Winter Health Pressures w/ Professor Tim Tenbensel: July 9th 2026

Health New Zealand has announced temporary beds and extra staffing to help hospitals cope with winter pressure, but health policy experts say the response is still too reactive. Winter demand happens every year, yet hospitals continue to face pressure from respiratory illnesses, staff shortages, and underfunding. Producer Pranuja spoke with Professor Tim Tenbensel from the University of Auckland about why the health system struggles to plan for winter, and what a more sustainable response could look like.