A double-pronged aid effort is getting up a head of steam in Tuvalu this week, as more than 300 New Zealand Defence Force staff descend on the tiny nation north of Fiji and nearly 4000km from New Zealand.

An MP has taken the controversial step of proposing a new law to legalise abortion on request for women up to 24 weeks pregnant.

The Hutt Valley District Health Board is getting a cash injection of $8.6 million.

Corrections Minister Judith Collins today announced prisoners have 12 months to kick the smoking habit before a total ban comes in.

Department of Corrections bosses found taxpayers could be liable for lawsuits from prison guards exposed to inmates' second-hand smoke.

Drug control groups want a tightening of laws relating to synthetic cannabis products.

Calls for mothers to stop sleeping with their newborn children are being ignored by some hospitals and birthing centres.

Cough and cold medicines intended for children under 12 years old are to be sold only in pharmacies.

Te Hamua Nikora is the Maori men's posterboy for what not to do about your health - but he's still a ridiculously handsome one, he reckons.

The Govt has allocated just under $500 million annually to health - $250m less a year than the increase in last year's budget.

The public health sector is bracing itself for a Budget that may not cover all its rising costs.