Category: Health

Mar 24
Record Cocaine Use Sparks Calls for Drug Law Reform in NZ

Record levels of cocaine use in New Zealand have reignited calls for a major overhaul of the country’s drug policy, with the NZ Drug Foundation warning the current approach is no longer working. New wastewater testing data released by the NZ Police shows cocaine consumption surged to an all-time high in the final quarter of […]

Mar 23
Judge Blocks RFK Jr on Trans Healthcare Policy in USA

A key part of the Trump administration’s approach to transgender healthcare has been dealt a setback, after a federal judge in Oregon ruled that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr overstepped his authority in issuing guidance on gender-affirming care. The decision, handed down on Thursday (19 March), centres on a 12-page statement released by the […]

Mar 17
OPINION: Sapphics and the Silence Around Our Isolation 

Queer women are statistically lonelier than straight people and often more than gay men — yet media narratives focus on the so-called male loneliness epidemic. Jessie Lewthwaite explores sapphic isolation and the best ways to make it better.  I was out at a bar with some friends (yes, I know a lot of my stories start this […]

Mar 10
Hormone Therapy Not Linked to Increased Anger in Trans Youth, Study Finds

A new study examining the effects of testosterone therapy on transmasculine youth has found that the treatment does not lead to increased anger or irritability after a year. In some cases, researchers even observed a reduction in aggressive behaviours. The research, published this week in the Journal of Adolescent Health, addresses a common concern among […]

Mar 09
Finding Healthcare That Actually Works 

Matt Fistonich shares his experience of using Tend for GP appointments and prescriptions, exploring how the app simplifies healthcare access with a seamless, user-friendly experience tailored to modern life.  I’ve tried a lot of things in my life. New cafes, new bars, new men. But actually getting healthcare sorted? That always sat somewhere between “urgent” […]

Feb 24
Finding Your Breath: Taane Mete’s Journey Into Yoga

Taane Mete, one of New Zealand’s most celebrated and influential professional dancers, talks to Steven Oates about yoga, movement and coming home to yourself.  For many of us, yoga sits in the mental “maybe one day” pile — something we admire from afar but never quite roll our mats out for. Too bendy. Too spiritual. […]

Feb 12
STI Screening Made Simple with Dr Ji-Young Park

Tend Pakūranga GP Dr Ji-Young Park takes us through what to expect and when to get tested.  STI (sexually transmitted infection) screening can feel daunting to many people. Some of us, especially if we’re LGBTQ+, might feel embarrassed or awkward talking about sex, but STI screening should be a routine part of healthcare for anyone […]

Feb 10
Auckland to Host World’s Largest Transgender Health Symposium in 2028

Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland has been selected to host the 30th Scientific Symposium of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) in 2028, marking the first time the global event will be held in Oceania. Running from 5 to 10 November 2028, the symposium will bring together an estimated 1,300 clinicians, researchers, educators, policymakers, and […]