According to a private survey, this is the first time in last four months when consumer confidence in New Zealand’s rose in May.

The rise in confidence is the sign of recovery in regions outside earthquake damaged Christchurch.

Reductil, a popular weight-loss drug is being withdrawn from the market, as it has been linked to an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes, mostly in patients with cardiovascular disease.

The withdrawal comes, despite the drug’s New Zealand licence preventing it from being prescribed to people with a history of cardiovascular disease.

The results of a research conducted by the University of Washington shows that American students who come to New Zealand to study consume twice as much alcohol as they would do at home.

The study also found that those of them who chose Europe, Australia or New Zealand for higher studies drank more heavily when they were abroad than those who went to Asia, Latin America, Middle East or Africa.

The manuka honey industry from New Zealand has arranged for two laboratories in Asia and Europe to test for the special antibacterial activity which is there in some strains of manuka honey which will make it much easier for supermarket chains and offshore consumers to verify the quality.

Women from New Zealand have rushed to use a new government-funded contraceptive implant, finishing the supply in three weeks which was meant to last for one whole year.

Pharmac began $1 million funding of Bayer’s contraceptive Jadelle starting August 1, dropping the price from $300 to $3 – in an attempt to save costs on repeat doctor visits and pharmacy costs.

An Auckland hospital vascular surgeon says that New Zealand should follow other countries and introduce an aneurysm screening program.

In an estimate it was suggested that almost 20,000 New Zealanders have an undiagnosed aneurysm or swelling in the aortic wall which include many risks of rupture and death. The United Kingdom, the United States and Western Australia have all started these screening programs.

Medsafe will decide on Monday whether or not e prescription-only weight loss drug will stay on sale in New Zealand.

Sibutramine has been withdrawn from sale in Australia which is sold under the brand name of Reductil.

Abbott, the drug company, ceased the distribution of Reductil in Australia on the following Friday after a review by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration.