ALRANZ: 16 reasons to change the abortion law
Labour are intending to change NZ’s abortion laws. ALRANZ has 16 good reasons why that’s important (and overview of the current laws).
Social issues
health
Labour to reform abortion law
Justice Minister Andrew Little has given the go ahead to change NZ’s archaic abortion legislation.
NZ Court of Appeal and the Ministry of Health
The government has a responsibility to act fairly, centre its services around the needs of people, and treat NZ citizens as human beings.
Did you hear about the killer who got pulled over for speeding?
Re-education may be the key to improving NZ driving habits.
It’s time to change our cannabis laws (sign the petition)
“Sick New Zealanders deserve access to medicinal cannabis which is legal and affordable.”
Take abortion out of the Crimes Act
Abortion is still a crime in NZ. It’s time to change the law so that women don’t have to lie about their mental health to get the health care they need.
The NZ Government passes Health Homes Guarantee Act
“Every New Zealander deserves a warm, healthy home to live in, and the Health Homes Guarantee Act will help ensure that”
Beneficiary for life: the joys of permanent disability in present day NZ
What happens to long term beneficiaries who can’t increase their income with paid work?
The mess that the new government inherits
This post is too long to read. Its purpose is to serve as reference material, a “one stop” snapshot of where we are as a country. The mess that the new government inherits. The consequences of the nine long wasted years of National. The magnitude of the challenge ahead of us.
Industrial dairying and blue babies
When you run an economy that sees harm to babies as acceptable risks that can be mitigated, then you are approaching society’s end game.
Malnutrition – in NZ FFS
Stunningly depressing piece by Kirsty Johnston in The Herald yesterday – Number of New Zealand children hospitalised with malnutrition doubles as food costs bite.
Proud of your legacy, National?
Shameful poverty – why we must elect a Labour led government
Two excellent but very disturbing pieces in The Herald yesterday. This crisis in poverty, housing and health is a national disgrace. It is why we desperately need to elect a Labour led government in September.
A tale of two hospital announcements
There were some notable differences between Labour and National’s accouncements of a new Dunedin hospital…
Another DHB in trouble
National found $10b down the back of the sofa for roads roads roads, but is under funding our health system to the point of collapse.
Equal pay protestors chase the Government out of the Dunedin hospital
They ran away from equal pay.
Labour addresses urgent mental health need in Canterbury
In the wake of devastating earthquakes in Canterbury, National’s treatment of mental health needs in the region has been absolutely shameful. Yesterday Jacinda Ardern released new policy to help address the crisis. Great work from Labour in an area that National have cruelly neglected.
The Listener on our health system crisis
A major piece by Jessica McAllen in The Listener out today. Cash-strapped hospitals are using unsafe hardware-store versions of proper surgical-grade equipment, and reusing “single use” devices.
Health disasters – useless Coleman in all kinds of shit
The Health system is riddled with crises and useless Minister Jonathan Coleman is in all kinds of shit. He doesn’t seem to care any more and we won’t front up for interviews. Coleman is a disgrace.
Lifeline funding cut
Funding to Lifeline has been cut in favour of an organisation with a family link to Bill English. It may be completely innocent as all the interested parties claim. But it’s not a good look to be destroying Lifeline, an organisation doing world class work in an area of desperate need. You don’t easily replace that experience.
Trying to bury bad news
It’s a busy news day, so… Government axes Lifeline contract. Yes, we still top the western world on youth suicide. We still have […]
Synthetic cannabis deaths
We should consider decriminalising real cannabis to provide a safer alternative.
Tax cuts or fix this…
Auckland City Councilor Richard Hills yesterday tweeted some of the things we would like to see fixed before a tax cut. You might want to add to the list. Good thing Labour is promising to cancel the cuts and spend billions more on health and education.
National reckon public health and education are a waste of money?
According to Morning Report the Nats are calling Labour’s budget for more spending on health and education “a plan to waste more money”. Tell it to the people who can’t afford private alternatives and depend on the public systems.
Nats’ shameful surrender on suicide
The Nats know all about the importance of monitoring and goals when it comes to effecting change. So naturally: “A goal of reducing New Zealand’s total suicide rate by 20 per cent over 10 years was rejected over fears the Government would be held accountable if the rate didn’t drop.”
Generous donation – why was it necessary to get a hospital built?
Thank you Mark Dunajtschik. But why did it take a generous private donation to get a badly needed public hospital off the drawing-board?
Government’s cruelty on Christchurch’s mental health
Christchurch’s mental health services are overwhelmed and verging on collapse. Canterbury has the most suicides in NZ. And yet the government has just declined a request for further funding. National – delivering misery for Canterbury.
NRT: National’s failure on rheumatic fever
I/S at No Right Turn writes: “Five years ago, National set itself a target as part of its “Better Public Services” targets to reduce the incidence of rheumatic fever by two-thirds. They failed.”
About that pay equity deal
More excellent reporting from Newsroom: “Long overdue pay rate increases affecting 55,000 New Zealand care and support workers kick in on July 1. But the Government’s failure to fully fund the changes is threatening to derail service providers”
Health professionals support legal challenge against government’s climate policy
“Climate change is a medical emergency – and our government’s inaction threatens New Zealanders’ wellbeing, both now and into the future.”
Health budget stuff up – incompetent
I guess English can’t be too angry at Coleman – just last year he stuffed up his own numbers to the tune of $160m per year when “explaining” why he was vetoing an extension to paid parental leave.
How to make medicinal cannabis laws based on the needs of ill and disabled people
The Greens’ bill would make medicinal cannabis easily accessible to those in need without hoop jumping or financial barriers.
$2.3b Health funding shortfall
The Nats are under-funding the health sector to the tune of $2.3b. That’s a lot of real people not getting the care that they need.
Medical marijuana on prescription
The Government starts to make cannabidiol more available.
Tax cuts and 1600 deaths per year
One of the nasty little fishhooks in the budget was the cutting of the home insulation scheme (Warm Up New Zealand). The scheme had a benefit-cost ratio of $6 for every $1 invested. Around 1,600 people die in NZ a year of cold-related factors. Hope the tax cuts are worth it eh?
The cigarette crime spree
The cigarette crime spree is a real problem for National. Their “law and order” credentials are in tatters.
Ban cigarettes, find a way to compensate dairy owners for a transitional period.
Suicide, Mike King, and mental health services
On the issues of suicide and mental health, the choice is pretty clear. Bungling and abuse from National, a positive plan for action from Labour.