IV cannulation skills stocktake
Taranaki | Waikato | Tairāwhiti | Lakes | Clinical | Management | 26/03/2026

Te Whatu Ora is asking all practices to complete a brief survey on nurses' IV cannulation, infusion, CVAD, and port access skills. They're requesting one response per practice, by 2 April. This national stocktake will help shape how oncology and infusion services are delivered closer to home for patients and whānau.

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Bowel screening age range extended to 58
Taranaki | Waikato | Tairāwhiti | Lakes | Clinical | Management | 26/03/2026

Free bowel screening is now available from age 58 across most of Aotearoa New Zealand, including the Te Manawa Taki region. Around 100,000 more people will become eligible in the first year. Find out what's changed and how general practice can support the rollout.

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Supporting immunisation for unenrolled tamariki in Waikato
Waikato | Clinical | Management | 20/03/2026

AIR coordinators in Waikato are reviewing unenrolled tamariki who are under-immunised, connecting whānau with community providers and supporting general practice enrolment. Your practice may receive a call from a community immunisation provider as part of this outreach. No action is required from your team unless you're able to assist with this information.

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Integrated care and collaborative leadership webinar recording
Taranaki | Waikato | Tairāwhiti | Lakes | Clinical | Management | 19/03/2026

THINK Hauora and Collaborative Aotearoa recently hosted a webinar exploring what high-performing, place-based integrated primary care looks like in practice. Speakers shared a clear thread that integration is a relational discipline, built on trust, grounded in local context, and is only meaningful when Māori and community voices help shape the way forward. The recording (1.5 hrs) is available for those who'd like to go deeper.

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Pathlab update: HPV dry tube collection swab technique reminders
Waikato | Lakes | Clinical | 16/03/2026

A reminder of correct swab technique for HPV dry tube collection. Breaking the swab at the pink line, not cutting, protects specimen integrity and prevents instrument contamination. Read the full guidance with photographs.

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Comirnaty 30mcg guidance for recording batch details
Taranaki | Waikato | Tairāwhiti | Lakes | Clinical | 16/03/2026

IMAC has been advised that a number of Comirnaty 30mcg vaccine batch lots have been recorded incorrectly in AIR and PMS.

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Pathlab update: Sputum culture in the community setting updated indications
Waikato | Lakes | Clinical | 16/03/2026

Sputum culture is a low-value test in most community settings, with only 6 per cent of samples identifying a respiratory pathogen resistant to first-line antibiotics. New guidance outlines when it is clinically indicated and when to hold off.

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Nursing leadership series: Growing our impact, tapping into our potential
Taranaki | Waikato | Tairāwhiti | Lakes | Clinical | 11/03/2026

This is an opportunity for Pinnacle network practice nurses to register their expression of interest to attend this six-session nursing leadership education series.

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Propharma vaccines for destruction process
Taranaki | Waikato | Tairāwhiti | Lakes | Clinical | 10/03/2026

Propharma has changed the process in which immunisation providers return their vaccines for destruction.

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Scholarships applications now open to College of Nurses Aotearoa members
Taranaki | Waikato | Tairāwhiti | Lakes | Clinical | 10/03/2026

The College of Nurses Aotearoa (NZ) Inc is pleased to announce that the 2026 Scholarships are now open to College members for professional development.

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