in the last 3 months without ever been diagnosed, in contrast with 2.0% of 75+ year olds.

Māori adults were more likely to have migraine symptoms

  • The percentage of adults with migraine symptoms in the last 3 months varied by ethnic group, ranging from 10.2% in Asian adults to 19.6% in Māori adults.*
  • Māori adults (8.9%) and European/Other adults (8.3%) had the highest rates of migraine symptoms in the last 3 months with a diagnosis (in contrast to 3.5% of Asian adults).
  • Māori adults (10.5%) and Pacific adults (10.7%) had the highest rates of migraine symptoms in the last 3 months without ever being diagnosed with migraine.

Disabled adults were more likely to have migraine symptoms

  • Around one quarter (25.0%) of disabled adults had migraine symptoms in the last 3 months, which was nearly double the rate of non-disabled adults (13.6%).*
  • 13.3% of disabled adults had migraine symptoms in the last 3 months with a diagnosis and 11.1% had migraine symptoms in the last 3 months without ever being diagnosed with migraine (compared to 6.5% and 7.0% respectively for non-disabled adults).

*The indicator ‘migraine symptoms in the last 3 months’ may include some people who did not know or did not say whether they had ever been diagnosed with migraine. This means that the indicators ‘migraine symptoms in the last 3 months with a diagnosis’ and ‘migraine symptoms in the last 3 months without a diagnosis’ do not always add up exactly to the percentage of people with migraine symptoms in the last 3 months.

Definitions and references

The module comprised 5 questions on migraine symptoms and diagnosis, including 3 which make up the ID-Migraine test™. The full questionnaire is available in Questionnaires and Content Guide 2023/24. Responses to these questions were used to create 4 indicators.

The ID-Migraine test™ consists of three questions and is designed to screen for migraine symptoms among people who have had a headache in the 3 months before the survey. The respondent is considered to have migraine symptoms if they answer yes to at least 2 out of 3 of the following questions:

  1. Has a headache limited your activities for a day or more in the last three months?
  2. Are you nauseated or sick to your stomach when you have a headache?
  3. Does light bother you when you have a headache?

References showing validation of the ID-Migraine test™

Lipton RB, Dodick D, Sadovsky R, et al. 2003. A self-administered screener for migraine in primary care: The ID Migraine™ validation study. Neurology 61(3): 375–82.

Cousins G, Hijazze S, van de Laar FA, et al. 2011. Diagnostic accuracy of the ID Migraine: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain 51: 1140–8.

Adult respondents (aged 15+ years) are defined as having migraine symptoms in the last 3 months if they had had a headache in the 3 months before the survey and they answered yes to at least 2 out of 3 questions in the ID-Migraine test™.

Adult respondents (aged 15+ years) are defined as having a migraine diagnosis if they reported they had ever been told by a doctor that they have migraine. This indicator is not included in the graphs on this page, instead the data is available in the downloadable dataset at the end of this page.

Adult respondents (aged 15+ years) are defined as having migraine symptoms in the last 3 months with a diagnosis if they reported:

  • they had ever been told by a doctor that they have migraine,
  • they had had a headache in the 3 months before the survey
  • and they answered yes to at least 2 out of 3 questions in the ID-Migraine test™.

Adult respondents (aged 15+ years) are defined as having migraine symptoms in the last 3 months without a diagnosis ever if they reported:

  • they had not ever been told by a doctor that they have migraine,
  • they had had a headache in the 3 months before the survey
  • and they answered yes to at least 2 out of 3 questions in the ID-Migraine test™.

Where to get more detailed data and methodology information

This downloadable dataset contains aggregated data, 95% confidence intervals for all indicators, more subgroups, adjusted rate ratios and data on migraine diagnosis that is not covered on this page.





Migraine Data Table

(
xlsx,
27.2 KB
)

Microdata will be made available via the Stats NZ Integrated Data Infrastructure in the next update. The code used to derive the migraine indicators from the raw data is also available to researchers upon request.

Please see the Methodology Report 2023/24 for full details on survey design, sampling and weighting, fieldwork procedures, and confidence intervals.

