PHF Science

03/09/2026

The calendar says spring. The flu says "source?" 🥀

Very high influenza and Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) activity continues across Aotearoa New Zealand for a third consecutive week.

🔼 Influenza-related Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) hospitalisation rates in Auckland are now higher than the previous 2022 peak, affecting all age groups.

🔼 Auckland's SARI hospitalisation rate remains in the very high activity range and is now the highest recorded since monitoring began in 2015.

🔼 Nearly 60% of SARI patients tested positive for influenza, making it the most commonly detected virus in hospital surveillance.

🔼 Healthline calls for flu-like illness continued to increase across Aotearoa New Zealand.

🔼 Children aged 0-4 years continue to have the highest rates of Healthline calls and SARI hospitalisations.

🔼 The Wellington-based WellKiwis study recorded its highest number of influenza cases since monitoring began in 2018, driven by high activity among infants and school-aged children.

🔽 COVID-19-positive SARI activity remains low and stable.

🔽 RSV hospitalisations are declining.

🔼 RSV activity remains elevated.

📅 This update is based on surveillance data collected up to 30 August 2026.

Under the Weather Report is a series dedicated to breaking down the latest updates on the winter respiratory illnesses in Aotearoa New Zealand collected by PHF Science.

More information can be found on the Respiratory Illness Dashboard (linked in our bio):
🔗 phfscience.nz/digital-library/respiratory-illness-dashboard/
The dashboard is updated every Thursday.

ℹ️ WellKiwis is a Wellington-based community health study that tracks respiratory illnesses and viruses to help researchers understand how infections spread in the community. More info: wellkiwis.co.nz

More health advice can be found at Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora
🔗 healthnz.govt.nz

01/09/2026

📉 STI rates declined in Aotearoa New Zealand in 2025.

Compared with 2024:
• Infectious syphilis ↓ 27%
• Gonorrhoea ↓ 17%
• Chlamydia ↓ 13%

The biggest reductions in syphilis and gonorrhoea were among men who have s*x with men, likely reflecting improvements in prevention, testing, treatment and contact management.

However, inequities remain, with Māori and Pacific peoples, young people and MSM continuing to experience disproportionately high rates. Antimicrobial resistance is also an ongoing concern, with New Zealand recording its first extensively drug-resistant gonorrhoea isolate in 2025.

Read the latest national surveillance report from PHF Science.

The New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science (PHF Science) was formerly named The Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR).

30/08/2026

Happy 100th birthday to publicly funded science in Aotearoa 🎉

Today we celebrate100 years since the Scientific and Industrial Research Act was passed, creating the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) and marking the start of a century of science working for New Zealand.

Over the last 100 years, science has helped protect our environment, improve public health, support farmers and growers, advance forensic science, respond to disease outbreaks, support healthier homes and help communities prepare for natural hazards.
The New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science (PHF Science), Bioeconomy Science Institute and Earth Sciences New Zealand all inherit this proud legacy.

Over the past few months, we have been sharing some stories of the people, discoveries and innovations that informed important decisions and helped New Zealand respond to some of its biggest challenges.

Here's to 100 years of discovery, innovation and impact, and to the next 100 years of science working for New Zealand.

Explore our stories here: https://www.phfscience.nz/about-us/100-years-and-counting-science-working-for-new-zealand/

27/08/2026

Spring is almost here, but the flu clearly didn't get the memo.. 🤒

Influenza and Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) activity remain very high across Aotearoa New Zealand.

🔼 Influenza is affecting all age groups and is the most commonly detected virus.

🔼 Auckland Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) hospitalisation rates remain in the very high activity range.

🔼 Influenza-positive SARI hospitalisation rates are similar to the 2022 peak.

🔼 Around 50% of Auckland SARI cases tested positive for influenza.

🔼 Healthline calls for influenza-like illness continue to increase nationally.

🔼 Community influenza transmission is increasing in the Wellington-based WellKiwis study, with detections rising from 19 to 63 cases over two weeks.

🔼 Children aged 0-4 years have higher Healthline call rates nationally and SARI hospitalisation rates in Auckland than other age groups.

🔼 RSV activity remains elevated.

🔽 RSV hospitalisations are declining.

🔽 COVID-19-positive SARI activity remains low and stable.

📅 This update is based on surveillance data collected up to 23 August 2026.

