The official communications channel of Health New Zealand - Lakes
Send feedback to feedback@lakesdhb.govt.nz We reserve the right to ban users who breach these.
We welcome your comments and questions but we have two simple rules for a safe social community:
1) Be respectful to others;
2) in the interest of maintaining a safe space for all of our community, harmful content will be hidden or removed. This includes misinformation, swearing, hate speech, trolling and spam. Our page is run by our Communications team
12/11/2025
Do you know a health volunteer who deserves an award? Nominate them today!
This is an amazing way to celebrate the incredible volunteers who play a huge part in supporting our health system!
Health Warning for Lake Okaro near Rotorua
A health warning has been issued due to a bloom of potentially toxic blue-green algae. These blooms can move around the lake.
🏥 Public Health Advice
- Avoid activities that involve significant contact with the water.
- Stay away from water that looks a funny colour, smells unusual, or has scum or leathery mats of algae.
✳️ Health Risks
- Toxins from the algae can cause numbness, breathing problems, asthma attacks, skin rashes, stomach upsets, and eye problems.
ℹ️ More Information
- Toxic algae:
New Zealand's most comprehensive source of water quality, water quantity and air quality data.
05/11/2025
Now is the perfect time to check your immunisation status and book your MMR vaccine.
The MMR vaccine is free for:
- Everyone aged under 18 (regardless of immigration status)
- Adults over 18 eligible for funded healthcare
- Some non-eligible adults during outbreaks in affected regions
How to book 📅
For ages 13 and over, vaccinations can be booked online or over the phone.
- Book a vaccine online: bookmyvaccine.health.nz
- Book over the phone: 0800 28 29 26 (8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday).
For those aged 13 and under, contact your doctor, nurse, or healthcare provider to book an appointment.
Children over 3 years old can get an MMR vaccine at lots of pharmacies. You can search for one near you on Healthpoint: www.healthpoint.co.nz/immunisation
You can also book through your GP, nurse, or Hauora Māori or Pacific healthcare provider.
Need help? Call the Vaccination Helpline on 0800 28 29 26 (Mon–Fri 8:30am–9pm, weekends 8:30am–2pm) for support). Interpreters, Māori kaimahi or disability advisors are available.
05/11/2025
Now is the perfect time to check your immunisation status and book your MMR vaccine. Visit bookmyvaccine.health.nz to book online.
You can also book through your GP, nurse, or Hauora Māori or Pacific healthcare provider.
Need help? Call the Vaccination Helpline on 0800 28 29 26 (between 8.30am and 9pm Mon-Fri, or 9am - 2pm Sat and Sun, except public holidays).
The MMR vaccine is free for:
✅ Everyone aged under 18 (regardless of immigration status)
✅ Adults over 18 eligible for funded healthcare
✅ Some non-eligible adults during outbreaks in affected regions
Children over 3 years old can get an MMR vaccine at lots of pharmacies. You can search for one near you on Healthpoint: healthpoint.co.nz/immunisation
04/11/2025
Not sure if you’re protected against measles? Here’s how to check:
💻 Use the online tool
It guides you through what to look for based on your age and vaccination history. Find it here: info.health.nz/measles
💻 Log into My Health Record via your My Health Account to view your immunisation records (available for most people vaccinated after 2005).
👩🏽⚕️ Ask your doctor, nurse, healthcare provider or hauora provider. They can check your records or advise if you should get vaccinated.
📱 Call the Vaccination Helpline on 0800 28 29 26 (Mon–Fri 8:30am–9pm, weekends 8:30am–2pm) for support. Interpreters, Māori kaimahi or disability advisors are available.
✅ Other places you can check include your online patient portal (e.g. Manage My Health), your childhood health book such as your Plunket or WellChild Tamariki Ora book, calling your local lab as they might have records of measles immunity tests you've had in the past.
✈️ If you grew up overseas, contact your previous doctor or healthcare clinics to see if they have your immunisation records.
💙 No records? Not sure? It’s safe for most to get another dose of the MMR vaccine and it’s free for most people in NZ.
This Measles Immunisation Week (3–7 Nov), take action to protect yourself and your whānau.
02/11/2025
It’s Measles Immunisation Week! 🛡️
Measles is highly contagious - but the good thing is it’s also preventable. This week is all about making sure our communities are protected.
💉 The MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella) is free for anyone under 18 and for those eligible for free healthcare.
📍 Drop-in clinics are running across the country - no appointment needed.
👶 Not sure if your child is immunised? Now’s the time to check.
📲 Visit info.health.nz/immunisations/immunisation-clinics for local pop up clinics near you. You can also refer to healthpoint.co.nz as not all immunisation clinics are listed in info.health.nz.
Another option for booking an MMR vaccine is to book online: info.health.nz/bookavaccine
30/10/2025
Is it measles or chickenpox? With measles spreading in Aotearoa NZ, it’s important to know the difference.
Sometimes, measles is mixed up with chickenpox, but they are two very different illnesses, with measles being more severe.
Here’s what to look for:
🤒 Measles: Starts with a high fever, red itchy eyes, a cough and runny nose. A rash follows, starting on the face then covering the body.
😖 Chickenpox: Starts with itchy blisters all over the body. Fever is mild to moderate, and a headache or fatigue might be present.
Before vaccines, some parents held chickenpox or measles “parties”, but these are *not* safe!
