Congenital anomalies are amongst the leading causes of fetal and infant mortality and morbidity, yet are not consistently monitored within existing indicators used to assess the health and wellbeing of the New Zealand population.

A wealth of research shows a greater incidence and prevalence of schizophrenia and psychotic illness in immigrant and ethnic minority groups. These findings extend to sub-clinical measures of schizophrenia-related personality characteristics, such as schizotypy. Examinations of the role of stress and resilience factors in this relationship have produced inconsistent results. Also, few have examined the...

In 2007, the New Zealand government announced a change in the legislation on tobacco on-pack warning labels, requiring text-based warning labels to be replaced by graphic health warnings (GHWs). According to this new regulation, GHWs must cover 30% of the front and 90% of the back of all cigarette and tobacco packets that are manufactured...

Background: Prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity has risen dramatically over the last few decades, suggesting a causative role for environmental factors, including activity, diet and eating behaviours.Objectives: To determine the prevalence, change in prevalence and degree of tracking of overweight and obesity in a birth cohort of Dunedin children from age three to seven...

Background: Evidence linking fructose intakes to gout, type 2 diabetes and obesity is growing. This is of particular interest in Pacific people who have higher rates of these diseases compared to other ethnic groups in New Zealand.