They are going to privatise health, aren’t they
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4:28 pm, July 28th, 2024 - 50 comments
Categories: Christopher Luxon, health, national, same old national, Shane Reti -
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This Government continues its trend to resembling something akin to Liz Truss’s rule of England.
And Health is clearly among its targets.
You can determine this by the level of its propaganda.
In the past week the Government has replaced the board of Health New Zealand with a commissioner. There were only two board members left out of seven including Lester Levy who was subsequently apointed Commissioner. Two others had resigned and three opted not to seek another term.
One of the board members who had opted not to seek a new term was former National Minister Amy Adams. The writing was clearly on the wall. I am sure the next National Party conference will be an interesting thing. And the phrase “they would eat their young for political advantage” has gained a whole new meaning.
Levy’s appointment was preceeded by a claim that there was a budget crisis. Any time a recently elected Government announces there is a budget crisis you have to be wary. The announcement is almost inevitably followed by a radical response.
Mountain Tui has analysed the background to the crisis in detail in this excellent piece. Basic version, this happened under National’s watch, and has nothing to do with Labour.
And the right’s normal response to any crisis is to privatise. In their view the private sector is always cheaper and better at providing services, despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary built up over decades. In their view it is better to let their mates and sponsors make a quick buck than do the more difficult task of managing people well to get the best out of them.
Quickly after announcing a $150 million a month deficit in health for the past six months Prime Minister Christopher Luxon claimed that National was putting in record amounts of money into health, in fact a record record $16.7b into health in the May budget. While this is strictly true it hides the reality that this was an effective cut.
As pointed out by Clint Smith a 2.9% increase to the health services budget at a time when inflation was 3.3% and population growth was 2.6% has us going backward. Population ageing adds more cost pressure. The increase means in real terms a cut to health funding.
Luxon’s claim that “[t]here’s plenty of money in the system” needs to be taken with an unhealthy amount of salt.
And despite Reti’s claims that front line staff hirings are not being affected the on the ground situation appears to be remarkably different.
From Rowan Quinn at Radio New Zealand:
RNZ has heard from multiple hospital workers around the country who say clinical jobs in their departments are being left vacant — and a senior hospital leader has written to staff about the “overly complex and bureaucratic” recruitment process.
In June, Te Whatu Ora instigated a hiring freeze on all roles that were “not patient facing” to try to rein in its budget, but its language around whether that applied to any medical jobs was murky.
It said all clinical roles that “needed” to be filled would be, but did not answer questions about what that meant in practice and whether any were being turned down.
But the senior doctors’ union, and other health workers who contacted RNZ, said in many cases clinical recruitment had ground to a halt – even the straightforward replacement of a departing doctor or nurse.
There was now a quota on how many jobs could be filled for each region and every appointment had to be approved by a regional committee.
To add to the sense of unreality surrounding anything that Reti for for that matter Luxon says claims that Health has 14 layers of management levels and these should be altered to six has proved to be not necessarily correct.
From Thomas Manch and Luke Malpass at the Press:
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon made much of a claimed 14 layers of management at Health NZ this week, as he criticised the organisation for a monthly $130 million overspend.
But there’s a problem: the Government can’t prove there are 14 layers of management.
Luxon made the claim on Monday, when announcing the appointment of Lester Levy as commissioner to Health NZ as the Government took greater control of the healthcare provider to eliminate a claimed $1.4b annual overspend.
“Between the CEO and the senior leaders at the top and patients, there can be up to 14 layers of management,” Luxon said, three times over.
Health Minister Shane Reti also described a “mind boggling” organisational chart.
“I could not name the different layers of way finders, pathfinders, boundary spanners ‒Lord knows what else ‒ from A to B. I could not name them for you,” he said.
Reti’s office was asked for a copy of the organisational chart and this is when the Government started to resemble something out of either Keystone Cops or the Thick of it.
Again from the Press:
Asked for an organisational chart, Reti’s office took two days to produce a list of the supposed 14 layers of management.
It includes the “patient”, who could not be classed as managers at Health NZ, as well as the board chairperson and chief executive.
Between the patient and the chief executive, there are 11 job titles, and not all appear to be managers. It includes the “team member”, feasibly a nurse or doctor, and the chief executive’s chief of staff.
“It sounded off when I heard it, and seeing this chart makes me realise it’s false,” said Ayesha Verrall, Labour Party health spokesperson.
“Two layers are incorrect. The chief of staff is not the second layer of management, and the patient isn’t on the organisational chart.
“When I fly in a plane, I’m not appearing on the organisational chart of Air New Zealand. This is ridiculous.”
Do we have to fact check everything the Government says? And why are important discussions about really vital matters being clouded by claims that are clearly not true?
Clearly the Government wishes to cut into Health budgets. And if possible hock off as much of it to private interests. The first thing that they always do is create a crisis. And this week has seen their crisis creation skills in full flight.
