Richard Edwards

Cartoon. Title: “Sponsored by the Alcohol Lobby”. Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and Assoc Justice Minister Nicole McKee, drinking together. McKee hands her beer to Doocey and says, “Hold my beer” “I’m going to sort out these Public Health boffins. Lower right it says, “Govt ignores expert advice on alcohol”

The Govt wants to cut Health NZ staff working on alcohol harm & end its research & social marketing campaigns. Sixty five organisations have signed an open letter to the PM, calling for alcohol industry to be excluded from policy making.
My #cartoon today #NZpol #alcohol #Health #PublicHealth

'Pitiful' decision on emissions targets will cost the country, former climate commissioner says Critics say the government has placed short-term economic growth ahead of the long-term consequences.

I'm late to this - not unexpected but baffled by the reasoning which seems to disregard cost of inaction.
"In its formal reasons for rejecting the commission's advice, the government said it had weighed the benefits of climate action against the economic costs.
share.google/xpGmoYeggZtP...

Sign the Petition Keep VicHealth Independent and Strong for a Healthier Future #SaveVicHealth

www.change.org/p/keep-viche...

Victorian Government faces massive fight over VicHealth bombshell Melissa Sweet writes: Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan faces a tidal wave of angry, committed and persistent health advocates and organisations

Victorian Government faces massive fight over VicHealth bombshell – Croakey Health Media www.croakey.org/victorian-go...

Worried about how big $$ influences alcohol policy? You should be.

Check out our briefing @phcc.bsky.social today that shows:
▶️ alcohol more harmful than we thought
▶️ low-risk advice needs to be reviewed
▶️ #BigAlcohol lobbying is influencing our policy makers

Cartoon. Title: “Twist” Image in two frames. First frame: a girl with other children in the background, holding a tray of mince meat, with a green growth on top that spells “MOULD”. She’s saying, “Please, Sir, I don’t want any more” In the second frame David Seymour’s surprised eyes, and saying “WHAT! You refuse to eat your greens?!”

Olivia Twist and the School Lunches.
A Dickensian tale for our times.
My Stuff #cartoon today #NZpol #children

Vaping prevalence and trends: Findings from the 2024-25 NZ Health Survey Daily vaping remained high in 2024–25, particularly among young people, Māori, Pacific peoples and those in more deprived areas. The effects of recent regulations will require monitoring.

@phcc.bsky.social on vaping prevalence from 2024/25 NZ Health Survey. Mostly similar to 2023/24 i.e. v high among 15-24 yr olds but no longer increasing. Overall daily nicotine product use (daily smoking &/or daily vaping) much greater than in 2018/19 in young people. www.phcc.org.nz/briefing/vap...

Vaping prevalence and trends: Findings from the 2024-25 NZ Health Survey Daily vaping remained high in 2024–25, particularly among young people, Māori, Pacific peoples and those in more deprived areas. The effects of recent regulations will require monitoring.

Over half a million New Zealanders were vaping daily in 2024–25, and vaping remained highest among young people, Māori, Pacific peoples, and those in more deprived areas. @predwards.bsky.social www.phcc.org.nz/briefing/vap...

Ahem!

That $66 Billion was rather well spent it seems.

Thank you Jacinda Ardern, Grant Roberston, and Dr Ashley Bloomfield.
🫂🫶💪👏🎯

Rising levels of hate forcing women out of Swedish public life, says equality agency Country seen as champion of equal rights faces reckoning after senior politician says she felt compelled to quit

Disturbing eport on increase in threats and intimidation forcing women out of political life in Sweden, often seen as a bastion of gender equality. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...

Who are the Australians trying to shut down the world’s biggest coal port? Climate activists from the Rising Tide organisation have stopped coal ships from reaching Newcastle port – for a day or two. What’s their real objective?

This is a significant story, imo - building community action over an issue central to public debate and all of our futures. Some news media seem to have missed it. Wonder why.

Recommend this by @jordynbeazley.bsky.social

Two male civil servants walking down the street, one says to the other: “Thank goodness we finally have an Administration that speaks for those of us who don’t care what happens to the planet in a hundred years because we'll be dead.”

Graph showing incidence of cervical cancer for vaccinated and unvaccinated

The vaccine is pretty astonishing. Just look at that green line.

