Website intended for a New Zealand health professional readership
What a year it has been. The coronavirus pandemic has changed ways of working and living for all of us and it continues to shadow our days. But summer is here with a bit of time for relaxation and reflection. We hope you enjoy our Summer Hiatus
We're out of the office. It's our traditional summer closure when, as most news makers and news readers take a break, it seems sensible that we reporters join them.
This year, however, it is strange to be stepping back for even a short time from what is essentially the biggest health news story so far this century – the COVID-19 pandemic.
But we've left you with a tremendous Summer Edition newspaper, full of great news features and education.
And here online is our Summer Hiatus. An eclectic selection of News, Opinion and Educate articles from our archives and other sources.
And thanks to our freshly minted FREE READ function all Summer Hiatus articles will be in front of the paywall.
I like to think of it as Free and Easy – Free to Read and Easy to Share.
It has been an extraordinary year. We wish all our subscribers a very Merry Christmas, a safe summer break should you be taking one and, most of all, the quietest of times should you find yourself working over the holiday season.
We know 2022 will hold new challenges and we will continue to support primary care through those challenges. We’ll be back in the office and online on 17 January, 2022. Thanks for reading us.
We really, truly, appreciate your support.
Barbara Fountain and the team at New Zealand Doctor Rata Aotearoa
This summer you can take a cruise - around our website. There is plenty to explore.
You can check out issues of years gone by in the Long-Term Print Archives, provided by the folks at The Knowledge Basket. You’ll find them in the Vault.
Our podcast archive contains all 16 episodes of System Fix - the podcast for health reform junkies which takes a look at progress with the current health reforms
In the spotlight provides links to our cover stories throughout the year.
COVID-19 has been our constant companion this year and will continue to shadow us over the summer.
For a little reminder of the "journey" to date, here is our Coronavirus timeline - maintained throughout the last two years by Martin Johnston
For everything that has been written about the virus check out this COVID-19 tag hub page
While we are out you will still be able to access our Free Classifieds service.
If you’re looking to add a subscription to your practice or know of a GPEP registrar who has not picked up their free subscription, please go to our subscription page.
Take a good break this summer but if you find yourself hankering for some extra learning, we'ver revamped our education offering.
All our Practice and How to Treat articles are now available in Educate. and we have a new index which makes it easier for you to browse the topics.
We have added a selection of Practice articles to Summer Hiatus which means you can share them with colleagues.
And dip into He Ako Hiringa – it’s education aimed at reducing inequity in access to medicines and it is produced by Matui – a joint venture involving New Zealand Doctor's publisher, The Health Media.
And don’t forget our PEARLS and Gems. These little nuggets are quick and easy clinical updates which are intended as practice-changing or practice-maintaining.
From today the Comments function on the website will be turned off until Monday 17 January. But if you have to get something off your chest don’t hesitate to write a letter to the editor – editor@nzdoctor.co.nz
We resume our website news and Daily Triage newsletter on 17 January 2022, and the first print edition will be published on 2 February.
That’s all for 2021. Thanks for reading us and even more, thanks for subscribing to us. The team here at New Zealand Doctor Rata Aotearoa truly appreciate your support.
