Click the links below for recent New Zealand news items, interviews and media releases. If you know of any others, please email melnet@melnet.org.nz and let us know.
Pain-free vaccine patch might one day prevent melanoma
NewsHub - 31 August 2019
Firstcheck crowdfunding to raise $1.2 million
Stuff - 15 August 2019
Calls for Government to follow Australian model in tackling melanoma
Stuff - 12 August 2019
Why are so few Kiwi cancer patients in clinical trials?
NZ Herald - 14 July 2019
'Miracle drug’ Keytruda approved for use earlier in melanoma treatment
Health Central NZ - 5 July 2019
NZ Herald - 5 July 2019
MoleMap's Concern Over High Rate of Skin Cancer in Tauranga
Info News - 30 April 2019
Melanoma survivor calling for change
The Weekend Sun - 26 April 2019
Kiwi companies collaborating to combat skin cancer
Scoop - 27 March 2019
Bright move: Optometrist donates sunnies to pupils
The Northern Advocate - 19 February 2019
New Zealand melanoma rates no longer worst in world
Stuff - 8 February 2019
Large tattoos covering dangerous melanomas concern experts
Newstalk ZB - 4 February 2019
More sunscreens fail SPF rating - Consumer NZ
Newsie - 31 January 2019
Sun catches up with 'blase' baby boomers
Sunday Star Times - 27 January 2019
Make sunscreen part of your morning routine: Sun safety experts
NZ Herald - 26 January 2019
Australian scientists believe they can 'turn off' melanoma
Newshub - 6 January 2019
Kiwi skin-checking app expands to Australia
Newshub - 2 January 2019
Sunscreen protection coming up short
Otago Daily Times - 13 December 2018
Consumer NZ finds many sunscreens don't meet their label claims
TVNZ - 12 December 2018
NZ Herald - 12 December 2018
Consumer NZ testing shows six out of 10 sunscreens aren't up to scratch
News Hub - 12 December 2018
Calls for mandatory sunscreen testing after latest results
Newstalk ZB - 12 December 2018
Kiwi experts shining light on skin cancer
Canvas - 4 December 2018
Wanaka pupils study UV levels and effects
The News - 26 November 2018
Melanoma rates falling for young New Zealanders
Newshub - 3 November 2018
Melanoma rates declining by 1% a year
Radio New Zealand - Checkpoint - 2 November 2018
Australian expert believes Kiwi melanoma rate may be dropping
Newstalk ZB - Larry Williams Drive - 2 November 2018
New Zealand Herald - 2 November 2018
Melanoma rates 'may be declining in younger people'
Voxy.co.nz - 2 November 2018
Slip, slop, slap: Research shows melanoma rates in NZ on decline
Radio New Zealand - 2 November 2018
Consumer NZ Repeats Call for Mandatory Sunscreen Standard
Scoop NZ - 2 November 2018
Voxy.co.nz - 2 November 2018
More awareness needed for melanomas that look like pimples
Newshub - 2 November 2018
Voxy.co.nz - 2 November 2018
New Zealand Doctor - 2 November 2018
Experts Gather for National Melanoma Summit
Scoop NZ - 29 October 2018
Alarming number of Kiwis failing to slip, slop and slap, study finds
New Zealand Herald - 26 October 2018
Kiwis' sun smart knowledge slip slop, slipping away
Stuff - 26 October 2018
Many Kiwis still aren't being sun smart, according to new research
TVNZ - 26 October 2018
Popular kids' areas need more shade - Otago University study
Newshub - 26 October 2018
Skin cancer group rolls out free public sunscreen dispensers in Christchurch
Stuff - 25 October 2018
Go Spotty for melanoma day
SunLive - 13 October 2018
