According to Public Health experts, we are in the middle of a global outbreak of whooping cough. Health services across Aotearoa New Zealand are responding to this nationwide epidemic among mostly our youngest pēpi, with 1,232 cases notified since the onset of the epidemic (from 19 October 2024 to 10 January 2025) and 101 cases hospitalised. Pertussis can last up to three months and is sometimes referred to as the ‘hundred day cough’.  Around 50% of pēpi who catch whooping cough before the age of 12 months need hospitalisation and 1 or 2 in 100 of those hospitalised pēpi die from the infection. "The best protection for infants is for their mother to be vaccinated during pregnancy," says Dr Susan Jack, National Clinical Director, Protection, at Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora. For adults, New Zealand has a combined pertussis and tetanus vaccine. 

The King has issued honours awards in the 2025 New Years list. Men received 52% (100) of the 2025 New Year Honours, with women receiving 47% (90) and intersex 1% (1). Men and women equally received the higher awards (ONZ to MNZM). Men received 54% (37) and women 45% (31) and intersex 1% (1) of KSOs and KSMs. There were more awards for arts related activities 11% (21) than sports related ones 8% (16). The last time there were more than 190 honours awarded was New Year 2019, when there were 196 with women receiving 51%.

Sixteen awards were given for services to survivors of abuse in care: 9 KSOs (6 to men, 1 to intersex, 2 to women) and 7 KSMs (5 to men, 2 to women).