Both viruses can cause serious illness, and measles is especially dangerous and can lead to pneumonia, brain swelling, and other health complications such as hearing loss.
Deliberately exposing tamariki to measles can put them and others at serious risk, especially those who are immunocompromised.
Both illnesses have vaccines. Check you’re up-to-date with your immunisations to have the best protection: http://spr.ly/61817Ehx9
29/10/2025
Measles is spreading in Aotearoa NZ. Here's what you need to know to protect yourself and your whānau/family.
✅ If you are not protected, get immunised. To be protected, you need two doses of the MMR vaccine after 12 months of age. If you are not sure if you have had two doses, it's safe for most to have an additional dose. Book at http://spr.ly/61837EFqV
✅ If you think you might have measles, call Healthline on 0800 611 116 for free, 24/7 - they will advise you on what to do.
🤧 Measles starts with a cough, runny nose and sore red eyes. A rash follows. This begins on the face and develops down the body. You can look at photos of measles rash here: http://spr.ly/61847EFqn
‼️ Measles is a serious and very contagious illness. Complications can include pneumonia, brain swelling, hearing loss. In NZ's 2019 measles epidemic, 1 in 3 people with measles needed hospital care. Children are most at risk, especially those under 12 months of age - to protect babies and young children we need as many people immunised as possible.
If you have any questions about the MMR vaccine, talk to your usual health provider, or call the Vaccination Helpline on 0800 28 29 26.
Kia mataara, kia haumaru te noho e te whānau!
24/10/2025
Measles is here and there’s an increasing risk of it spreading in our communities. Here’s what you need to know and do to protect yourself and your whānau/family. Click on the photos in this post and swipe through them.
Get immunised. This is the best protection, and it is one of the most effective vaccines providing 99% protection (when two doses are given). Book at bookmyvaccine.nz
Kia mataara, kia haumaru te noho e te whānau!
Keep abreast of locations of interest: info.health.nz/conditions-treatments/infectious-diseases/about-measles/measles-locations-of-interest-in-aotearoa-new-zealand
21/10/2025
Measles update: Three new cases confirmed - two in Manawatū and one in Nelson. Two of the cases are children.
These are in addition to the Auckland case earlier this week.
Measles is highly contagious and can cause serious illness. During the NZ measles epidemic in 2019, 1 in 3 people with measles needed hospital care.
🕵️♀️ Contact tracing is underway. We’re supporting all affected individuals and exploring possible undetected community transmission.
✅ Protect yourself and your whānau:
Get 2 doses of the MMR vaccine.
📍For all locations of interest info visit this regularly updated web page: info.health.nz/conditions-treatments/infectious-diseases/about-measles/measles-locations-of-interest-in-aotearoa-new-zealand
There are locations of interest already published for Manawatū. And any further locations of interest that the Manawatū and Nelson cases visited while infectious are being investigated and will be published online as they become available.
Learn about measles and its symptoms: info.health.nz/conditions-treatments/infectious-diseases/about-measles
If you think you might have measles, call Healthline on 0800 611 116 or call your doctor (do not go into the clinic). They will advise you on what to do.
Media release: tewhatuora.govt.nz/corporate-information/news-and-updates/escalated-national-risk-of-measles-following-confirmation-of-cases-in-multiple-regions
20/10/2025
Inhaling dust from potting mix or compost can cause Legionnaires’ disease, a severe and sometimes life-threatening chest infection.
To protect your lungs and avoid getting Legionnaires’ disease:
👉 Use potting mix or compost outside
👉 Wear a well-fitting face mask. An N95 or respirator is best
👉 Wear gloves when handling potting mix or compost
👉 Open potting mix or compost bags carefully using scissors, away from your face
👉 Reduce dust by dampening down the potting mix or compost before using it
👉 Wash your hands thoroughly after handling potting mix or compost and before touching your face or removing your mask.
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Health NZ - Lakes posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Lakes District Health Board serves a population of just over 110,000 and covers 9,570 square kilometres. It stretches from Mourea in the north to Mangakino in the west down to Turangi in the south and across to Kaingaroa village in the east. The major centres of population are Rotorua and Taupo and the main smaller communities are Mangakino and Turangi. The DHB’ boundaries take in the two main iwi groups of Te Arawa and Ngati Tuwharetoa.
Lakes DHB is responsible for the provision (or funding the provision) of the majority of health services in the Lakes district. These services in our district include:
Two hospital sites (Rotorua and Taupo)
Nine continuing care facilities – in addition we have one Hospital Specialist Services – Psychogeriatric Unit
One mental health inpatient facility
Four community bases for mental health (iCAMHS (Infant, Child and Adolescent): Adult community at Rotorua and Taupo; and Mental Health Service for Older People Rotorua
14 aged related residential care facilities (rest homes)
18 pharmacies (11 Rotorua, 6 Taupo, 1 Turangi)
21 GP practices (5 Taupo/Turangi/Mangakino and 16 Rotorua)
12 Māori providers, one of which also looks after Pacific interests
Two primary health organisations
Lakes DHB:
works with key stakeholders to plan the strategic direction for health and disability services
plans regional and national work in collaboration with the National Health Board and other DHBs
funds the provision of the majority of the public health and disability services in the Lakes district, through the agreements with providers
provides hospital and specialist services primarily for our population and also for people referred from other DHBs
promotes, protects and improves our population’s health and wellbeing through health promotion, health protection, health education and the provision of evidence-based public health initiatives