Dr Swee Tan, miracle man: how drugs could be repurposed to treat cancer
Stuff - 11 October 2018
Deadly Australian funnel-web spiders can also kill melanoma cancer cells, study shows
ABC News - 06 October 2018
New Zealanders should be cautious of sunburn bracelets, Cancer Society CEO says
TVNZ Breakfast - 27 September 2018
Skin cancer science: Sunscreen in winter urged as study reveals flaws in UV advice
Radio New Zealand - 18 September 2018
Melanomas possibly missed
Otago Daily Times - 20 August 2018
Hot and cold over sunbeds
The Star - 9 August 2018
Kiwis are ‘missing out’ on life-saving cancer drugs – Aussie oncologist
Radio Live NZ - 7 August 2018
Sunscreen, sunbed rules sought as skin cancers increase
Otago Daily Times - 1 August 2018
Fieldays attendees get skin cancer diagnosis
Stuff - 10 July 2018
Discovery Unlocks Secrets Behind Cancer Drug Resistance
Scoop - 29 June 2018
2018 Queen's Birthday honour for Hamilton dermatologist Amanda Oakley
Stuff - 4 June 2018
'It is not safe' - skin cancer surgeon wants gel and UV lamp manicures banned
TVNZ One News - 15 May 2018
Soaring skin cancer rates spur calls for government action
Newstalk ZB - 7 April 2018
Non-melanoma type skin cancers on the rise
Stuff - 6 April 2018
Skin cancer rate hits all time high and Cancer Society says urgent action needed - including sunbed ban
TVNZ One News - 6 April 2018
New online tool to predict future risk of developing melanoma
NZ Herald - 12 March 2018
Long past time for effective Govt action on skin cancer levels in NZ
Otago Daily Times - 26 February 2018
Government funds essential for better sun safety
Otago Daily Times - 17 February 2018
Could an Australian seagull have saved a New Zealand star from summer's greatest horror?
View the film at www.6weeksofhorror.com and www.youtube.co20wnz
Scoop Health - 6 December 2017
Australia doing better than Kiwis at making schools sun smart - researchers
Stuff - 5 October 2017
Time to pay to protect Kiwi kids from skin cancer - Editorial
Stuff - 5 October 2017
Sunbeds and the second-hand market in New Zealand
Scoop Health - 3 October 2017
114 day wait for patients suspected to have melanoma
NZ Herald - 22 September 2017
Melanoma drug trials 'a game-changer' in stopping cancer spread
TVNZ- 13 September 2017
Blood test could help with early identification of deadly melanoma
TVNZ - 9 September 2017
Hope for blood test to detect melanoma
Newstalk ZB - 9 September 2017
Predictive tool to help manage NZ's melanoma crisis
Scoop - 9 September 2017
Australian Cancer Council sunscreen left users with severe sunburn
RNZ - 1 February 2017
Does sunscreen actually prevent melanoma?
Listener - 23 January 2017
Turning around NZ's alarming melanoma rates (featuring Assoc Prof Tony Reeder)
RNZ - 23 January 2017
PHARMAC and its role in making drugs available [constraints of NZ funding of Keytruda]
RNZ - 17 January 2017
New sunbeds research backs up calls for NZ ban
MelNet/Melanoma New Zealand media release 2 December 2016
NZ banning sunbeds will have little impact on jobs
University of Otago - 2 December 2016
New Zealand needs high quality cancer information
University of Otago - 2 December 2016
Sunbeds banned for Kiwis aged under 18
TVNZ – 1 July 2016
Govt bans under-18s from using sunbeds
Newstalk ZB – 1 July 2016
Advanced melanoma patient receives Keytruda infusion
RNZ – 1 July 2016
Why did Pharmac wait on funding Opdivo, Keytruda?
