A University of Otago geriatrician and researcher is calling on neighbours and extended family to reach out to support older New Zealanders potentially struggling with their physical and mental health, with the imminent shift to Level 3 lockdown for much of the country from Wednesday.

Mayors across the Wellington region are urging residents to wear their face masks like armour as if they were going into battle as we get set to move to Alert Level 3 at 11.59pm tonight.

Under COVID-19 Alert Level 3, visitor access to all Canterbury DHB health facilities remains restricted to enable safe physical distancing.

To ensure the safety of patients, staff and visitors as New Zealand moves from Alert Level 4 to Alert Level 3 of the COVID-19 response, MidCentral DHB is making changes to the visitor policy for inpatients at its facilities.

Hawke’s Bay DHB has freed up some restrictions for visitors in Alert Level 3, but others will remain in place to ensure the safety of patients and staff.

Chair of the National Urban Māori Authority, and Managing Director of Te Kohao Health in Hamilton, Lady Tureiti Moxon s calling on the Ministry of Health and District Health Boards to change the game plan in relation to Māori and Pacifika vaccinations.

Tributes have flooded in from past colleagues of former nurse and stalwart of the community Ailsa Stewart QSO, who died last Wednesday, 25 August.

There are 49 new cases of COVID-19 in the New Zealand community today; all in Auckland. This brings the total number of cases in the community outbreak to 612. One previously reported case has been reclassified as a border case.

The Mental Health Foundation launched four $10,000 grants for journalists and other media creatives last night.

The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ (ARFNZ) is launching its Breathe Better September awareness and fundraising month in an exclusive Facebook Live session with a renowned breathing expert.