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Tēnā koutou katoa, Thank you for your warm welcome and for having my colleagues and I here today. Earlier you heard from the Labour Leader, Chris Hipkins, on our vision for the future of infrastructure. I want to build on his comments and provide further detail on some key elements ...7 days ago
- Govt transport plan deepens fossil fuel fix
The Green Party says the Government’s new National Land Transport Programme marks another missed opportunity to take meaningful action to fight the climate crisis. ...1 week ago
- Greens call for public to back Wrybill in BOTY and beyond
The Green Party is calling on the public to support the Ngutu Pare Wrybill not just in this year’s Bird of the Year competition but also in pushing back against policies that could lead to the destruction of its habitat and accelerate its extinction. ...1 week ago
- Building consents data bad news for construction
News that the annual number of building consents granted for new homes fell by more than 20 percent for the year ended July 2024, is bad news for the construction industry. ...1 week ago
- Te Pāti Māori Pay Tribute to Kiingi Tūheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero VII
Papā te whatitiri, hikohiko te uira, i kanapu ki te rangi, i whētuki i raro rā, rū ana te whenua e. Uea te pou o tōku whare kia tū tangata he kapua whakairi nāku nā runga o Taupiri. Ko taku kiri ka tōkia ki te anu mātao. E te iwi ...1 week ago
- Release: Gaps still to be addressed in callouts response
The Government must guarantee New Zealanders will not be at risk after making changes to the way mental health callouts are handled. ...1 week ago
- Poroporoaki: Kiingi Tuheitia passing
Haere e te Kīngi o te kotahitangi Haere ki o nui, ki o rahi I te pō ...1 week ago
- Green Party pays respects to Kiingi Tuuheitia
The Green Party is paying tribute to the Māori King, Kiingi Tuuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero XVII, after he passed away earlier this morning. ...2 weeks ago
- Potaka Brings Whakaata Māori to its Knees
Today’s Whakaata Māori announcement is yet another colossal failure from Minister Potaka, who has turned his back on te reo Māori, forcing a channel offline, putting whānau out of jobs, and cutting Māori content, says Te Pāti Māori. “A Senior Māori Minister has turned his back on Te Reo Māori. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: National restricts access to disability care homes
With disability communities still reeling from the diminishing of Whaikaha, a leaked document now reveals another blow with National restricting access to residential care homes. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Govt must help save 230 manufacturing jobs
Labour is calling on the Government and Mercury Energy to find a solution to the proposed Winstone Pulp mill closure and save 230 manufacturing jobs. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt shirks its responsibility to Whakaata Māori
The Green Party has called out the Government for allowing Whakaata Māori to effectively collapse to a shell of its former self as job cuts and programming cuts were announced at the broadcaster today. ...2 weeks ago
- NZ First Member’s Bill To Disestablish Auckland Transport
Today New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill that will restore democratic control over transport management in Auckland City by disestablishing Auckland Transport (AT) and returning control to Auckland Council. The ‘Local Government (Auckland Council) (Disestablishment of Auckland Transport) Amendment Bill’ intends to restore democratic oversight, control, and accountability ...2 weeks ago - Release: PM fails in constitutional role and leadership
The failure of the Prime Minister to condemn his Minister for personally attacking the judiciary is another example of this Government riding roughshod over important constitutional rules. ...2 weeks ago
- Waititi urges Rotorua Lakes Council to immediately stop works at Lake Rotokākahi
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and Member of Parliament for Waiariki, which includes Rotorua, has written to Rotorua Lakes Councillors requesting they immediately stop sewerage piping works at Lake Rotokākahi in Rotorua. “Mana whenua have been urging Rotorua Lakes Council to stop works and look at alternative plans to protect the ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Patient care at risk from redundancies
Patient care could suffer as a result of further cuts to the health system, which could lose thousands of staff who keep our hospitals and clinics running. ...2 weeks ago
- Greens call on Govt to wake up on child poverty
The Green Party says the latest statistics on child poverty in this country highlight the callous approach that the Government is taking on this issue of national shame. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Police are off the beat under National
Foot patrols around the country have decreased 15 percent since National took office, despite National’s Mark Mitchell claiming otherwise. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Climate denial is an insult to Pacific leaders
Winston Peters’ climate denialism at the Pacific Islands’ Forum is an embarrassing new low. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt must end solitary confinement
The Green Party is urging the Government to end the use of solitary confinement within our prisons after new research revealed some prisoners have been held in confinement for more than 900 days. ...2 weeks ago
- Fossil fuels never the answer in climate crisis
The Government’s moves to enable the import of Liquefied Natural Gas is another step away from the sustainable and affordable energy network that this country needs. ...2 weeks ago
- Government must respect Court’s Uber employee decision
Today’s court ruling upholding the rights of Uber drivers is a message to the Government that it must not tamper with employment protections. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Uber court decision recognises workers’ rights
The Court of Appeal decision that Uber drivers are entitled to employee rights such as minimum wage, sick leave, holiday pay and collective bargaining is welcome news for the drivers involved and their unions. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour calls on Govt to divest from illegal settlements
The Labour Party is calling on the Government to tell the two major wealth funds, the NZ Super Fund and ACC, to withdraw investments from companies listed by the United Nations as complicit in Israel’s illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Govt backtrack on fast-track still not enough
Labour welcomes news that the National Government is backing down on its reckless proposal to give Ministers final sign-off on significant projects, but it’s still not enough. ...2 weeks ago
- Fast track still on track to environmental destruction
Our environment remains at risk despite the Government's proposed changes to its controversial fast-track legislation. ...2 weeks ago
- Ohinemuri River pollution highlights mining risks
The harrowing images of the severely polluted Ohinemuri River caused by an old mining shaft could become a more common occurrence under the mining regime the Government is looking to roll out. ...2 weeks ago
- Action to grow the rural health workforce
Scholarships awarded to 27 health care students is another positive step forward to boost the future rural health workforce, Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “All New Zealanders deserve timely access to quality health care and this Government is committed to improving health outcomes, particularly for the one in five ...10 hours ago - Pharmac delivering more for Kiwis following major funding boost