Please see the Questionnaires and Content Guide 2023/24 for the full questionnaire text.

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Warkworth search: Man remains missing overnight

Source: New Zealand Police

Please attribute to Senior Sergeant Carl Fowlie, Waitematā North Police:

Search efforts will likely resume later today to locate a man missing after being swept away in water at Mahurangi River, near Warkworth.

A Police-led operation ran through most of Wednesday after an emergency call was made when he went missing from Falls Road at around 7.41am.

Night shift frontline staff conducted some checks in the area overnight, but sadly the man remains outstanding.

Police Search and Rescue will redeploy to the area once water levels have subsided and it is safe to continue searching.

The Police Eagle helicopter is expected to do a flyover of the river this morning.

We thank all agencies who have deployed resource to-date, including Fire and Emergency NZ, Auckland Emergency Management and Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter.

The missing man in his 40s from the wider Mahurangi community.

Police remain in contact with the man’s family.

We acknowledge they must be going through a very uncertain and upsetting time while he remains missing. Our thoughts are with them.

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

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Study options on display at EIT Info and Enrolment Day

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology

46 seconds ago

EIT will host an Information and Enrolment Day this week, giving prospective students the chance to explore local study options ahead of 2026.

The event will be held tomorrow (January 22) in both Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti. In Hawke’s Bay, the main event will run from 9am to 6pm at the EIT Hawke’s Bay Campus in Taradale, with additional sessions held from 10am to 2pm at the Maraenui, Hastings and Central Hawke’s Bay Learning Centres. 

EIT Hawke’s Bay will hold its Information and Enrolment Day on Thursday.

EIT Events and Engagement Manager Leanne Harkness says studying locally is proving to be a smart financial choice for many students and their whānau.

“Lots of our students are staying at home, saving money and continuing to enjoy the great Hawke’s Bay lifestyle.”

Leanne says the Information and Enrolment Day provides an ideal opportunity for people considering study in 2026 to get personalised advice and support.

“Our programmes are filling fast, so if you are interested in studying in 2026, come down, and we can help you get your enrolment sorted.”

Visitors to the event will be able to meet EIT’s student liaison team and tutors, tour the campus and learning facilities, and discuss study pathways aligned with their career goals.

“Whether you’re leaving school, looking to upskill, or considering a career change, this is a great chance to talk through your options and plan your path towards the career you really want,” Leanne says.

EIT offers a wide range of qualifications, from certificates and diplomas through to degrees and postgraduate programmes, with flexible full-time, part-time and online study options available.

The Information and Enrolment Day is free to attend, and no booking is required.

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Privacy Commissioner Inquiry into Manage My Health breach

Source: Privacy Commissioner

The Privacy Commissioner has announced today that he will be conducting an Inquiry into the cyber security breach affecting Manage My Health Limited. 

An Inquiry, under section 17(1)(i) of the Privacy Act, is the Privacy Commissioner’s usual mode of investigating public interest privacy issues. 

“Given the scale of the incident, the sensitivity of the information and some of the systemic issues being identified, it’s clear to me we need to investigate the privacy issues involved”.

We are currently consulting with relevant parties on draft Terms of Reference as required by our legislation and expect to publish these details on 28 January. 

“New Zealanders rightly expect any agency collecting, holding, using or storing their sensitive health information to maintain high standards of privacy and data protection.

Our Inquiry will help determine whether appropriate security safeguards were in place and if not, why not. We will also look at what steps will be taken to prevent such an incident happening again,” said Mr Webster.

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Severe weather prompts WorkSafe warning for outdoor workers

Source: Worksafe New Zealand

WorkSafe is urging businesses and organisations operating in weather affected areas to ensure robust procedures are in place to protect workers, as red rain warnings remain in effect across parts of the North Island.

All non-essential outdoor work should be postponed. 

Red rain warnings are in place in Northland, Coromandel, the Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, and Gisborne. 

WorkSafe says businesses should be keeping up to date with advice from the MetService, local Civil Defence and should consider the extra risks posed by flooding, land slips, and fallen power lines and trees.

