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.
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