Associate Health Minister with responsibility for Pharmac David Seymour has welcomed the increased availability of medicines for Kiwis resulting from the Government’s increased investment in Pharmac. “Pharmac operates independently, but it must work within the budget constraints set by the Government,” says Mr Seymour. “When our Government assumed office, New ...11 hours ago
- Sport Minister congratulates NZ’s Paralympians
Sport & Recreation Minister Chris Bishop has congratulated New Zealand's Paralympic Team at the conclusion of the Paralympic Games in Paris. “The NZ Paralympic Team's success in Paris included fantastic performances, personal best times, New Zealand records and Oceania records all being smashed - and of course, many Kiwis on ...13 hours ago
- Government progresses response to Abuse in Care recommendations
A Crown Response Office is being established within the Public Service Commission to drive the Government’s response to the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care. “The creation of an Office within a central Government agency was a key recommendation by the Royal Commission’s final report. “It will have the mandate ...3 days ago
- Passport wait times back on-track
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says passport processing has returned to normal, and the Department of Internal Affairs [Department] is now advising customers to allow up to two weeks to receive their passport. “I am pleased that passport processing is back at target service levels and the Department ...3 days ago
- New appointments to the FMA board
Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister has today announced three new appointments and one reappointment to the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) board. Tracey Berry, Nicholas Hegan and Mariette van Ryn have been appointed for a five-year term ending in August 2029, while Chris Swasbrook, who has served as a board member ...3 days ago
- District Court judges appointed
Attorney-General Hon Judith Collins today announced the appointment of two new District Court judges. The appointees, who will take up their roles at the Manukau Court and the Auckland Court in the Accident Compensation Appeal Jurisdiction, are: Jacqui Clark Judge Clark was admitted to the bar in 1988 after graduating ...3 days ago
- Government makes it faster and easier to invest in New Zealand
Associate Minister of Finance David Seymour is encouraged by significant improvements to overseas investment decision timeframes, and the enhanced interest from investors as the Government continues to reform overseas investment. “There were about as many foreign direct investment applications in July and August as there was across the six months ...4 days ago
- New Zealand to join Operation Olympic Defender
New Zealand has accepted an invitation to join US-led multi-national space initiative Operation Olympic Defender, Defence Minister Judith Collins announced today. Operation Olympic Defender is designed to coordinate the space capabilities of member nations, enhance the resilience of space-based systems, deter hostile actions in space and reduce the spread of ...4 days ago
- Government commits to ‘stamping out’ foot and mouth disease
Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says that a new economic impact analysis report reinforces this government’s commitment to ‘stamp out’ any New Zealand foot and mouth disease incursion. “The new analysis, produced by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research, shows an incursion of the disease in New Zealand would have ...4 days ago
- Improving access to finance for Kiwis
5 September 2024 The Government is progressing further reforms to financial services to make it easier for Kiwis to access finance when they need it, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Financial services are foundational for economic success and are woven throughout our lives. Without access to finance our ...4 days ago
- Prime Minister pays tribute to Kiingi Tuheitia
As Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII is laid to rest today, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has paid tribute to a leader whose commitment to Kotahitanga will have a lasting impact on our country. “Kiingi Tuheitia was a humble leader who served his people with wisdom, mana and an unwavering ...5 days ago
- Resource Management reform to make forestry rules clearer
Forestry Minister Todd McClay today announced proposals to reform the resource management system that will provide greater certainty for the forestry sector and help them meet environmental obligations. “The Government has committed to restoring confidence and certainty across the sector by removing unworkable regulatory burden created by the previous ...5 days ago
- More choice and competition in building products
A major shake-up of building products which will make it easier and more affordable to build is on the way, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Today we have introduced legislation that will improve access to a wider variety of quality building products from overseas, giving Kiwis more choice and ...5 days ago
- Joint Statement between the Republic of Korea and New Zealand 4 September 2024, Seoul
On the occasion of the official visit by the Right Honourable Prime Minister Christopher Luxon of New Zealand to the Republic of Korea from 4 to 5 September 2024, a summit meeting was held between His Excellency President Yoon Suk Yeol of the Republic of Korea (hereinafter referred to as ...5 days ago
- Comprehensive Strategic Partnership the goal for New Zealand and Korea
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Republic of Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol. “Korea and New Zealand are likeminded democracies and natural partners in the Indo Pacific. As such, we have decided to advance discussions on elevating the bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive ...5 days ago
- International tourism continuing to bounce back
Results released today from the International Visitor Survey (IVS) confirm international tourism is continuing to bounce back, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Matt Doocey says. The IVS results show that in the June quarter, international tourism contributed $2.6 billion to New Zealand’s economy, an increase of 17 per cent on last ...5 days ago
- Government confirms RMA reforms to drive primary sector efficiency
The Government is moving to review and update national level policy directives that impact the primary sector, as part of its work to get Wellington out of farming. “The primary sector has been weighed down by unworkable and costly regulation for too long,” Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. “That is ...5 days ago
- Weak grocery competition underscores importance of cutting red tape
The first annual grocery report underscores the need for reforms to cut red tape and promote competition, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “The report paints a concerning picture of the $25 billion grocery sector and reinforces the need for stronger regulatory action, coupled with an ambitious, economy-wide ...6 days ago
- Government moves to lessen burden of reliever costs on ECE services
Associate Education Minister David Seymour says the Government has listened to the early childhood education sector’s calls to simplify paying ECE relief teachers. Today two simple changes that will reduce red tape for ECEs are being announced, in the run-up to larger changes that will come in time from the ...6 days ago
- Over 2,320 people engage with first sector regulatory review
Regulation Minister David Seymour says there has been a strong response to the Ministry for Regulation’s public consultation on the early childhood education regulatory review, affirming the need for action in reducing regulatory burden. “Over 2,320 submissions have been received from parents, teachers, centre owners, child advocacy groups, unions, research ...6 days ago
- Government backs women in horticulture
“The Government is empowering women in the horticulture industry by funding an initiative that will support networking and career progression,” Associate Minister of Agriculture, Nicola Grigg says. “Women currently make up around half of the horticulture workforce, but only 20 per cent of leadership roles which is why initiatives like this ...6 days ago
- Government to pause freshwater farm plan rollout
The Government will pause the rollout of freshwater farm plans until system improvements are finalised, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard announced today. “Improving the freshwater farm plan system to make it more cost-effective and practical for farmers is a priority for this ...6 days ago
- Milestone reached for fixing the Holidays Act 2003
Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden says yesterday Cabinet reached another milestone on fixing the Holidays Act with approval of the consultation exposure draft of the Bill ready for release next week to participants. “This Government will improve the Holidays Act with the help of businesses, workers, and ...6 days ago
- New priorities to protect future of conservation
Toitū te marae a Tāne Mahuta me Hineahuone, toitū te marae a Tangaroa me Hinemoana, toitū te taiao, toitū te tangata. The Government has introduced clear priorities to modernise Te Papa Atawhai - The Department of Conservation’s protection of our natural taonga. “Te Papa Atawhai manages nearly a third of our ...7 days ago
- Faster 110km/h speed limit to accelerate Kāpiti
A new 110km/h speed limit for the Kāpiti Expressway Road of National Significance (RoNS) has been approved to reduce travel times for Kiwis travelling in and out of Wellington, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy. ...7 days ago
- IVL increase to ensure visitors contribute more to New Zealand
The International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) will be raised to $100 to ensure visitors contribute to public services and high-quality experiences while visiting New Zealand, Minister for Tourism and Hospitality Matt Doocey and Minister of Conservation Tama Potaka say. “The Government is serious about enabling the tourism sector ...7 days ago
- Delivering priority connections for the West Coast
A record $255 million for transport investment on the West Coast through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will strengthen the region’s road and rail links to keep people connected and support the region’s economy, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The Government is committed to making sure that every ...1 week ago
- Road and rail reliability a focus for Wellington
A record $3.3 billion of transport investment in Greater Wellington through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will increase productivity and reduce travel times, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Delivering infrastructure to increase productivity and economic growth is a priority for our Government. We're focused on delivering transport projects ...1 week ago
- Record investment to boost economic and housing growth in the Waikato
A record $1.9 billion for transport investment in the Waikato through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will create a more efficient, safe, and resilient roading network that supports economic growth and productivity, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “With almost a third of the country’s freight travelling into, out ...1 week ago
- Building reliable and efficient roading for Taranaki
A record $808 million for transport investment in Taranaki through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will support economic growth and productivity, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Taranaki’s roads carry a high volume of freight from primary industries and it’s critical we maintain efficient connections across the region to ...1 week ago
- Supporting growth and resilience in Otago and Southland
A record $1.4 billion for transport investment in Otago and Southland through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will create a more resilient and efficient network that supports economic growth and productivity, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Transport is a critical enabler for economic growth and productivity in Otago ...1 week ago
- Delivering connected and resilient roading for Northland
A record $991 million for transport investment in Northland through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will strengthen the region’s connections and support economic growth and productivity, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “We are committed to making sure that every transport dollar is spent wisely on the projects and ...1 week ago
- Top of the South to benefit from reliable transport infrastructure
A record $479 million for transport investment across the top of the South Island through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will build a stronger road network that supports primary industries and grows the economy, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “We’re committed to making sure that every dollar is ...1 week ago
- Government delivering reliable roads for Manawatū-Whanganui
A record $1.6 billion for transport investment in Manawatū-Whanganui through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will strengthen the region’s importance as a strategic freight hub that boosts economic growth, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Delivering infrastructure to increase productivity and economic growth is a priority for our Government. ...1 week ago
- Restoring connections in Hawke’s Bay
A record $657 million for transport investment in the Hawke’s Bay through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will support recovery from cyclone damage and build greater resilience into the network to support economic growth and productivity, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “We are committed to making sure that ...1 week ago
- Transport resilience a priority for Gisborne
A record $255 million for transport investment in Gisborne through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will support economic growth and restore the cyclone-damaged network, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “With $255 million of investment over the next three years, we are committed to making sure that every transport ...1 week ago
- Prioritising growth and reduced travel times in Canterbury
A record $1.8 billion for transport investment Canterbury through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will boost economic growth and productivity and reduce travel times, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Christchurch is the economic powerhouse of the South Island, and transport is a critical enabler for economic growth and ...1 week ago
- Supporting growth and freight in the Bay of Plenty
A record $1.9 billion for transport investment in the Bay of Plenty through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will boost economic growth and unlock land for thousands of houses, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Transport is a critical enabler for economic growth and productivity in the Bay of ...1 week ago
- Getting transport back on track in Auckland
A record $8.4 billion for transport investment in Auckland through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will deliver the infrastructure our rapidly growing region needs to support economic growth and reduce travel times, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Aucklanders rejected the previous government’s transport policies which resulted in non-delivery, phantoms projects, ...1 week ago
- Pro-Palestinian activists hold protests to disrupt defense expo in Australia