RNZ – 1 July 2016
Health Protection Bill passes third reading
Minister of Health - 30 June 2016
Keytruda news thrills advocate
NZ Herald - 30 June 2016
Pharmac slammed for u-turn on Keytruda funding after too many deaths
TV One - Wed, Jun 29
Pharmac delayed bargaining for a cheaper deal on Keytruda for too long - Cancer Society
TV One – 29 June
Pharmac reaches "commercially favourable" Keytruda agreement
RNZ – 29 June 2016
Cancer groups say Keytruda funding a breakthrough
RNZ – 29 June 2016
Pharmac agrees plan to fund Keytruda
RNZ - 28 June 2016
Pharmac poised to fund melanoma drug Keytruda subject to feedback
stuff.co.nz - 28 June 2016
MSD signs KEYTRUDA agreement and offers bridging programme
MSD media release – scoop.co.nz - 28 June 2016
Gene mutation patterns in melanoma vary from North to South in NZ
University of Otago media release – 16 May 2016
NZ skin cancer: what role does where you live play?
RNZ – 14 May 2016
Pharmac consults on new drugs for melanoma, Hep C
RNZ – 5 May 2016 (Interview with Steffan Crausaz, Pharmac Chief Executive)
Cancer Society expects melanoma drug Opdivo to be approved
RNZ – 5 May 2016
Questions raised over new Pharmac drug funding
RNZ – 5 May 2016
Melanoma sufferer wary of changing to Pharmac funded drug
RNZ - 5 May 2016
Kathryn Williams discusses Pharmac's Opdivo announcement
RNZ – 4 May 2016
Melanoma drug Opdivo to be Pharmac funded
RNZ – 4 May 2016
Greens demand proof Pharmac has funds to cover new drugs
RNZ – 4 May 2016
Patients emotional as funding for new melanoma drug nears
RNZ – 4 May 2016
Melanoma patients say government's announcement doesn't go far enough
TVNZ – One News – 4 May 2016
Pharmac eyes cancer drug after $39m boost
TVNZ – One News – 4 May 2016
Budget 2016: $39 million extra for Pharmac
Media Release – Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman, Minsiter of Health – 4 May 2016
Pharmac accused of downplaying Keytruda
RNZ – 2 May 2016
Opdivo (nivolumab) approved in New Zealand for Two Cancers with Four Uses
Media Release
Bristol-Myers Squibb - 2 May 2016
Breakthrough melanoma drug approved for use
Newstalk ZB – 29 April 2016
Melanoma drug offers bargaining chip
RNZ – 29 April 2016
Herald on Sunday editorial: Let's save those with high skin cancer risk
NZ Herald – 24 April 2016
New hope in skin cancer war (high risk assessment tool)
NZ Herald – 24 April 2016
Editorial: Time to shed our thick skin on melanoma
NZ Herald – 2 April 2016
New Zealand's high melanoma rate preventable
RNZ Checkpoint (John Campbell interview of Professor David Whiteman) – 31 March 2016
Researchers shed light on lack of school shade
Newshub – 31 March 2016
Schools score badly for sun sense
Otago Daily Times – 31 March 2016
Kiwi mum petitions for free sunscreen as NZ overtakes Australia's melanoma rate
NZ Herald – 30 March 2016
NZ rate of melanoma is highest in the world
RNZ Checkpoint (John Campbell interview of Associate Professor Tony Reeder) – 30 March 2016
Health Minister defends
RNZ - 30 March 2016
NZ falls behind in reducing melanoma rates
RNZ – 30 March 2016
NZ melanoma rate overtakes Australia
Newshub – 30 March 2016
Study finds NZ/s melanoma rates highest in world - experts call for realistic funding
MelNet media release - 30 March 2016
Warning over cost of new cancer drugs
RNZ – 7 March 2016
Political roundup: Cancer drugs – the case against Keytruda
New Zealand Herald – 4 March 2016
Political roundup: Cancer drugs - the case for Keytruda
New Zealand Herald – 3 March 2016
What’s Keytruda and why won’t Pharmac fund it?
RNZ – 1 March 2016
Funding melanoma drug: Professor Tony Blakely explains the funding dilemma around thecancer drug Keytruda
RNZ - 1 March 2016
New Tool Against Skin Cancer
Stuff.co.nz - 25 February 2016
New Cancer Drugs and Funding Conundrums
RNZ - 14 February 2016
Is Keytruda for advanced melanoma cost-effective?