Respiratory physician Lutz Beckert considers chronic obstructive pulmonary disease management, including the prevention of COPD, the importance of smoking cessation and pulmonary rehabilitation, and the lifesaving potential of addressing treatable traits. He also discusses the logic of inhaler therapy, moving from single therapy to dual and triple therapy when indicated, as well as other aspects of management
![Barbara Fountain, editor of New Zealand Doctor Rata Aotearoa, and Paul Hutchison, GP and senior medical clinician at Tāmaki Health [Image: Simon Maude]](/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_cropped_100/public/2025-03/Barbara%20Fountain%2C%20editor%20of%20New%20Zealand%20Doctor%20Rata%20Aotearoa%2C%20and%20Paul%20Hutchison%2C%20GP%20and%20senior%20medical%20clinician%20at%20T%C4%81maki%20Health%20CR%20Simon%20Maude.jpg?itok=-HbQ1EYA)
![Lori Peters, NP and advanced health improvement practitioner at Mahitahi Hauora, and Jasper Nacilla, NP at The Terrace Medical Centre in Wellington [Image: Simon Maude]](/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_cropped_100/public/2025-03/2.%20Lori%20Peters%2C%20NP%20and%20advanced%20HIP%20at%20Mahitahi%20Hauora%2C%20and%20Jasper%20Nacilla%2C%20NP%20at%20The%20Terrace%20Medical%20Centre%20in%20Wellington%20CR%20Simon%20Maude.jpg?itok=sUfbsSF1)
![Ministry of Social Development health and disability coordinator Liz Williams, regional health advisors Mary Mojel and Larah Takarangi, and health and disability coordinators Rebecca Staunton and Myint Than Htut [Image: Simon Maude]](/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_cropped_100/public/2025-03/3.%20Ministry%20of%20Social%20Development%27s%20Liz%20Williams%2C%20Mary%20Mojel%2C%20Larah%20Takarangi%2C%20Rebecca%20Staunton%20and%20Myint%20Than%20Htut%20CR%20Simon%20Maude.jpg?itok=9ceOujzC)
![Locum GP Helen Fisher, with Te Kuiti Medical Centre NP Bridget Woodney [Image: Simon Maude]](/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_cropped_100/public/2025-03/4.%20Locum%20GP%20Helen%20Fisher%2C%20with%20Te%20Kuiti%20Medical%20Centre%20NP%20Bridget%20Woodney%20CR%20Simon%20Maude.jpg?itok=TJeODetm)
![Ruby Faulkner, GPEP2, with David Small, GPEP3 from The Doctors Greenmeadows in Napier [Image: Simon Maude]](/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_cropped_100/public/2025-03/5.%20Ruby%20Faulkner%2C%20GPEP2%2C%20with%20David%20Small%2C%20GPEP3%20from%20The%20Doctors%20Greenmeadows%20in%20Napier%20CR%20Simon%20Maude.jpg?itok=B0u4wsIs)
![Rochelle Langton and Libby Thomas, marketing advisors at the Medical Protection Society [Image: Simon Maude]](/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_cropped_100/public/2025-03/6.%20Rochelle%20Langton%20and%20Libby%20Thomas%2C%20marketing%20advisors%20at%20the%20Medical%20Protection%20Society%20CR%20Simon%20Maude.jpg?itok=r52_Cf74)
![Specialist GP Lucy Gibberd, medical advisor at MPS, and Zara Bolam, urgent-care specialist at The Nest Health Centre in Inglewood [Image: Simon Maude]](/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_cropped_100/public/2025-03/7.%20Specialist%20GP%20Lucy%20Gibberd%2C%20medical%20advisor%20at%20MPS%2C%20and%20Zara%20Bolam%2C%20urgent-care%20specialist%20at%20The%20Nest%20Health%20Centre%20in%20Inglewood%20CR%20Simon%20Maude.jpg?itok=z8eVoBU3)
![Olivia Blackmore and Trudee Sharp, NPs at Gore Health Centre, and Gaylene Hastie, NP at Queenstown Medical Centre [Image: Simon Maude]](/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_cropped_100/public/2025-03/8.%20Olivia%20Blackmore%20and%20Trudee%20Sharp%2C%20NPs%20at%20Gore%20Health%20Centre%2C%20and%20Gaylene%20Hastie%2C%20NP%20at%20Queenstown%20Medical%20Centre%20CR%20Simon%20Maude.jpg?itok=Z6u9d0XH)
![Mary Toloa, specialist GP at Porirua and Union Community Health Service in Wellington, Mara Coler, clinical pharmacist at Tū Ora Compass Health, and Bhavna Mistry, specialist GP at Porirua and Union Community Health Service [Image: Simon Maude]](/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_cropped_100/public/2025-03/9.%20Mary%20Toloa%2C%20Porirua%20and%20Union%20Community%20Health%20Service%20in%20Wellington%2C%20Mara%20Coler%2C%20T%C5%AB%20Ora%20Compass%20Health%2C%20and%20Bhavna%20Mistry%2C%20PUCHS%20CR%20Simon%20Maude.jpg?itok=kpChr0cc)