By Efe Özkan Pro-Palestinian anti-war activists in Australia have protested in Melbourne, disrupting a defence expo set to open on Wednesday. Protesters gathered yesterday in front of companies connected to weapons manufacturing across Melbourne as police were called to prevent an escalation of the events, according to 7News Melbourne. Many ...1 hour ago - ‘Didn’t care enough’: here’s what the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide foun...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ben Wadham, Professor, Director, Open Door: Understanding and Supporting Service Personnel and their Families, Flinders University After three years of investigations, the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide has delivered its final report with 122 recommendations. The commission has carried much ...4 hours ago
- What is 3-phase power? And how do I know if my house needs it?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Asma Aziz, Senior Lecturer in Power Engineering, Edith Cowan University If you’re building, renovating or planning to install a solar battery, your builder or installer might ask whether you’ve considered upgrading from single-phase to three-phase power. This upgrade often comes with a ...5 hours ago
- MSG is back. Is the idea it’s bad for us just a myth or food science?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Evangeline Mantzioris, Program Director of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Accredited Practising Dietitian, University of South Australia Dr. Victor Wong/Shutterstock MSG is making a comeback. The internet’s favourite cucumber salad recipe includes fish sauce, cucumber, garlic and – as the video’s creator ...6 hours ago
- South Australia is proposing a law to ban kids under 14 from social media. How would it work?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lisa M. Given, Professor of Information Sciences & Director, Social Change Enabling Impact Platform, RMIT University Artie Medvedev/Shutterstock The South Australian government is moving ahead with plans to ban children under 14 from social media. Under the proposal, teens aged 14 ...6 hours ago
- Australia’s construction industry needs more hands on deck – so why is it ignoring skilled migra...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Martin Loosemore, Professor of Construction Management, University of Technology Sydney Shutterstock Australia’s construction industry is facing a perfect storm: enormous targets for building – 1.2 million new homes and A$230 billion worth of infrastructure over the next five years – at ...7 hours ago
- At Melaka Art & Performance Festival I watched dancers overcome by a trance in the rain, and the...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonathan W. Marshall, Associate Professor & Postgraduate Research Coordinator, Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, Edith Cowan University Feifei Liao performing in the village ruins. Photo by and courtesy of Teo Swee An. Melbourne-based Tony Yap is a leading figure in ...7 hours ago
- Google is facing another crucial court case in the US – and it could have major consequences for o...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Barbora Jedlickova, Senior Lecturer, School of Law, The University of Queensland One month after a US court ruled Google had illegally maintained its monopoly on internet search, the tech giant will this week face the start of yet another important antitrust case. ...7 hours ago
- Christopher Luxon refuses to speak about Treaty Principles Bill after it was handed to Cabinet
The Prime Minister says ACT leader David Seymour will have more to say on the Bill soon. ...8 hours ago - Jesus’s vision fulfilled: David Seymour restores unity to the church
The Christian church has had quite a few dust-ups with itself over the last 20 centuries. This week, the Act Party brought it together. Since Jesus prayed that his followers may all be one (John 17:20-21), Christians have barely stopped fighting. Yes, they’ve occasionally broken off to slaughter people in ...8 hours ago - PODCAST: The Politics of Desperation – Trump, Netanyahu, Maduro, Ortega
Podcast: A View from Afar with Paul G Buchanan and Selwyn Manning. Building upon recent episodes of A View from Afar, Political Scientist Paul G Buchanan and journalist Selwyn Manning discuss The Politics of Desperation. This episode flows on from our discussions about long transitions and the moment ...8 hours ago
- Pope Francis’ visit to Timor-Leste is powerful and symbolic, but also political
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shannon Brincat, Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations, University of the Sunshine Coast Author provided, Author provided Timor-Leste has had much to celebrate recently. August 30 marked 25 years since the Popular Consultation – or “The Referendum”, as many call ...9 hours ago
- What’s the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest? One’s about plumbing, the other...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Todorovic, Associate Professor of Medicine, Bond University Explode/Shutterstock In July 2023, rising US basketball star Bronny James collapsed on the court during practice and was sent to hospital. The 18-year-old athlete, son of famous LA Lakers’ veteran LeBron James, had ...9 hours ago
- If we truly want our Paralympic athletes to shine, their coaches need more support
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Bennie, Associate Professor, Health and Physical Education/Sport Development, Western Sydney University The 2024 Paris Paralympics delivered heightened attention and awareness of a pinnacle sporting event for para athletes. Australia has often set the standard for para sport, consistently achieving top ...10 hours ago
- New to streaming: What to watch on Netflix NZ, Neon and more this week
We round up everything coming to streaming services this week, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Apple TV+, ThreeNow, Neon and TVNZ+. If you love celebs out of their comfort zone: Celebrity Treasure Island (TVNZ+, starting September 9) We’re back on the beach for a new season of celebrity ...11 hours ago
- Harris’ lead dips in national US polls and it’s very close in the key states
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The United States presidential election will be held on November 5. In analyst Nate Silver’s aggregate of national polls, Democrat Kamala Harris ...12 hours ago
- Rewriting history: how the Treaty ‘principles’ evolved and why they don’t stand up to scrutiny
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jane Kelsey, Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images ACT Party leader David Seymour has said the goal of his Treaty Principles Bill is to stimulate an overdue conversation on te Tiriti o Waitangi/Treaty of Waitangi. ...12 hours ago
- Surge in non-disclosure agreements at Health NZ sparks Labour complaint
Nearly 70 staff at Te Whatu Ora have signed non-disclosure agreements since the end of November. ...12 hours ago
- ‘Numerous questions’, but Fiji govt sticks with new anti-corruption chief
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist The Fiji government is backing the appointment of the country’s new anti-corruption chief who was under investigation by the office she now heads, which has left Fijians asking questions. Barbara Malimali — who was also the Electoral Commission chairperson — was revealed as the ...12 hours ago
- Pope Francis calls for end to tribal ‘spiral of violence’ in PNG visit
Inside PNG reports that Papua New Guinea is blessed with an abundance of natural resources, a proclamation even Pope Francis acknowledges. But Papua New Guinea is also challenged with socio-economic developments that do not reach the rural majority despite the presence of numerous extractive industries. The Pontiff in his remarks ...12 hours ago
- Anne Salmond: A Cabinet of principles?
