Health New Zealand has ordered an immediate hiring freeze on all non-frontline roles to manage budget overspending. Chief Executive Margie Apa communicated this directive in an email, emphasizing that the freeze will not impact patient-facing or community-facing positions. The decision aims to ensure financial efficiency while maintaining essential clinical services and patient safety.

State Broadcaster in climate reporting scandal: Hides evidence of massive heatwave that dwarfs recent “hottest years”
‘Original mistakes are not usually politically fatal; deceptive cover-ups nearly always are’