Photo: (left to right) Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner Saunoamaali’i Dr Karanina Sumeo with PHA CEO Dr Prudence Stone at the International Women's Day Breakfast at Parliament last week.
Kia ora koutou,
A quick update on our recent activities. We've been working as usual on various submissions. We completed our submission on the Inquiry into the 2019 Local Elections and Liquor Licensing Trust Elections, and Recent Energy Trust Elections and contributed to a joint submission with the NZ College of Public Health Medicine on Taumata Arowai - the Water Services Regulator Bill (also endorsed by NZ Nurses Organisation). We are currently working on submissions on the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill and the NZ Public Health and Disability Amendment Bill. We will be sending a survey to members next week to ask for your feedback on the proposed legislation so keep checking your inbox.
Last week our CEO Prudence was interviewed by Ros Rice of Community Action Aotearoa for her Collaborative Voices show on Wellington's Access radio. Prudence was talking about COVID-19. You can listen to the interview.
The same week Prudence attended a breakfast at Parliament for International Women's (see the photo above).
Te Tiriti-based Futures, the online conference on racism and decolonisation is fast approaching and will run from Saturday 21 March until 30 March. Do register for one of the excellent free webinars (see below). Some of our branches will be holding special events to watch a webinar together and socialise (see below).
We continue our feature on the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic. There's a lot of incoming information so we thought it might be helpful to collate it for you. See below.
Hei konā mai,
your PHA policy team
Keep in touch by emailing libby@pha.org.nz.
You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @phanewzealand.
To receive our free PolicySpot you need to subscribe online - your friends might like to sign up too!
In this week's PolicySpot:
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Wellington Branch Invitation to Institutional-racism webinar watch party
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Join us for a party to watch the webinar "Institutional Racism in the Health and Education Sector" presented by our Acting co-president Dr Heather Came-Friar.
Date: Sunday 22 Mar 2020
Time: 4:00 - 7:30 PM
Venue: 91 Hobart St, Miramar, Wellington 6022, New Zealand
The webinar is part of Tiriti-based Futures, a free, webinar-based conference to help all of us address racism in our communities using the Treaty as our founding document. It's the brainchild of PHA's Special Interest Group, Stop Institutional Racism (find out more here: https://www.stirnz.org/)
We'll provide non-alcoholic drinks, antipasti and a giant flat-screen TV.
The Wellington Branch of PHA will piggy-back its March meeting after the webinar, so not only will you learn more about institutional racism, you can find out about more advocacy opportunities for public health right here in our region.
Non-members welcome.
RSVP for catering purposes.
Other PHA branches around the country are also hosting watch parties to view Heather's webinar. We'll keep you posted on the details.
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Southern branch invitation to 'Dealing with your Racist Uncle' watch party
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The Otago/Southland branch of the Public Health Association is hosting a special gathering in Ōtepoti/Dunedin this month to bring people together for a ‘Watch Session’. We will come together to watch a live streamed conference presentation as part of the Te Tiriti Based Futures & Anti-Racism 2020 online conference. The title of the session is ‘Dealing with your Racist Uncle’. The Kaikōrero / Speakers of this presentation are Jessie Dennis & Gaayathri Nair.
Date: Sunday 29 March
Time: 3:30 - 5:30 pm
Venue: 34 Mulford Street, Concord, Ōtepoti/Dunedin
The live stream begins at 4pm.
Please bring some snacks to share, chilled water will be available.
RSVP
See attached for full programme or link https://www.stirnz.org/programme
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Te Tiriti-based futures online conference further updates
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Te Tiriti-based futures & Anti-racism 2020 (TBF2020) is a Tiriti-based, anti-racism and decolonisation online conference from 21 - 30 March 2020. Webinar topics include institutional racism and anti-racism, decolonisation, building Tiriti-based futures and transforming our constitution. International presenters will also discuss lessons for Aotearoa from their experiences with these broader issues.
As we've said here before, the conference starts with a one-day hui on March 21, Race Relations Day 2020, hosted by Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua in Tāmaki Makaurau. PHA's Kaumatua and CEO will attend but we've heard from the organisers there are still spaces available. If any Auckland members wish to join them on the first day please get in contact.
The conference you-tube channel can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm2WbL6mk6fRI6RERTFZj8A ready for uploading the webinars once they've been delivered live. Subscribe now to share later.
Already the conference has 8000+ registrations, 49 partners, 70 speakers, so thank you to all of you who have helped build the event's momentum. The organisers still need some more moderators – if anyone has some computer skills and has a few hours to invest,
please let us know and we will put you in contact.