The effrontery of David Seymour’s riposte to Church leaders over his Treaty Principles Bill is breathtaking. He accuses them of being undemocratic. When the Act Party took the idea of a referendum on Te Tiriti to a general election in 2023, it won just 8.6 percent of the vote. The other ...12 hours ago - Public feedback sought on new tolls for lower North Island
Consultation on the proposed tolling schemes for the Manawatū Tararua Highway and the Ōtaki to north of Levin highway is now open. ...13 hours ago
- A new festival celebrates the art of the picture book
Picture Me is a brand new book festival happening in Wellington and Christchurch between 11–28 September. Here’s the inside scoop on the international headliners and what they’ll be doing while in Aotearoa. A good picture book has a timeless quality: a story you don’t mind reading over, and over and ...13 hours ago
- Minister tried to hide NZDF criticism of boot camp comments
The criticism was revealed to RNZ in an official information act response, but new documents show Judith Collins asked for them to be redacted. ...13 hours ago
- LIVE@12:45pm – The Politics of Desperation – Trump, Netanyahu, Maduro, Ortega
The LIVE Recording of A View from Afar podcast will begin today at 12:45pm September 9, 2024 (NZST) which is Sunday evening, 8:45pm (USEDT). Building upon recent episodes of A View from Afar, Political Scientist Paul G Buchanan and journalist Selwyn Manning will discuss The Politics of Desperation. ...14 hours ago
- David Seymour hits out at church leaders over Treaty Principles Bill
The ACT leader says churches are abandoning their core beliefs, after 400 Christian leaders condemned his controversial Treaty Principles Bill. ...14 hours ago
- Some home truths about gene technologies
In response to criticism of proposed changes to our GM settings, scientist Revel Drummond says we should discuss the issue of regulatory change from a position of educated debate, not fear-mongering. New technologies often get pushback from sectors of society. In the 19th century people feared the unknown effects on ...14 hours ago
- Dane and Stacey on making travel a business, owning half a dog, and finding balance
Earning money while you travel sounds like a dream to many of us – so how hard is it to make the dream a reality? Travel content creators Dane and Stacey joined Kiwibank’s This is Kiwi podcast to talk about documenting their adventures online, and remembering to sometimes put the ...14 hours ago
- Councils’ credit ratings downgraded over debt, rising costs
A reduced rating will mean higher borrowing costs for two major city councils. ...14 hours ago
- Is America ready to elect a Black woman president?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emma Shortis, Adjunct Senior Fellow, School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, RMIT University It’s the big question that has loomed over Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign from the start: is the United States ready for a Black woman president? I get ...16 hours ago
- Murdoch to Musk: how global media power has shifted from the moguls to the big tech bros
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthew Ricketson, Professor of Communication, Deakin University Until recently, Elon Musk was just a wildly successful electric car tycoon and space pioneer. Sure, he was erratic and outspoken, but his global influence was contained and seemingly under control. But add the ...16 hours ago
- Africa desperately needs mpox vaccines. But donations from rich countries won’t fix this or the ne...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joel Lexchin, Professor Emeritus of Health Policy and Management, York University, Canada Africa says it needs an estimated ten million doses of mpox vaccine to control this public health emergency. The situation is particularly concerning in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, ...16 hours ago
- Plot twist: how giving old graveyards new life as parks can improve our cities
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rob Stokes, Industry Professor, Environment and Sustainability, Macquarie University Camperdown Cemetery in Newtown, Sydney Rose Marinelli/Shutterstock Old graveyards are a forgotten land asset that can find new life as urban parks in crowded cities. As the density of our cities increases, efficient ...16 hours ago
- 91% of Australian teens have a phone – but many are not keeping their identity and location secure
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yeslam Al-Saggaf, Professor in Computing, Charles Sturt University Halfpoint/ Shutterstock , CC BY Most Australian teenagers have their own smartphone. According to a 2023 survey, 91% of young people between 14 and 17 owned a phone. At the same time, ...16 hours ago
- Pay-by-weight airfares are an ethical minefield. We asked travellers what they actually think
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So a sort of 'super' centralisation – sold off as a single entity Or sold off piecemeal with each portion in competition with the others?
More likely just run it into the dirt so those that can get insurance the rest can go quietly suffer and die.
Their cancellation of school building projects indicates it will not only be the health sector.
That Levy has indicated no appreciation of the dynamic of amalgamation (or the IT issue at all) suggests he has not been hired to make it work, but run it down.
explained here.
https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-27-07-2024/#comment-2006107
"As pointed out by Clint Smith a 2.9% increase to the health services budget at a time when inflation was 3.3% and population growth was 2.6% has us going backward. Population ageing adds more cost pressure. The increase means in real terms a cut to health funding."
No it doesn't. Clint is making the basic mistake of comparing an increase in future funding with an historic increase in costs. The 2.9% extra spending is for the 2024/25 year, when inflation is forecast to fall back into the 1-3% band. Economic outlook – Budget 2024 – 30 May 2024. That increase represents a real increase in spending per capita.
And as I have previously pointed out (https://thestandard.org.nz/mountain-tui-can-we-talk-about-new-zealands-health-system/#comment-2005896), per capita core crown spending on health has increased significantly since 2008.
The difficulties being experienced by the health system are not about funding, they are about delivery. And there are plenty of examples.
Analysis: What ever happened to the $2 billion that was poured into mental health? | Newshub
Your claims are incorrect.
https://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/article/print-archive/follow-money-see-what-budget-2024-spends-health
Which claims are incorrect?
As per Clint Smith, the increase in vote health was 2.9%
Inflation over the same period is going to reduce to within the 1-3% band. Well within based on the graph at the link.
What are the population numbers used in the calculations you have quoted from – the article is behind a paywall. If the 2.6% quoted is correct, the budget saw a real per capita increase.
PS – can you please limit your responses to just one. You have duplicated this exact response on another thread, which means what can be an informative conversation becomes disjointed.
And yet Reti keeps asserting that National are spending more on health than any previous government.
In dollar terms perhaps, but that is pretty meaningless because our population has also higher than it has ever been and inflation is still there.
National justifies everything with spin. The so-called 14 layers of management – if you dealt into any organisation you could come up with this – is built on spin and facetiousness but little fact.
Folks our public services are being chopped up so the CoC can afford its tax cuts for landlords and to the other rich pricks who think they are entitled to rule this land.
As long as them and their mates have full wallets, f…. anyone else.
That is what National believes.
I've checked NZ Doctor's numbers.
The NZ Doctor quote states that it uses Stats NZ population figures and the Reserve Bank's May inflation forecast for its calculations.
The Stats NZ dataset is here National population projections, by age and sex, 2022(base)-2073 (stats.govt.nz). That shows a median forecast population growth rate for 2024 to 2025 of 0.73%.
The RB May inflation forecast states “Today's progress on core inflation has us growing in confidence that the RBNZ's 2 percent target will be achieved in 2025."
If the core crown health expenditure increased by 2.9%, inflation is under 2% and population growth 0.73%, the calculations produce a real spending per capita that is either the same (at between 1.8 and 2) or higher (at anything under 1.8) than the previous year.
Feel free to check my numbers, but the only way I can see that the NZ Doctor calculations come even close is if they take the 2024 historical inflation rate (instead of the forecast future rate), and heroic assumptions of population growth.