Public Health Expert – 15 December 2015
Editorial: Govt ought to keep clear on medicines
NZ Herald – 12 December 2015
Tony Blakely on PHARMAC
RNZ - 13 December 2015
Kiwi researchers trial miracle drug – as revolutionary as ‘penicillin for cancer’
Sunday Star Times/Stuff.co.nz – 13 December 2015
The drugs of choice
NZ Herald - 12 December 2015
Health Minister: Govt won't fund cancer drug
TV 3 - 11 December 2015
Editorial: We must put our trust in Pharmac
NZ Herald – 5 December 2015
Collins suggests Government could step in on Keytruda
TV3 – 4 December 2015
New funding regime needed for revolutionary cancer drugs
RNZ Nine to Noon - 3 December 2015
Cancer - The cost of a life: Victims, experts lobby for 'breakthrough' melanoma drug
NZ Herald - 12 November 2015
Melanoma New Zealand: Access to effective therapies vital
NZ Herald - 12 November 2015
Summit calls for PHARMAC to fast track funding reviews for latest melanoma treatments
NZ Doctor – 10 November 2015
NZ melanoma treatment ‘old and ineffective’: expert
Yahoo New Zealand – 9 November 2015
NZ melanoma treatment 'old and ineffective': expert
Newstalk ZB – 9 November 2015
Cancer patients await potentially life-saving funding decision
TVNZ Sunday - 8 November 2015
PHARMAC asked to fast-track melanoma funding reviews
Scoop – 8 November 2015
NZ melanoma risk higher than first thought
RNZ – 7 November 2015
NZ urged to do more to limit sun exposure
RNZ - 6 November 2015
Getting Sun Smart
TVNZ - Friday 6 November 2015
Action demanded over 'obscene' drug prices
Radio NZ – 6 November 2015
Immunotherapy agents set to transform melanoma treatment
Scoop - 6 November 2015
Politicians strip down to promote melanoma awareness
One News – 15 October 2015
Immunotherapy drug a game changer for melanoma patients
TV 3 - Sunday 28 June 2015
Trade deal widens health care gap
NZ Herald – 18 June 2015
Institute to fund new melanoma trials
co-ordinator
Scoop.co.nz - 17 June 2015
Cancer vaccine preliminary trials working
TV3 - Campbell Live – 25 May 2015
Disbelief as sunbeds avoid total ban
Bay of Plenty Times - 6 May 2015
Consumer NZ and Cancer Society call for ban on sunbeds
25 February 2015
The high cost of new cancer immunotherapy drugs
Radio New Zealand Nine To Noon, Monday 23 February 2015
New Zealand's skin cancer rate called a 'timebomb' waiting to explode
29 January 2015 - International Business Times
Lifestyle still influence on cancer – Professor Mike Berridge
15 January 2015 - Otago Daily Times
Council urged on sunbed purge
2 December 2014 - Stuff.co.nz/Manawatu Standard
Skin cancer patients call for sunbed ban
17 September 2014 - TV3 News
Cancer survivors push for sunbed ban
17 September 2014 - TVNZ Breakfast
School includes sunglasses in uniform list
17 September 2014 - TV One News
Proposed changes to restrict sunbeds and manage infectious diseases
31 July 2014 - Hon Jo Goodhew media statement
Experts urge skin cancers be logged
28 July 2014 – stuff.co.nz
Calls for nationwide U18 sunbed ban
2 July 2014 - TVNZ Breakfast
Sunbed ban for under-18s in Auckland
1 July 2014 - NZ Herald
Burning question of sunbed safety
13 June 2014 - The Press West Coast
Curtains could be drawn on sunbeds
18 May - Stuff.co.nz/Sunday Star Times
Sue Kedgley: Sunbed regulation needed
30 April 2014 – NZ Herald
New treatment for solar keratoses now available in New Zealand
NZ Doctor – 18 February 2014
Call for sunbed ban after report
5 February 2014 - NZ Herald
Sunbed safety back under spotlight
31 January 2014 - TVNZ Breakfast