Stay tuned: In the next few weeks organisers will be releasing Decol for individuals Decol for organisation posters, as well as holding a competition through their facebook page.
View the programme and enrol for one of the more than 40 great FREE webinars.
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Submission follow up: Pregnancy warning labels on alcohol
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Pregnancy warning labels on alcohol
A happy new public health story! On 17 February 2020 Food Standards Australia New Zealand approved an amendment to the Food Standards Code to require a pregnancy warning label on packaged alcoholic beverages sold in Australia and New Zealand.
The PHA has written two submissions to FSANZ and two letters in support of mandatory pregnancy warning labels (see below). In our October 2019 submission to FSANZ, PHA strongly supported the proposed labels, arguing that they should be designed and implemented with a view to optimising the attention they receive. We recommended that the size and font comply with Code standards, both text and pictogram should be used on all but the smallest containers (less than 100ml), all beverages containing 0.5% alcohol by volume or more be required to carry the warning label, the warning statement should read 'Any amount of alcohol can cause lifelong harm to your baby’ and a 12 month transition time (read our submission for a complete list of our recommendations.
The FSANZ decision supports some but not all of these details. The proposed label will appear on packaged alcoholic beverages with more than 1.15% alcohol by volume, with the pictogram only (no text) for containers less than 200ml. There will be a two year transition period for implementation. The Ministers now have 60 days to either request a review or the amendment will be gazetted and become law. Please sign this petition from FARE (Foundation for Alcohol research & Education) to urge our Minister for Food Safety, Damien O'Connor, to decide in favour of the proposed pregnancy warning labels.
This article from drinktank gives a good overview of the whole campaign over many years to have pregnancy warning labels on alcoholic beverages made mandatory.
PHA comments on Pregnancy Warning Labels on Alcoholic Beverages (Proposal P1050) for FSANZ meeting, June 2019
Letter to the Minister for Food Safety on Mandatory pregnancy warning labels on packaged alcoholic beverages, October 2018
PHA submission on pregnancy warning labels on packaged alcoholic beverages June 2018
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Update on the Emerging Coronavirus Epidemic
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Coronavirus (COVID-19) - what is it?
Coronaviruses are a large and diverse family of viruses which includes the common cold and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
In January 2020, officials identified a new coronavirus called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, formerly known as 2019-nCoV). The disease caused by this new virus has been named COVID-19 (CO for the coronavirus family, VI for virus, D for disease and 19 for the year the virus emerged).
There are now 5 confirmed and 2 suspected cases in NZ. The Ministry of Health (MoH) says the chance of 'widespread community outbreak is expected to remain low'.
See MoH's latest media release for a summary of the current status.
'People coming into New Zealand should check our information for travellers arriving to New Zealand as they may be subject to border controls or asked to self-isolate.
We’re also asking people who have visited countries or areas of concern and who have developed symptoms of fever, cough or shortness of breath to seek medical advice – phone Healthline’s dedicated COVID-19 number 0800 358 5453 or contact your GP, including phoning ahead of your visit.
For COVID-19 health advice and information, contact the Healthline team (for free) on 0800 358 5453 or +64 9 358 5453 for international SIMS.'
See the MoH website for detailed information on the virus. The MoH has developed a useful 'what you need to know' sheet. MoH also has a Facebook page to keep you up to date on the situation.
The best way to stay healthy and avoid getting sick is to employ the usual basic personal hygiene measures: wash your hands, and observe good respiratory hygiene: cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and stay home when sick and do not touch your face.
Useful Links
World Health Organization (WHO) COVID-19 website
WHO COVID-19 Q&A
MoH website
MoH social media:
Facebook page: @minhealthnz
Twitter channel @minhealthnz
NZ Government COVID-19 website
Johns Hopkins University's CSSE has a one-page dashboard that allows visitors to track every single confirmed case in the world, as well as deaths and recovery figures, in near real-time.
University of Otago Public Health Expert blog:
Getting Through Together: Ethical Values for a Pandemic
NZ Should Prepare for a Potentially Severe Global Coronavirus Pandemic
What does the novel coronavirus epidemic mean for New Zealand?
Other stories on COVID-19
New Zealanders in coronavirus self-isolation urged to register
Closing NZ's border against extreme pandemics stacks up, study finds
We'll continue to keep you posted on any new developments here in NZ.
