Sir Jerry Mateparae talks about ‘Healthier Lives’.
This week’s speaker was Sir Jerry Mateparae, a distinguished New Zealander who is accustomed to talking and answering questions about his career as a soldier, diplomat, and of course, Governor-General.
On this occasion he was relieved, he said, to tell us about his latest role. He is chair of the Board of one of the government’s National Science Challenges, which was set up in 2014 with funding guaranteed for ten years. The Challenges are mission-led, employ the best available research teams, embrace Vision Matauranga, and encourage stakeholders to set the research agendas.
Sir Jerry chairs one of the three health-related Challenges, called ‘Healthier Lives’. This one focuses on the health issues in the adult population which place the heaviest burden on the system. There are four prominent diseases under special study: cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity.
Interestingly, the bulk of work is not laboratory-based biomedical research - the search for ‘cures’ - but deals more with the detection, assessment, and management of diseases out in the community.
This is going well, and Sir Jerry gave some examples. Diabetes can be better controlled via ‘health navigators’ who will guide sufferers into better lifestyles. A tool has been developed to help GPs predict who is most at risk from cardiovascular events. CCDna testing of blood samples can detect cancers at low cost, and indicate whether tumours are growing or shrinking.
The health status of Maori and Pasifika populations is relatively poor, and ‘Healthier Lives’ is looking at issues around equitable access to health services which, as Bill McAulay noted, has become evident in the current pandemic.
Finally, Sir Jerry paid tribute to the dedicated and highly skilled scientists involved in the Healthier Lives challenge.
Poll: Should all neighbours have to contribute to improvements?
An Auckland court has ruled a woman doesn’t have to contribute towards the cost of fixing a driveway she shares with 10 neighbours.
When thinking about fences, driveways or tree felling, for example, do you think all neighbours should have to pay if the improvements directly benefit them?
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82.1% Yes
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15.2% No
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2.7% Other - I'll share below
New World Khandallah parking warning and appeal to nearby business owners
For very valid reasons (local commuters abuse) the New World has allowed the draconian Smartcomply company to police their carpark on their behalf.
Smartcomply will hit you with an $85 'fine' if you stay one second beyond the 60 minutes allowed.
Can I appeal to all nearby business's (especially eateries) to display a clearly visible "ARE YOU PARKED IN THE NEW WORD CARPARK' notice so customers can be warned about the possibility of an unpleasant post dining experience surprise.
A local eatery, and New World itself, could lose future custom due Smartcomply's excessive actions, as is likely our case.
Indeed I would urge any business local to a Smartcomply operation to implement a "ARE YOU PARKED IN ..........." notice if they wanted to avoid a lose in trade.
Here is the link to their Terms and Conditions that all entrants to a carpark under their control are expected to notice and read.
smartcomply.co.nz...
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