New @phcc.bsky.social briefing summarises smoking prevalence data in 2024/25 NZ Health Survey. After >10+ yrs declining prevalence, smoking prevalence unchanged (6.8-6.9%) for 3 consecutive years, inequities persist, smokefree 2025 goal v unlikely to be achieved. www.phcc.org.nz/briefing/smo...

Aotearoa plummets from 2nd to 53rd in Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index ranking Recent policy changes have led to a dramatic drop in NZ’s global ranking for tobacco interference protection.

Cancer Society Tobacco Industry Interference Index shows catastrophic decline for Aotearoa, reflecting Costello's industry-friendly actions. Shameful. www.phcc.org.nz/briefing/aot...

Global Tobacco Index 2025 See how governments are responding to tobacco industry interference in 2025.

Download report here: globaltobaccoindex.org/gti/2025

'Most deteriorated' - NZ plummets in global tobacco control ranking An anti-vaping group calls the ranking an "international disgrace".

Damning indictment of NZ Govt. "New Zealand recorded the most deterioration in industry interference. Besides repealing strong tobacco control policies, citing industry arguments as rationale, the current government implemented several TI-friendly policies," www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

Evaluation of schemes providing free bikes & wrap-around support in low income communities in the UK finds multiple positive benefits on health, well-being, & community connectedness. Also, hugely cost-effective with very high returns on investment. theaws.co.uk/wp-content/u...

Govt's climate strategy: Let it burn Comment: The Government has relentlessly pursued policies that boost climate pollution – even if they cost more or jeopardise NZ's reputation, Marc Daalder writes

Mark Daalder sets out all the actions and policies (unfortunately there are lots) the NZ Govt has taken to impede efforts to reduce emissions and address climate change. newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/07/g...

Net zero is an insidious loophole that distracts from the scientific imperative to eliminate fossil fuels | Joëlle Gergis History tells us that polite incrementalism and political kowtowing will prevail at Cop30 – even as catastrophe unfolds around us

CO2 at 423.9ppm. "Until our leaders have the courage to put a price on carbon to bring the era of fossil fuels to a definitive end, we are adding more & more carbon to the atmosphere, compounding the physical catastrophe now unfolding all around us." www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Maldives becomes the only country with generational smoking ban Indian Ocean archipelago bans anyone born after 1 January 2007 from buying or using tobacco in order to ‘promote a tobacco-free generation’

The Maldives has passed a smokefree generation law. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...

Wow! Town Council in Tiburon (Marin County) unanimously passed a tobacco product sales ban ordinance (third in the state of California)! #MakeTobaccoHistory
#Tobacco #endgame #PublicHealthSky @ash.org @simonchapman.bsky.social @mhef.bsky.social @mikedaube.bsky.social

Paper led by Caroline Shaw modelled impact of increase in EV fleet found health gains from reduced air pollution overwhelmed by greater injury-related harm from increased car use. Key message: interventions are needed to eliminate a car-dominated transport system. jech.bmj.com/content/79/1...

I think this is self explanatory. Hugely concerning new data shows accelerating increase in CO2 levels (and methane and other GHGs).

Australia’s first treaty a turning point for nation, Indigenous leaders say The treaty between the Victorian government and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders comprises a formal apology, reframing the school curriculum and greater use of traditional names for natural park...

Following Yoorrook Justice Commission report, Australia’s 1st treaty between a state government & Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people introduced to Victorian parliament. Includes formal apology, reframing school curriculum & greater use of traditional names. www.theage.com.au/politics/vic...

"The changes announced will give power back to the alcohol industry and undermine the democracy that New Zealanders value. These changes will limit communities’ abilities to object to alcohol licences, and also undermine the ability of Local Alcohol Policies to enact change."

Good, careful review justifying calls for action on alcohol marketing – and also noting that in some areas such as sport and sporting events, gambling exposure and advertising were even more common than alcohol. As so often, predatory industries use similar strategies.

ASH UK: falling smoking rates not illicit trade = real threat to tobacco industry profits. "This is why they continue to do everything they can to lobby against tobacco regulations. Faux concern about illicit trade is one of many cynical tactics the industry uses to further their lobbying efforts."

BREAKING: Big moment as CDC staff stage a mass walkout.

They have lined the street outside its HQ to greet and salute the four top officials who have resigned in protest at RFK Jr’s attack on the agency’s science base.

(🎥 AP)