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2 days ago | 
radionz.co.nz | Nik Dirga
Explainer - The government has changed regulations on several medications in the past fortnight. Here's what you need to know about melatonin, ADHD medicine and medicinal psilocybin access. Melatonin, which is used to treat sleeping problems, has up until now been tightly restricted in New Zealand, unlike many other countries. But it will soon be available over the counter at pharmacies, Associate Health Minister David Seymour said last week.
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4 days ago | 
radionz.co.nz | Nik Dirga
Explainer - Love it or hate it, artificial intelligence is everywhere these days. But for every new technology, there are always people who will exploit it. AI-generated images are unavoidable online, with many intentionally being used to mislead, scam or monetise outrage. If you are not a computer or AI expert, how do you even know what's what anymore? The good news: You can often still tell the real from the AI. The bad news: It's getting harder all the time.
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4 days ago | 
rnz.co.nz | Nik Dirga
Explainer - Love it or hate it, artificial intelligence is everywhere these days. But for every new technology, there are always people who will exploit it. AI-generated images are unavoidable online, with many intentionally being used to mislead, scam or monetise outrage. If you are not a computer or AI expert, how do you even know what's what anymore? The good news: You can often still tell the real from the AI. The bad news: It's getting harder all the time.
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1 week ago | 
rnz.co.nz | Nik Dirga
Explainer - New Zealand's suicide rate is "stubbornly high", with more than 600 people dead by suspected suicide in 2023-24. To tackle the problem the government this week announced a new Suicide Prevention Action Plan. Here's what you need to know. The five-year plan, described as a "whole of government" approach, includes 21 health-led new actions and 13 cross-agency new actions.
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1 week ago | 
radionz.co.nz | Nik Dirga
Explainer - New Zealand's suicide rate is "stubbornly high", with more than 600 people dead by suspected suicide in 2023-24. To tackle the problem the government this week announced a new Suicide Prevention Action Plan. Here's what you need to know. The five-year plan, described as a "whole of government" approach, includes 21 health-led new actions and 13 cross-agency new actions.
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1 week ago | 
nzherald.co.nz | Nik Dirga
Disposable vapes and many kinds of advertising will be banned for vape retailers from Tuesday. Photo / RNZBy Nik Dirga of RNZDisposable vape fans will see their habit go up in smoke from Tuesday, as tough new vape rules kick in. Here’s what you need to know about changes to vape sales and advertising. What’s being banned? The distribution, manufacture, sale and supply of disposable vapes is being banned from Tuesday. AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME. AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
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2 weeks ago | 
radionz.co.nz | Nik Dirga
Explainer - We know, nobody wants to think about Covid these days if you can help it. However, it's still out there, and a recent surge in cases and a persistent new variant are driving a new wave of concern. We're a long way from lockdowns and mandates, but are you still required to isolate and how can you do testing? RNZ is here with what you need to know. Nope, and with winter weather and influenza as well, it's a good time to remember how to take a few precautions for yourself and others.
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2 weeks ago | 
rnz.co.nz | Nik Dirga
Explainer - We know, nobody wants to think about Covid these days if you can help it. However, it's still out there, and a recent surge in cases and a persistent new variant are driving a new wave of concern. We're a long way from lockdowns and mandates, but are you still required to isolate and how can you do testing? RNZ is here with what you need to know. Nope, and with winter weather and influenza as well, it's a good time to remember how to take a few precautions for yourself and others.
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2 weeks ago | 
rnz.co.nz | Nik Dirga
Explainer - One of last year's big movies was Civil War, a gritty look at an America torn apart by conflict into separate territories. Fiction, right? But talk of seceding from the rest of the country is a very real hot topic in certain parts of California during the second presidential term of Donald Trump. When Trump ordered the National Guard and US Marines into Los Angeles to tackle protests over his administration's immigration crackdown, that talk became a roar in some circles.
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2 weeks ago | 
stuff.co.nz | David Hill |Nik Dirga |Nicholas Jones |Harriet Alexander
A southern council has opted to keep its water services in-house following strong community feedback. On Wednesday, Southland district councillors unanimously voted to run with an 'adjusted status quo model' for Three Waters services which allows it to retain responsibility while meeting new requirements. It comes at a time when councils all over the country are responding to Government reform on how they want to deliver drinking water, wastewater and stormwater.
