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Great to join everyone celebrating this morning’s opening of the first section of Tupua Horo Nuku at Mā Koromiko. Walkers, dogs, and those on scooters, roller skates, trolleys & bikes now have a safe route, plus increased resilience for the road. Huge thanks to all involved #HCC

"12 graphs that show New Zealand isn't doing as badly as you think": my latest for The Spinoff about progress on tackling emissions, child poverty, smoking, etc. In which I argue that the current national mood of enveloping gloom may not be justified. thespinoff.co.nz/society/20-11-…

Although research is ongoing, long Covid remains a serious—and potentially debilitating—risk of infection. Not only is vaccination crucial to prevent severe Covid, but it also reduces the likelihood of developing lasting health problems. bmj.com/content/383/bm…

NZ Average weekly death rates per million people: Age: vax era | pre-covid Under 60s: 23.1 | 23.6 60-79: 262.8 | 269.0 80 and over 1850.7 | 1933.9 vax era = Feb 21 - Sep 23 pre-covid = Feb 17 - Sep 19 Every age group is lower in vax era

And the overall explanation for there have been a lot more high death days in recent years is that there are a lot more old people, which is why deaths are up and the age standardised death rate is lower. (and eradicating viruses in 2020 caused a dip in deaths)

Since antivaxers are trying to frighten people with "look at all the days of high deaths in the last few years" using their illegally obtained health records, I have done a quick graph from public weekly data to show how misleading they are being.

The death rate (per million) for every age group in NZ for the 137 week vax era (vx) Feb 2021 - Sep 23 is lower than pre-covid. Example most recent (pc) season match (Feb 17 - Sep 19) 80+: 1850.7(vx) vs. 1933.9(pc) 60-79: 262.8(vx) vs. 269.0(pc) under 60: 23.1(vx) vs. 23.6(pc)

For lives saved during the pandemic, Asia pacific rim countries may not have done as well as some of the best European countries (who had much more resources in GDP per capita terms), but they did a lot better than the worst countries in Europe, such as low vaccination Bulgaria.

The OECD have released their own Age Standardised Mortality Rate report, basically confirming all the criticisms people have had of the deaths / average deaths 2015-2019 measure. Other countries than NZ did better than expected, NZ just best of the best. one.oecd.org/document/DELSA…

With the release today of NZ 2023 annual death rates by age, the age standardised death rate for the pandemic is somewhere around nett -4% excess (extra lives saved). But as important, like high vax Denmark (also with 2023 annual out) 2023 within precovid ranges from trend.

Great to see The Beths back in Te Whanganui-a-Tara and sounding great opening for The National last evening. A top class Kiwi act! Plenty of fans in the audience although didn’t see their most famous one - Barack Obama - in the mosh

Genuinely surprised and disappointed to read this. Fluoridation is important for the dental health of tamariki, especially disadvantaged kids. And I had hoped Wellington Water had learnt from its earlier episode that it should keep people informed. thepost.co.nz/nz-news/350192…

Despite straw man claims going around that assert otherwise, NZ having nett below trend mortality for the covid era is based on death rates by age (that directly take into account population change) standardised.

A great way to start our time at WOMAD2024, Aotearoa’s own and 2022 Taite Prize winner Anthonie Tonnon

Big crowd for the excellent Ibibio Sound Machine. Perfect weather and the usual great WOMAD vibe

One of the great things about WOMAD is it’s for all ages. Also very Accessible

I agree Richard Smith, I enjoyed this book; its message of ‘realistic optimism’ inspires action not complacency. Excellent TLDR summary by you that I encourage everyone to read. Like you I passed it on to my (Gen Z) son. Plan to buy a few copies to give away to ‘read & pass on’

Comment in The Lancet from myself & Co-Chair Dr Abdullah Assiri on the adoption by 196 countries of amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005). Doesn’t compromise sovereignty; does make the world safer & fairer. A win for multilateralism. thelancet.com/journals/lance…

Kia ora, 🇳🇿! It was a privilege to stop by University of Auckland | Waipapa Taumata Rau and engage with partners and health experts on my vision and priorities for the Region. I'm keen to work closely with regional partners, drawing on their expertise to deliver better health outcomes for all communities.

My comment on the Gibson article on NZ mortality is now peer review passed and published in the same journal tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.10…