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Update on Abortion Legislation Bill
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The Abortion Legislation Bill passed its second reading in Parliament last week with by 81 to 39 votes. The Bill started its Committee of the whole House stage last evening (10 March). This is when the House (of Parliament) forms itself into a committee for the next stage of the bill’s consideration. All MPs belong to this committee. During this stage, a bill is usually considered part by part, and members have the chance to debate it in detail.
Due to a mix-up MPs voted last evening to remove the clauses in the Bill containing provisions that would put safe zones in place to prevent people being intimidated or harassed when attending an abortion clinic. The Committee stage continues. The purpose of this stage is to allow members to work through the ‘nuts and bolts’ of a bill. Members may propose amendments to the bill being considered. Members vote on the proposed amendments at the end of the debate on each part of a bill as occurred last evening when it seems MPs were caught unawares.
Once the committee has agreed on the final text of the bill, the bill is reprinted and is ready for its third reading.
We'll keep you updated on the progress of the Bill.
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Consultations and Submissions
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Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill
The PHA will be doing a submission on this Bill.
The closing date for submissions is Wednesday, 25 March 2020.
New Zealand Public Health and Disability Amendment Bill
Public submissions are now being called for this Bill which aims to improve conditions for people looking after family members with special care needs, such as those relating to disability, long-term chronic illnesses, mental health and addiction, and aged care needs.
See the Parliamentary webpage for more details.
The PHA will be submitting on this Bill.
The closing date for submissions is Thursday, 02 April 2020.
Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill
The Government is asking for informal feedback on its first draft of the Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill.
The drafting team is currently engaging with key stakeholders and experts such as academics and organisations.
The Bill is not yet at the stage where it is open for formal submissions. It is a first draft which the Government has published at this point to ensure that New Zealanders are informed about the direction being taken and the decisions that have been made to date.
A final draft of the Bill will be available later this year, and this is the version that will be voted on in the referendum. If more than 50% of the vote is 'Yes', after the election the incoming Government may introduce a Bill to Parliament that would make recreational use of cannabis legal. This will involve a formal submission and consultation process.
There is no current cut-off date for receiving informal feedback.
Check these links to see what consultations and submissions are coming up: NZ Parliament submission website and NZ Government Consultations website
Please get in touch if there's something we need to know about, by emailing libby@pha.org.nz
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Ngā take o te wā | Events
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Have an event to share? Send the details through to libby@pha.org.nz and we'll feature it here.
Shakti NZ's event Let's Deal With It, (register here) on Friday 13th March 2020 at 11 am at Grand Hall, Parliament Buildings, Wellington, 6011.
Women in Data Science 21 March 2020. University of Auckland Engineering Building 405, 20 Symonds Street
Auckland.
Te Tiriti-based futures & Anti-racism 2020 21 - 30 March 2020. Webinars and events.
Seminar: Delivering the walkable, slow city 25 March, City Gallery, 101 Wakefield St, Wellington
World Public Health Nutrition Congress 31 March - 2 April. Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre
iDEA 2020 – Vision for a Healthy Future Conference 3-5 April 2020. Canberra
Health Coalition Aotearoa Prevention 2020 Forum Tuesday 7 April 2020. The Boatshed, Wellington.
Preventive Health Conference Wednesday 13 - Friday 15 May 2020. Pan Pacific Perth, WA.
Sustainable Healthcare and Climate Change Aotearoa Conference 16 - 17 June 2020. University of Otago, Wellington, 23A Mein Street, Newtown, Wellington
The Public Health Leadership Programme (PHLP) 2020 Programme 1 (Wellington):17 - 18 June, 19- 20 August, 21 - 22 Oct 2020 Programme 2 (Auckland): 24 - 25 July, 26 - 27 August, 28 - 29 October 2020
17th National Immunisation Conference Tuesday 23 - Thursday 25 June 2020. Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, WA.
Social Service Providers Aotearoa (SSPA) National Social Services Conference. 10-11 August 2020. Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington. Email Fiona at events@sspa.org.nz for further info.
Pacific Islands Health Research Symposium 2020 26-28 August 2020 Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa
The WCE 2020 World Congress of Epidemiology Conference 13 – 17 September 2020 Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
Australian Public Health Conference 2020 Tuesday 22 - Thursday 24 September 2020. SMC Conference & Function Centre, Sydney NSW
16th World Congress on Public Health 12-17 October 2020. La Nuvola, Rome, Italy
14th World Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion 8-11 November 2020. Adelaide, Australia
The Second New Zealand Breast Cancer Symposium, 12-14 November 2020, Auckland, New Zealand
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