Hygiene concerns raised after mould found at Manukau Super Clinic
The mould was seen on a windowsill during an appointment at the Manukau Super Clinic earlier this week.
Health New Zealand said the area of the building was currently being fixed for water damage.
Samie, who didn’t want to give her surname, told the Herald she was in an appointment with her partner in the orthopaedic area of the clinic when she noticed the suspected fungus.
She said they were in an area near where X-rays are conducted.
The couple were in the consultation room for just five minutes when she saw the growth.
“It’s just like mind-blowing. It makes me speechless,” she said.
“I realised about halfway through, and I’m going, is that a bug? Is that a cockroach? Like, what’s going on?
“It was one room and not even looking for mould,” she said.
Samie said she was highly concerned about it, especially because the clinic is a place patients expect to be spotless.
She said this suspected mould had an even larger impact on her because she had just recovered from stage four cancer.
“I’ve got to be pretty careful around bacteria and mould and all of that.
“It’s completely not good enough.
“In a place where you’re supposed to go to heal and feel safe and sanitary and all of that,” Samie said.
Health New Zealand Group Director of Operations Counties, Dr Vanessa Thornton, told the Herald that staff were resealing the exterior side of the window, which had water damage.
“We encourage people with any concerns about our facilities to report these to us so that issues can be addressed quickly by our hard-working facilities team,” Thornton said.
======================================================
Poll: Is it ok to regift something that you have been given?
🎁 Holiday Gift Chat!
Do you ever regift?
What’s your take on asking for a receipt if a gift doesn’t fit?
-
78.8% Yes! It's better to regift what I don't need
-
21.2% No. It's the thought and effort that matters
Today’s Mind-Bender is the Last of the Year! Can You Guess It Before Everyone Else? 🌟🎁🌲
I dance in the sky with green and gold, a spectacle few are lucky to behold; I’m best seen in the south, a celestial sight—what am I, lighting up the New Zealand night?
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm on the day!
Want to stop seeing these in your newsfeed? No worries! Simply head here and click once on the Following button.
Charities turning away high numbers of volunteer applications
Charities are turning away people wanting to volunteer amidst a flood of interest they say is linked to the high rate of unemployment.
It comes as some businesses receive thousands of applications for paid roles and people look for experience anywhere they can.
The advocacy organisation Volunteering NZ has been tracking the trend. Spokesperson Margaret McLachlan said there has been a considerable rise in applications for volunteer roles across a range of charities.
Many application forms asks people to divulge if they are job hunters.
"Over the last year or so, they are seeing more people coming in who are saying they are in that category. They are looking for work but doing volunteering while that process is taking place."
"As unemployment increases and the cost of living, times are tougher for everybody."
At the same time, she said community organisations supporting social services were busier and needed more helpers.
McLachlan said depending on the organisation, they might want to do a police check, a reference check and an interview.
"In some cases it can be a process to go through and not always, and that can take some time.
"It's actually the same barriers that a person might find in finding a job, can also apply to volunteering. It's not always a easy option."
SPCA had 120 op shops and animal rescue centres across the country in which volunteers worked.
General manager of retail Cathy Crichton said they received about 1300 extra applications for volunteer roles, a 32 percent increase, from June to November 2025, compared to 2024.
"There's definitely a nudge forward which is very exciting and we're very grateful."
But it meant they were not accepting any more volunteers in some areas.
"Because the applications are up it's a unique scenario. But at this point in time, in smaller locations, we've actually got a hold in 19 locations in New Zealand where we are at capacity - and that's very rare and it's a very new trend."
Crichton said anyone seeking volunteer work should think creatively about what skills they can offer - it could be in administration or marketing.
"We'd love to welcome as many people as we could because the more hands on deck the more we can do and the more we can contribute to the community."
She said people were self-motivated to apply for volunteer work.
The unemployment rate rose to 5.3 percent in the September quarter, meaning 160,000 people were jobless. The next quarterly figures are out in February.
"There's a willingness to give back and contribute to the community. Unemployment being high really does encourage people to engage with the workforce and get experience," Crichton said.
"It really is about staying connected with the community and meeting others."
She said they had also seen an increase in young people seeking volunteer work experience.
"It's a great opportunity to get work experience and a reference and there's an appeal there as an employer...I really do think it adds value to a CV."
Stats NZ data showed over half of New Zealanders, 53 percent, volunteered during March 2025 and of those, 27.6 percent volunteered through an organisation and 40.8 percent volunteered directly for another person.
=====================================================
Loading…
