Welcome to the latest issue of the Environmental Health Intelligence Newsletter!
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Environmental Health Intelligence Newsletter 25
June 2022
Welcome to our first newsletter for 2022. Despite the evolution of hybrid working styles, coupled with people trying to work in isolation, we have maintained our schedule for disseminating intelligence on the environmental health of NZ. The highlights of our various factsheets are mentioned further in this issue.
There are two exciting events coming up. In the last issue, I mentioned establishing the Public Health Observatory New Zealand (PHONZ). The first virtual conference will be held in July. We will also be hosting our next Stakeholder Catchup, 11-12.30 pm, on 29 June. Further details for both these events are included below.
Some of you may recall that last year the Government announced implementing a mandatory folic acid programme. I will be giving a lecture to the Wellington Branch of the Royal Society of New Zealand, on 20 July 2022, called “Down the Rabbit Hole: The Wonderland of New Zealand’s Folic Acid Saga”. Everyone is welcome to attend, 6 pm, Royal Society of New Zealand Building, Halswell Street, Wellington.
As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me or any member of the EHINZ with your comments and suggestions.
Professor Barry Borman apppointed to the Board of Better Start – National Science Challenge
A Better Start – National Science Challenge is targeted at achieving:
- Healthy weights in New Zealand Children.
- Resilient teens with access to quality mental health advice and support.
- Improved literacy and learning in children.
Virtual stakeholder meeting, 29 June, 2022
After the success of our initial virtual stakeholder meeting in November, 2021, we are happy to announce another virtual event will be held on 29 June, 2022.
These events are designed to give EHINZ’s stakeholders and other parties interested in our work an opportunity to engage with the team and learn about our recent successes and plans for 2022 and beyond.
If you would like to RSVP or find out more about the event, please contact us through the links provided at the bottom of this page.
The first virtual PHONZ conference
EHINZ has been leading the establishment of the PHONZ, a network for people interested in public health intelligence to collaborate, exchange ideas, and meet other people nationally and internationally. It will be a repository for news, data, analytical tools, information about public health intelligence, and provide workforce development opportunities. Dates for the first virtual conference are:
- Friday 15th, 9-12 am (Associate Minister of Health, Dr Ayesha Verrall, will give the opening presentation at 9:15 am)
- Friday 22nd, 9-12 am.
- Friday 29th, 9-12 am.
Other speakers include people from across the health sector, the UK and the USA.
New factsheets are being made online.
PDF formats will still be available for download
Indoor Environment Indicator Updates
For information relating to this domain contact Helene Marsters
Asthma Prevalence
Asthma prevalence in children aged 2–14 years in 2020/21 has declined from previous years.
Both the SUDI and lower respiratory tract infection indicators are currently being updated and should be released in the coming months.
Climate Change Indicator Updates
For information relating to this domain contact Carolin Haenfling
Energy use by fuel type & sector
In 2020, New Zealand consumed 7.4% less energy than in 2019, likely due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on economic activities and travel. This decrease was most evident in the industrial and the domestic transport sectors.
Recreational Water Indicator Updates
For information relating to this domain contact Patrick Hipgrave
Notifications of potentially waterborne diseases’
Low recorded notification rates of three common potentially waterborne diseases (PWD) in 2020 may be due to reduced access to healthcare caused by the coronavirus pandemic, as notification rates are reliant on people being able to access healthcare services to be diagnosed. Notification rates for giardiasis seem to have been particularly affected - there was a sharp drop in the notification rate from 2019 (34.3 per 100,000) to 2020 (22.5 per 100,000 people).
Transport Indicator Updates
For information relating to this domain contact Patrick Hipgrave
Active transport to and from school
There has been no change in the proportion of children using active transport to school since 2006/07. Children aged 10-14 years were more likely to participate in active transport than those aged 5-9 years in 2020/21.
Border Health Indicator Updates
For information relating to this domain contact Liam Kelly
Exotic diseases of priority concern
From 2016 to 2020, two priority notifiable infectious diseases, measles, and COVID-19, crossed the New Zealand border. Of these, the worst outbreaks were measles in 2019, 2,213 cases, and COVID-19 in 2021, 12,027 cases.
High-risk insects caught at New Zealand's borders
From 2017 to 2021, there were 107 high-risk insect interceptions at New Zealand's international ports. Interceptions most commonly originated from the Asia-Pacific region. Both seaports and airports present a potential risk to New Zealand with each having similar numbers of live interceptions.
Animal and Human Health Indicator Updates
For information relating to this domain contact Kirstin Lindberg
Leptospirosis
Most (69.7%) leptospirosis notifications in 2019 were from people with at-risk occupations, such as farmers and meat workers.
Other highlights
EHINZ's work has been published by both Massey and various media
Recently, EHINZ has been moving towards more engagement with the media, to better spread awareness about environmental health indicators. This includes:
1. Asthma Prevalence: Findings have been published by:
- Massey: Not all Kiwi kids breathing easier despite decreasing asthma prevalence.
- RNZ: 16% of Māori and Pacific children diagnosed with asthma last year.
- NZHerald: Māori & Pacific children more likely to have asthma than those from other backgrounds.
2. Energy Use: Findings have been published by:
We hope to continue engaging more groups as the year progresses.
News from the team
Farewell Carolin
Carolin has worked in the EHINZ team since 2016 - currently as a senior intelligence analyst. During this time, Carolin's main roles were in the development, maintenance, and updating of the Air Quality and Climate Change domains. On top of this, she has also covered various positions, including:
- Media releases, including News, social media, and newsletters.
- Website development, design and maintenance.
- Factsheet reviews and releases.
- GIS and data visualisation specialist.
Carolin will be greatly missed within the team and we wish her all the best with her family as they move back to her home country of Germany.
The EHINZ team based at Massey University, Wellington, currently has multiple full-time positions available for data analysts in the public health sector. These roles are suited for individuals with an interest in public health and a drive to look beyond the numbers to understand the causes of some of the key environmental health issues facing New Zealanders today. Experience in coding, data visualization, and mapping are all valued within the team. Please contact us through the links below for more information. We will be releasing official job adds in the near future.
If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please feel free to email us.
