Obesity in New Zealand

Media Releases

2007

27 Nov: Government serious about tackling obesity (www.beehive.govt.nz)
The Government is serious about tackling obesity which is why it has accepted 47 of the 55 recommendations made by the Health Select Committee on Obesity and Type 2 diabetes Minister of Health David Cunliffe said.

2006

3 Oct: Launch of the 'LiveSmart' campaign (beehive.govt.nz)

18 Aug: Small improvements in diet could save 1000 Kiwis each year and reduce ethnic disparities in health
Small, nationwide improvements in diet and physical activity levels could save 1000 lives each year from 2011 - and the benefits are greatest for Maori.

6 Apr: Childhood obesity focuses minds of Australian health ministers (www.beehive.govt.nz)
Australian Health Ministers, and New Zealand's Health Minister Pete Hodgson are gathering in Wellington today to attend the Australian Health Ministers’ Conference. New Zealand's presentation will focus on childhood obesity.

14 May: New report confirms that obesity is the challenge (www.beehive.govt.nz)
A report showing that over half of New Zealanders are now classified as overweight or obese has provided fresh evidence that New Zealand's obesity epidemic is our most pressing public health challenge, Health Minister Pete Hodgson said today.

18 May: Budget 06: $76 million campaign to fight the obesity epidemic (www.behive.govt.nz)
New Zealand will undertake the largest campaign to fight obesity in our country's history as the result of a $76.1 million four-year investment through Budget 2006, Health Minister Pete Hodgson announced today.

31 May: Obesity campaign could save thousands of lives (www.beehive.govt.nz)
Between 1,500 and 3,000 lives could be saved in just five years if the government moves rapidly to step up New Zealand's work to fight obesity, Health Minister Pete Hodgson said today.

22 Mar: Inquiry into Obesity and Type II Diabetes in New Zealand (www.greens.org.nz)
Green MP and Health Select Committee Chair is urging concerned people to make a submission on a comprehensive Inquiry, that the Health Select Committee is conducting, into Obesity and Type II Diabetes in New Zealand.

2 Feb: Time to put obesity research into practice in NZ (www.beehive.govt.nz)
New Zealand's success in fighting obesity will rely on our ability to link research to partnerships in our communities, Health Minister Pete Hodgson said today.

2004

24 Jun: Call to Action: Healthy Eating–Healthy Action
Health Minister Annette King says the Healthy Eating-Healthy Action: Oranga Kai-Oranga Pumau implementation plan is a call to action to reverse our expanding waistlines and get us off the couch.

2 Apr: Looking Upstream - causes of death by risk and condition in New Zealand
A report identifying the top 20 causes of death in New Zealand, classified by risk factor as well as by health condition (disease or injury), has been released today by the Ministry of Health.

2003

12 Nov: Ministry publishes Food and Nutrition Guidelines for Healthy Adults
Lives could be saved if New Zealanders followed the new guidelines for food and nutrition, says the Ministry of Health.

7 Nov: Significant report on child health released
Health Minister Annette King says today’s release of a significant report on our children’s health poses a challenge to all parts of New Zealand society to encourage children to make wise choices about their health.

2 Sep: Annette King speech to childhood obesity symposium