Public Health - Capital, Coast, Hutt Valley and Wairarapa

14/07/2025

Measles is a serious and highly contagious illness, that can affect adults as well as children.

Anyone who has not yet had two doses of the MMR vaccine is most at risk, especially pēpi and tamariki.

Come along to the FREE drop-in clinic in Masterton on Thursday between 3-6pm – no appointment is needed, and we can check your status. There may be a short wait time, depending on demand.

02/07/2025

Join the local Co-op to get fresh fruit & vege each week for $15 from community hubs across Greater Wellington. Good for growers. Good for community. Good for you.

19/06/2025

07/05/2025

rph.org.nz has been moved home to Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora.

Centralising health information allows us to improve the overall user experience and ensure health information still is prompt, consistent, and reliable for all of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Visit National Public Health Service — https://info.health.nz/locations/wellington-hutt-and-kapiti/nphs-greater-wellington-region

23/04/2025

We’re pleased to introduce Adrienne Newman as acting coordinator for Fruit & Vege Co-Ops Wellington. She's taken on the role while Cory Hope embarks on exciting new kai-related projects.
Adrienne has years of dedication and passion for the co-ops and their mission. Her journey began in 2015 when she worked as a volunteer at the newly established Naenae packing hub. Since then, she’s set up the Stokes Valley distribution hub and in 2019 she became coordinator of the Naenae Co-op.
Adrienne’s deep commitment to supporting our communities and her extensive experience means the co-ops are in great hands!
To find out more about the co-ops go to https://www.hauorakai.nz/

23/04/2025

Measles is highly contagious and can cause serious illness, with about one in every three people needing hospital care.

Aotearoa New Zealand does not currently have any measles cases, but its spread overseas and our low rates of immunisation means we are at high risk of non-immune travellers bringing measles here.

The best protection against measles is immunisation. You are considered immune if you have had two doses of a measles vaccine after the age of 12 months.

If you think you haven’t had a measles immunisation, or your kids need one, drop-in to our clinic in Masterton. It’s open on Thursdays from 3-6pm.

Find out more about measles https://info.health.nz/immunisations/vaccines-aotearoa/measles-mumps-and-rubella-mmr-vaccine -out-if-you-need-a-measles-vaccine-2091

22/04/2025

World Immunisation Week runs from 24 to 30 April, so it’s a good time to make sure your kids jabs are up to date.

Did you know you can get FREE immunisations for your tamariki in Masterton?

Our drop-in clinic is open on Thursdays from 3-6pm and can give immunisations for hapū māmā and pēpi aged 0-18 years.

So come on in and protect your whānau!

For more information about vaccinations, talk to your doctor, nurse, or health care provider, call Healthline on 0800 611 116, or visit info.health.nz/immunisations

26/03/2025

10/03/2025

NEW NOTIFICATION ⚠️⚠️We've identified harm from presumed co***ne consumption in the Wairarapa region. The presumed co***ne is suspected to be misrepresented or adulterated with an unknown opioid. ⚠️⚠️

The substance involved was a white powder. Find out more ⬇️⬇️
https://highalert.org.nz/alerts-and-notifications/suspected-opioid-harm-linked-to-presumed-co***ne-consumption-in-wairarapa-region

While we don't know for sure what substance is responsible for the harm experienced, the symptoms displayed are consistent with an opioid overdose, and those involved responded well to naloxone – a drug that reverses an opioid overdose.

High Alert strongly urges extreme caution should you choose to use white powders. Drug checking is recommended to help minimise the risk. A calendar of upcoming clinics can be found on The Level: https://thelevel.org.nz/drug-checking-clinics

If you choose to use a substance you think might be this:
- Use fentanyl AND nitazene test strips to check if a substance contains synthetic opioids. These can be ordered here for free from the New Zealand Drug Foundation. - Avoid using alone. Have a friend who can help, and call an ambulance, if things go wrong.
- Much lower doses are less risky. Start off with an extremely small amount (a typical dose of synthetic opioids can be in the micrograms) to check how it affects you.
- In general, swallowing a substance has a slower onset than other methods and means there might be more time to get medical help if needed.
- Avoid using it at the same time as other substances, especially depressant drugs such as alcohol, opioids, GHB/GBL, ketamine, and benzos as these can increase the risk that your breathing will slow or stop.
- Have naloxone with you – a drug that can temporarily reverse the effects of an overdose and give you more time to get medical help. Talk to your GP or local needle exchange about this.

If you aren’t sure whether someone is overdosing, it's best to act like they are. It's important to act quickly as it improves their odds of survival. Call 111 and ask for an ambulance immediately. Tell them what has been taken and that it could be an opioid. Don’t leave the person alone.