[given you are already in premod, in the absence of a link for that RBNZ quote, I’m taking you out of the debate for the rest of the day to slow things down and take out some heat. – weka]
Make shit up economics. Classy. Got some links for your myth making?
Because lets face reality shall we. Most rates are going to go up in this country by at least 10% Auckland less, everyone else pretty much more
Inflationary much?
Then their is the downward pressure on wages. But Tory wanker like that sort of shit, and never talk about it when talking about inflation because well worker rights, like they give a rats ass. So why should shit wages matter – when you can make shit up.
Oh but wait – Household living costs have increase 5.4 percent. Funny wages have not. Love how Tory wankers use consumer price index as their go to inflation measure to justify all sorts of their shit. But even that has been running at 3.3%
So I'm confused Will – what rabbits ass did you pull inflation is under 2%? Have the boomers stopped retiring?
"what rabbits ass did you pull inflation is under 2%? "
The RBNZ.
The Reserve Bank (RBNZ) expected inflation to fall back into its 1-3 percent target zone this year, and when it is convinced it will stay there, only then will rate cuts begin.
Inflation dips to 3-year low, prices rise just 0.4% in 3 months | RNZ News
Did you read the link? Their figures were 3 -3.8% on the CPI measure. Which is a bullshit measure, for real people, living in the real world. Where the figures are much higher.
So fantasy stuff from you. 2% is a pipe dream of ideologically committed.
Hey Will you are full of it ….Google medical inflation NZ
Simply put, medical inflation is the rising cost of medical care. In New Zealand, in recent times, this has been in the region of around 9 – 11% each year. That means the rate is significantly higher than the country's inflation rate.
The RW and their bloody 'Magical Efficiency Tree' no you lot are not geniuses, no you can't get the same or better results while cutting resources and staff you are lying or deluded and I'm not sure which is worse.
Will is intentionally spreading misinformation. To think it's unintentional would be a mistake.
[deleted]
[Please don’t do that here. We really don’t want people publicly guessing about other commenter identities, thanks – weka]
Mod note
Yes that is the case. In recent times. But it isn't always the case. For example, in the US:
Using the CPI, overall prices grew by 3.5% in March 2024 from the previous year, while prices for medical care increased by only 2.2%. As a result, overall prices excluding medical care grew by 3.6%.
How does medical inflation compare to inflation in the rest of the economy? – Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker
That's why we use broader economy wide markers.
please provide a link for that quote.
Mod note
It's not just health. It's in every sector and includes selling off state entities like Kiwibank too.
https://mountaintui.substack.com/p/what-makes-us-tick
Yep this is the biggest one and the one clearly under attack right now. No sector is safe.
I wish they (Labour or Nats) had sold TVNZ in the past. Now it's worth about as much as Stuff, Kiwirail or Torpedo 7… which if memory serves me correctly were all sold at some stage for $1.
Kiwirail is a bad example. Private Enterprise ran it into the ground and the state had to pay for the repairs. Do you think there should be space for the state to run sectors that are vital to all of us? Like health?
There are some sectors of public service delivery in which a mixed model (private-public) can work. Health is one of those. But a significant shift from the current balance would be disastrous, and most likely politically unpalatable.
Isn't what you describe above, essentially what we have in NZ now? And it's working really well isn't it! (Well for the few wealthy who can afford private health service it is.)
Na bullshit, rich power brokers can afford private so don't care about public, ban politicians from health insurance then you'll see things change
Applying profit models to public service areas is non-sensical. I've favoured for a long time a public good/private good split.
Public good funded through taxation, including taxing to need levels, private good funded through fees and charges.
Health is is a good example where the private sector does what is profitable but you don't go there for your car crash or your heart attack. Some of the problems too in health (doctors and dental) is the move from individually owned practices to corporate type franchises. Instead of the money going into the doctors pockets some is siphoned off and in dental you get given quotas to do so many (profitable) things a month. The creaming off of dentists and doctors incomes is part of the push to have government payments increased.
(We've been here before – childcare, caring for the old and disabled)
Roads, rail, electricity – all have a public/private good component. Working out where this sits should help determine more clearly how things do get funded. The Auckland Hamilton train is a good example – how much is a public good – eg fewer cars on roads, fewer accidents, reduced emissions etc versus private. Roads proportion funded through fees vs normal taxation.
I'm thinking rail for instance would have a greater public good than roads in terms of funding. This seems obvious given the trucking industries desire to have a monopoly. There is clearly money to be made.
It's about time to mobilise people.Enough is enough.
any budget crisis started the day Willis borrowed $12 billion for tax cuts. niothing new about National starving health of money, Key and English did it last time in govt. Luxon and Reti promised to close the pay gap for nurses outside of Te Whatu Ora and fix the staffing crises. Let them try and sell things, that way it becomes nice and transparent rather than using mirrors to hide behind
IMO, absolutely ! Good work MS, Mountain Tui and…others who are looking straight through the NACT1 smoke and mirrors, to the creeps behind.
If we dont show them up for what they are …and where they would take us, NACT1 will destroy/privatise our NZ Health System (and of course the others on their agenda)
Keep up the good work !
By George, Micky has got it!
Of course the fuckers want to privatise–except the tricky more expensive procedures–National Ministers apart from working in Tobacco, have also worked in Private Health Care. They want to run public health care down to the extent people are driven to private…but how the hell can working class people afford the one off payments and policies?
I think it is completely right that the government looks to reduce the administrative burden not only in health but in every area of government.
The reason I have this view is that I think the impact of AI will have a major effect on reducing admistration costs in government departments in the same way it is in the private sector. Already, we have adopted AI in our own company in various ways. For example automatically scanning in bills into our accounting system rather than manually entering them (if that can be called AI). Also, we are looking to impliment Microsoft Copilot in the near future.
Government departments should have the resources to find much more wide-reaching uses of AI that not only reduce administrative burdens, but also make services to the public much more effective.
