Health NZ – Nelson Marlborough

03/03/2026

HPV (human papillomavirus) is one of the most common viruses in the world. For many people it causes no harm, but it can lead to several preventable cancers.

✅ The HPV vaccine is the best protection against HPV. It’s a safe and effective way to protect people of all genders.

💙 The HPV vaccine is free for people aged 9 - 26. Most young people are offered the vaccine at school, usually in Year 7 or 8. This is the best time to vaccinate and get long lasting protection.

🏫 Missed it at school? You, or your whānau, can still catch up. It’s easy to get the HPV vaccine from your local healthcare providers. You can also book online through Book My Vaccine.

👫HPV affects everyone. Cervical cancer is the most common cancer caused by HPV, but it’s not the only one. Around a third of HPV related cancers affect men.

🫶When everyone is vaccinated, it helps protect the whole community.

ℹ️ Find out more and book your vaccine today (link in the first comment).

03/03/2026

If you're heading to the Pacific Islands, take extra care to avoid mosquito bites and protect yourself and your whānau from dengue.

New Zealand has seen a rise in travellers returning with dengue, especially from the Cook Islands.

Planning a trip? Protect yourself:

✅ Wear light-coloured, long-sleeve clothing

✅ Use insect repellent with DEET (recommended concentrations are 20% - 50% for adults and 20% - 30% for children over 2 months old)

✅ Avoid swampy areas or standing water

✅ Sleep under mosquito nets or in screened rooms

Older adults and young children are especially at risk of severe illness. Stay safe and follow local health advice.

Learn more: info.health.nz/dengue

20/02/2026

We’re excited to share that construction is now underway on Nelson Hospital’s new temporary 28-bed inpatient unit, an exciting milestone in our hospital redevelopment journey.

It was a pleasure to welcome Minister of Health Simeon Brown MP, Mayor of Nelson Hon Dr Nick Smith and other special guests to bless the site and officially turn the sod this morning.

The 28-bed unit will allow services to be relocated while major redevelopment work progresses at Nelson Hospital.

We’re looking forward to seeing the unit take shape and it is planned to be operational in the second half of this year. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue building for the future of healthcare in our region.

20/02/2026

Just a reminder there are changes to access around Nelson Hospital’s campus to allow construction to get underway for our new temporary 28-bed inpatient unit. Planned to be operational in the second half of this year, the new unit will provide extra capacity to help ease bed pressures, improve patient flow, and support our teams while major redevelopment works progress.

What you need to know:

🚧 The internal access road linking the car park off Franklyn Street to the main public car park is closed in both directions (ED access remains open via Franklyn Street and Waimea Road).

🚗 Accessible parking remains available in front of the main entrance via Tipahi Street.

🛺 The hospital shuttle buggy will continue operating in the main car park, but will not be able to travel to the ED during the initial stages of construction.

🚶‍♂️ Pedestrian access from Franklyn Street to the main entrance remains available via the pathway near the bus stop.

Thank you for your patience as we take this important step toward providing much needed capacity and improving healthcare for our region.

17/02/2026

To support our wider hospital redevelopment, from Wednesday 18 February there will be some changes to access and movement around the Nelson Hospital campus.

From today, please note:

🚧 The internal access road linking the car park off Franklyn Street to the main public car park will be closed (ED access remains open via Franklyn Street and Waimea Road).

🚗 Accessible parking remains available in front of the main entrance via Tipahi Street.

🛺 The hospital shuttle buggy will continue operating in the main car park, but will not be able to travel to the ED during the initial stages of construction.

🚶‍♂️Pedestrian access near the Franklyn Street bus stop will be redirected as construction progresses.

We acknowledge there will be some disruption and appreciate everyone’s patience as work towards providing much needed capacity and improving healthcare for our region.

21/01/2026

A reminder to take extra care around swimming spots across the Top of the South, especially after rain. Even when the sun’s out, water quality can take a while to recover. Thanks for helping keep our communities safe!

While we all wish for an endless summer of perfect swimming conditions, it’s worth mentioning the potential for the water quality at your favourite spot to change with the weather and/or environmental factors.

Rain is the most common reason for these changes, and if we happen to get a downpour, our recommendation is to avoid entering the water for at least 36 hours, but preferably 48. Even after the sun has come out, there is still a risk to swimmers.

We are well into our routine testing of water quality, and in most cases, the results are good across most spots – Moturoa/Rabbit Island, for example, remains a perennial winner for safe swimming.

Some sites are more vulnerable to high faecal indicator bacteria than others, and we have had several instances of higher readings in recent weeks. However, we have not encountered any new areas of concern. We’ll have signs up letting everyone know where issues exist.

You can also check the LAWA can I swim here page for the status of many popular swim sites around the region – lawa.org.nz/explore-data/swimming.

It's also timely to remind everyone to be aware of toxic algae in our rivers. Please be vigilant and familiarise yourself with what the toxic algae looks and feels like – particularly if you're a dog owner, a parent with toddlers, or are immuno-compromised.

This alga is natural and occurs during extended periods of low flow in rivers. It is black and forms gelatinous mats on the riverbed. It can also have a distinctive musty smell which is attractive to dogs.

If you see any of this alga, it would be wise to put your dog on a lead, and we strongly advise preventing your dog from scavenging, or playing in or near the water if the alga is present.

You can see the latest water quality and toxic algae results at tasman.govt.nz/swimming-water and tasman.govt.nz/toxic-algae-monitoring-results.

08/01/2026

💐 We appreciate the positive feedback from our patients. Your comments help us continue providing quality care every day.
💙 Thank you for sharing your experiences with us.

31/12/2025

Ka Ora Telecare is here for rural communities over the holidays. If you need health advice or can’t get to a GP, Ka Ora offers after-hours video or phone consultations with nurses and doctors.

✅ Free initial assessment by a Kaiāwhina or Nurse
✅ Book an appointment for later or speak to a clinician straight away
ℹ️ If you’re 14+ and need a nurse practitioner or doctor, a charge applies (see details on our website)

📞 Call 0800 252 672 (0800 KA ORA)
💻 Or book online: https://kaora.co.nz/app/

Opening hours:
🕔 Weekdays: 5pm - 8am
📅 Weekends & public holidays: 24 hours

Your health matters - even when you’re far from town.

30/12/2025

✅ Cold dips on a hot summer’s day

❌ When you’re heading out for a swim at your favourite lake, river or beach this summer, don’t forget to check the water quality.

Each summer, popular swimming sites across the motu are tested for unsafe levels of bacteria or cyanobacteria (toxic algae). High levels of cyanobacteria can be harmful to humans, dogs, and wildlife.

You can look out for water quality information signs or check online at ‘Can I swim here?’: Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (LAWA) - Can I Swim Here? Or ‘Decide with Safeswim’ at safeswim.org.nz

Swimmers are urged to avoid getting in the water within 48 hours of significant rainfall as heavy rain can wash contaminants into our waterways.

To keep up to date with current health warnings visit: info.health.nz/health-alerts

29/12/2025

Need to see a doctor over the holidays?

If you don’t have a GP or can’t get an appointment, an online or over-the-phone GP service could be a great option.

✅ Book an appointment from wherever you are
✅ Get the care you need without the wait

Find an online or phone doctor appointment here: www.info.health.nz/onlinegp

28/12/2025

🤢 Gastro is a stomach bug that causes diarrhoea, nausea, stomach pain and fever. Gastro spreads very easily from person to person! Wash hands with soap and water, dry thoroughly - especially before eating and after the toilet. If symptoms hit, stay home for 24-48 hours after the last episode. More info: info.health.nz