Under the Weather Report is a series dedicated to breaking down the latest updates on the winter respiratory illnesses in Aotearoa New Zealand collected by PHF Science.

More information can be found on the Respiratory Illness Dashboard (linked in our bio):
🔗 phfscience.nz/digital-library/respiratory-illness-dashboard/
The dashboard is updated every Thursday

ℹ️ WellKiwis is a Wellington-based community health study that tracks respiratory illnesses and viruses to help researchers understand how infections spread in the community. More info: wellkiwis.co.nz

More health advice can be found at Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora
🔗 healthnz.govt.nz

25/08/2026

Research led by PHF Science on behalf of the Ministry for the Environment, highlights the growing presence of microplastics and nanoplastics in the environment and the need for improved monitoring to better understand their potential impacts on ecosystems and human health.

The New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science (PHF Science) was formerly named The Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR).

21/08/2026

Yes, the flu is definitely here 🤧🤧

You've all been asking for the latest on the bugs going around, so here's an early update!

🔼 Auckland SARI (Severe Acute Respiratory Infection) hospitalisations are the highest recorded since 2012.

🔼 Influenza-positive SARI rates are now in the very high activity range, approaching the previous peak seen in 2022.

🔼 Influenza is driving severe respiratory illness across all age groups.

🔼 Children aged 0-4 years continue to have higher Healthline call and SARI hospitalisation rates than other age groups.

🔼 Influenza A and respiratory illness cases are increasing in the Wellington-based WellKiwis study, driven by children.

🔽 RSV-related hospitalisations are declining after peaking in late July, although RSV activity remains elevated.

🔽 COVID-19 severe illness activity remains low.

📅 This update is based on surveillance data collected up to 16 August 2026.

Under the Weather Report is a series dedicated to breaking down the latest updates on the winter respiratory illnesses in Aotearoa New Zealand collected by PHF Science.

More information can be found on the Respiratory Illness Dashboard:
🔗 phfscience.nz/digital-library/respiratory-illness-dashboard/
The dashboard is updated every Thursday

ℹ️ WellKiwis is a Wellington-based community health study that tracks respiratory illnesses and viruses to help researchers understand how infections spread in the community. More info: wellkiwis.co.nz

More health advice can be found at Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora
🔗 healthnz.govt.nz

20/08/2026

Mystery of outbreak solved 🐏

Ten years on from the Havelock North campylobacteriosis outbreak, we reflect on a significant event that affected more than 8,000 people and remains the world's largest documented outbreak of its kind.

Our scientists supported the response, using epidemiology, microbiology, whole genome sequencing, and groundwater tracing to connect patient, water and sheep sources. This work helped uncover the route of transmission and ultimately solve the mystery behind the outbreak.

We're featuring this story as part of Science Working for New Zealand – 100 Years and Counting, marking a century since DSIR was established.

Read the full story here: https://www.phfscience.nz/news-publications/dna-tracing-led-scientists-to-the-source-of-world-s-largest-documented-campylobacteriosis-outbreak/


Bioeconomy Science Institute
Earth Sciences New Zealand

18/08/2026

Happy World Photography Day ! 📸

Today we're celebrating one of the things that makes PHF Science so special: our people.

Beyond the labs and offices, our staff also hold creative passions and skills. From incredible landscapes to unique perspectives on the world around us, these photographs showcase just some of the talent we have among our team.

Take a look at a selection of images captured by a handful of PHF Science photographers.

18/08/2026

How do scientists know which flu strains we should be protected against in next year's flu vaccine?💉

This week on Brainfood for Breakfast with RadioActive.FM, Dr Lauren Jelley discusses why pandemic preparedness is about much more than COVID-19.

Lauren also shared insights from her recently completed PhD, including how RSV levels dropped during New Zealand's COVID-19 border restrictions. While that may sound like good news, it also meant many young children had less exposure to the virus, resulting in lower levels of immunity when RSV returned.

If you are someone who loved reading books like TheHotZone, this kōrero is for you!

# PHFScience

12/08/2026

Our latest Covid-19 Genomics Insights Dashboard is available to download. Discover the latest overview of SARS CoV-2 genomic surveillance across New Zealand.

https://www.phfscience.nz/digital-library/covid-19-genomics-insights-dashboard-73-august-2026/