Nursing Pay Deal: Health New Zealand says it welcomes the Nurses Society of New Zealand’s vote to ratify a new collective agreement, with about 1,000 nurses set to see pay rises, allowance increases and lump-sum adjustments. Post-natal Care Funding: MERAS backs Budget 2026 funding for a three-day post-natal stay in maternity units, aiming to give midwives more flexibility for longer recovery and breastfeeding support. Nitrous Oxide Crackdown: Tighter controls on laughing gas come into force, with importers needing approval and larger cream-charger canisters automatically classified as psychoactive substances, strengthening police powers against recreational misuse. Cancer Access Closer to Home: Northland’s new radiation oncology service at Whangārei Hospital is complete, with a LINAC expected to cut travel for many patients who currently go to Auckland. Bowel Cancer Awareness: Bowel Cancer Awareness Month coverage highlights a major knowledge gap, with one in four Kiwis unable to name a bowel cancer symptom. Mental Health Support: A new Tauranga team is set to respond to mental health crisis calls, expanding local support. Public Health & Safety: Auckland police charge a security guard after an alleged assault outside a bar on Karangahape Road, with the victim taken to hospital. Health System & Equity: PSA members warn that removing Te Tiriti references in multiple laws could widen inequities and reduce Māori capability in the public service. Māori Rights in Corrections: Prison Law Aotearoa is developing an open-access prison law textbook to improve access to justice, including for healthcare and parole challenges.