Bearing in mind that kind of process was being done at least two decades ago in one company I did some work for. It was done without needing generative AI, I don’t think that AI has much to do with it now. At most, it is a minimal refinement reducing the number of human checks that need to be made.
However I’d bet that it still needs exactly the same kind of human training that older automated scanning systems required. ie pointing out what to look for and what to ignore. Which was where most of the work went into. It shifted from manually punching, to pointing to parts of the images so the the programs knew about variations.
35 years ago I was working on automatically matching transactions to GL codes.
Basically I find most of the hype about generative AI to be mostly bubble hype. It is just another tool for fools to bet on and to implement badly. An excuse for a bubble and companies to skim capital. Probably why the market did a rather large tech trim on AI stocks last week.
Much of that type of work was getting dropped out anyway in the decades since with business to business protocols. Haven’t looked at it recently, but based on the complete lack of ‘paper’ in my life, I’d take a bet that most companies (outside of tradies) have that automated and across networks these days.
Work in local government and can confirm. Adopting PEPPOL, for example, is slowly removing paper (and even PDF) invoices.
I guess the sort of thing that might become more automated and sophisticated with AI could be the increasing use of chat bots in call centres. A lot of sites seem to use these now. At the moment they are a bit annoying. But they might end up performing better than humans, and reduce the time wasted waiting for a real human to respond.
Another area I can see AI technology being useful is in areas such as reviewing tax returns. AIs could scan all tax returns looking for inconsistencies to be followed up with from a tax inspector, thus making their time more effective.
Something on the news recently that has the potential to increase productivity dramatically is the use of virtual building inspections. Probably in the area of technology and innovation rather than AI. This method may not be appropriate in every circumstance. But, is probably quite adequate when dealing with experienced builders who have a good track record. But, the time saved in travel etc will help ease the construction lag, and get houses built more quickly.
The thing is they are downscaling the IT workforce, so questions have to be asked about the chances of realising a national integrated information system on which to utilise AI.
Where I find AI quite useful is things like early drafts of basic presentations for training on a specific topic that is well documented across the net and for locating reference documents.
In both cases it doesn't replace the in depth knowledge required to pick up errors and reorganise but it certainly does save quite a few hours in preparation and organising each time and certainly picks up some really good references that search engines don't pick up – though seems to ignore really good ones that are easy to find.
Rather than work related use it seems to be most useful for me in putting things together for community groups and for helping non-techy people do the same. That may be where productivity gains may come – helping ordinary people who have expertise build something using technology they don't have expertise in.
Bring back community education. There is so much opportunity to upskill ordinary citizens.
That is my favourite usage. But mostly I tend to use wikipedia to fact check the AI summary because there is often complete trash in the generative AI.
Summarising comments on PBTech on products is an effective usage. But much of the time the comments themselves are better.
This is a reasonable example.
https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/UPSDNX1600/Dynamix-UPSD1600-Defender-1600VA-960W-Line-Interac
I seldom use them or any voice in any form when searching for information. I have never managed to get one to provide any information that is of any use to me. It is not for the want of trying. Typically what I get after going through the process is I get stuck in a line waiting for a human.
Generally if you want to get information these days, I usually tell people to go on to the websites and look it up. Failing that, use the chat bot on the website or send email to their support contact and clearly state the issue. You'll usually get a callback or contact from a human, and it doesn't involve trying to keep a voice line open for several hours. The response may be several days later, or even weeks in a couple of cases.
But you don't have to play phone failure roulette.
It has gotten to the point now that I check the websites now before joining services and routinely asking a question to find out the response times when purchasing to ask a routine question that isn't in their FAQ. Poor services on that and I purchase elsewhere.
Hmm AI to the rescue well…….
https://www.livemint.com/ai/artificial-intelligence/openai-likely-to-go-bankrupt-by-the-end-of-2024-report-11691815279479.html
NACT1 and 14 shades of BS.
OK.. repeated
Luxury Luxon still with the 14 layers
And Dr Reti's mind is blown..14 ways
Hey you NACT1 creeps , your lies are being exposed !
Easy fix – get rid of the patients and the problem is solved!
Think of the savings ! Oh and there is : (paraphrased) In order to save the Health System..It became necessary to destroy the Health system : (
Yeah, the health system would be going great if it wasn't for all those stupid people who take up doctors' time by getting sick or having accidents.
As I, and others have said, NACT1 aim to privatise. Everything. They are going full speed to bring the changes necessary. Any lie they can get away with…just enables that.
Sad thing is, a lot of those who will be shafted by them, also voted for them. Go figure : (
Anyway for the rest of us : Fight Back !
Fight back. Any suggestions as to how we mobilise andi fght back? (Serious question)
Questions to MP's.
Support Left MP's and Parties
Also Groups affected by Fast Track/privatisation such as Environmental ones ( a lot of common ground there)
Keep abreast of Political news…The Standard and others who expose NACT1 lies and subterfuge
Calls to March.. be seen and heard
I remember that during the National Bolger government, there was a strong rumour that Masterton Public Hospital was going to be closed down. The locals took action and staged a public gathering with hundreds of people linking arms in the grounds of the hospital surrounding the hospital, showing National what they felt about it.
People power can work, but it has to be organised properly.
Arguably, privatisation of health in NZ has been underway for quite some time.
https://theconversation.com/the-real-cost-of-new-zealands-two-tier-health-system-why-going-private-doesnt-relieve-pressure-on-public-hospitals-206491 [published May 30, 2023, i.e., before the General Election]
Just straight up lying.
First do no harm ‘Dr’ Reti. Or are you released from that when you join the Nats?
Another day and more Nats bullshit.
Allowing a bullshit culture war party to be bullshit is one thing.
Straight out lying about a core, core function of government like healthcare is different.
Hickey from the link in the last post:
Health NZ has been very clear in recent months that the increase in costs above its budgeted levels of around $130 million a month was actually because of Holidays Act leave entitlements, new collective agreements with staff, pay equity increases and extra nursing costs because of extra hours being worked in jam-packed hospitals.