WorkSafe’s Acting Northern Regional Manager Jason Gibson says risks can be constantly changing in extreme outdoor conditions.

“Emergency response procedures should be under constant review. If workers are out in the adverse weather they should take into consideration the changes in conditions – there needs to be an ongoing dynamic risk assessment.”

He says workers are also at increased risk of driving related incidents during severe weather events, and additional stress where their families may also be affected.

“If the work isn’t essential, workers shouldn’t be going out. And if they do, their safety needs to be a priority.”

WorkSafe has guidance available to support businesses in managing risks associated with working in extreme outdoor conditions:

Working in extreme outdoor conditions

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New and expanded eye care services for Hutt Valley and Porirua

Source: New Zealand Government

Patients from the wider Wellington region now have faster access to life changing eye surgery, with new cataract services launching at Hutt Hospital today, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.

“Ensuring patients are at the centre of our healthcare system means continuously improving access to timely elective treatment,” Mr Brown says.

“Hutt Hospital will now deliver 20 to 25 cataract surgery sessions each month. This will make it easier for Hutt Valley patients to receive treatment locally, while freeing up theatre capacity at Kenepuru and Wellington Hospitals for more complex eye procedures.

“These changes mean more people will get the cataract care they need sooner and closer to home, while helping reduce waiting times across the wider region.”

Expanded vitreoretinal surgery capacity will also begin at Kenepuru Hospital from tomorrow.

Vitreoretinal surgery treats conditions affecting the retina at the back of the eye, such as retinal detachments and complications linked to diabetes. These procedures often need to be performed urgently to prevent permanent vision loss.

“Two to three additional vitreoretinal surgery sessions will be delivered each week following installation of a second set of specialised equipment through the Regional Retinal Network Plan. This will increase capacity for urgent procedures and ensure patients are treated as soon as possible.

“Cataracts and retinal conditions can have a significant impact on people’s independence and quality of life. By increasing capacity, more patients will be treated sooner, helping prevent avoidable vision loss.

“Together, these initiatives are expected to enable approximately 300 to 500 additional patients each year to receive cataract or vitreoretinal surgery.

“This is about fixing the basics by expanding core elective services and building the future by ensuring more patients get the care they need, when they need it,” Mr Brown says.

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Go naturing for Conservation Week this April

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date:  21 January 2026

The change is to encourage more people to act for nature and help protect the 80,000 native species and their habitats which make New Zealand so special. The week will run from Monday 20 April to Sunday 26 April 2026.

“We’ve just had a bumper summer holiday period which proves people love getting out and connecting with nature. It relaxes and energises us and is central to our identity,” says Department of Conservation Director-General Penny Nelson. “But the truth is nature is struggling and needs us more than ever. Species are under increased pressure from introduced predators, invasive species and pollution.

“We’re hoping that moving Conservation Week to April will be a better time of year for people to get involved and support our mahi.”

The weather in April is warmer and more settled than spring, and there’s more opportunity for people to don their outdoor gear and do their favourite form of naturing. It could be pulling invasive weeds, trapping pests, going group plogging (picking up litter while jogging), organising a beach clean-up or picnicking at your favourite DOC reserve.

Naturing doesn’t have to be demanding – it can be done in the comfort of your own home; watching a documentary, teaching your kids about native species, or planting natives in your garden – do what inspires you for nature.

April is the month we celebrate nature in its many forms. World Aquatic Animal Day, World Penguin Day, Save the Frogs Day, International Bat Appreciation Day, and our own National Go Birding Day, are all in April.  Conservation Week will be in good company.

The shift to April also means we don’t have to change dates every three years as part of the election cycle, which will give DOC’s partners and conservation groups across the country more certainty.

Conservation Week will continue to operate the way it always has. National organisations and partners, regional and local groups are preparing activities to get more New Zealanders involved than ever before. All those little critters that make this place wonderful need us as much as we need them.

Contact

For media enquiries contact:

Email: media@doc.govt.nz