New data shows that Wellington Hospital’s emergency department went into its most critical code red status on average nearly twice a day between January and October 2025. About 10 patients a day left the ED untreated during that period – 3200 in total. Death rates double for some patients who leave ED without seeing a doctor.
Last year, Christchurch ED doctors warned Kiwi patients have died in corridors and carparks after frequent critical overloads in the region. And Nelson hospital doctors came out en masse to warn of critical risk to patients too, highlighting that they believe patients who were not seen had died as a result.
Northland doctor specialists have accused National of “starving” public health intentionally, while farming out operations to private hospitals to give “false” impression that it’s improving wait times.
A report also found public hospitals were short 587 nurses every shift in 2024. A reminder that the reason for National’s initial “crisis” overspend in Health NZ was due to Labour hiring the nurses the health system needed.
What price is a Kiwi worth? What price a loved one? What price losing our talented and dedicated health professionals – either to private practice or overseas? What price is a dollar when a dollar won’t buy you your health? How much more is it to salvage a system than to support it now?
These are the questions Kiwis must answer for themselves – after each has enrolled, and asked each to enrol, to vote in the upcoming 7th November, 2026 election.
On a related note, we were discussing the next round of industrial action the nurses may take.
It occurs to me, despite the disparaging views they receive, millennials need to be part of the strategy and tactics going forward.
It's all well and good harking back to the days when we were a lot more connected and supported. Strike action was a team or group event as much about now as it was about those 'coming up'. Nowadays folk look at their payslip that is two days less and…
To all those who are under 30 that lurk round here.
Actual Kiwi are worth more than the human variety for our overlords. Afterall, the birds have the potential to attract tourists, who apparently help the economy with their spending. Until funding to the conservators is completely cut…
Sorry, I just can't find a link (can anyone help please?)but I'm certain that I heard something on the radio earlier saying the books were looking better, in part because of them cutting public sector spending, especially in health. Like that is something to boast about?
But hey. balanced books trump the wellbeing of the populous.
Government's finances in better than expected shape [RNZ, 22 Jan 2026]
Crown spending was more than $1.1b lower than forecast at $59.8b, driven by reduced spending on core government services, health, and a fall in the cost of carbon credits.
I'm on the bus so can't easily find it but there was an article on rnz news saying inflation still at 3% or a bit over. The economists predicted the RBNZ not lowering the ocr anytime soon.
I bet luxon and Willis will try to blame the 2020 to 2023 government. What else can they do?
“We see hospice and palliative care as a key part of the healthcare system,” Naylor [Hospice New Zealand CEO Wayne Naylor] says. “The same way you fund general surgery or maternity services, hospice should be funded as a core part of the healthcare system.”
A truly sobering read about something that none of us can avoid and many of us (estimates/assumptions run from a third to 45% of all “New Zealanders […] as they die”) will experience directly themselves at some stage.
In 2024, according to official numbers 37,722 New Zealanders died …
[…]
In 2024, for instance, it cost $226 million to run the country’s hospice services, with the government providing roughly half of that amount. The balance was made up by charity and the proceeds from the network of second-hand hospice stores around the country, not to mention the many, many hours of labour given by volunteers.
As usual Mountain Tui, you get to the nub. We are worth very little as we require Public Health Public Education and Public Transport. We also put a high value on the Natural Habitat and want Sustainability.
All of these have a cost per person. Hence we are "Bottom Feeders" who steer money away from Private Providers.
What are we worth?
Very little, as we "cost" through a share of taxes, (Although Coc has shrunk that and GDP by a large margin as they "redirect the funds to questionable private providers"
Too convince us Labour caused this, the supporters providers and lobbyists will pour millions into a propaganda war of lies to win the Election in Nov.
Willis denying she caused huge job losses with her instruction for budget cuts to Public Services is just an entree' to the bare faced menu of lies which will come.
Thank you for your clear warnings of what will really affect us.
And all the while (they might crow about building new hospitals) they steadily reduce the number of hospital beds. And probably operating theatres too.
If they tell you about a new hospital- check the bed numbers.
On a related note, we were discussing the next round of industrial action the nurses may take.
It occurs to me, despite the disparaging views they receive, millennials need to be part of the strategy and tactics going forward.
It's all well and good harking back to the days when we were a lot more connected and supported. Strike action was a team or group event as much about now as it was about those 'coming up'. Nowadays folk look at their payslip that is two days less and…
To all those who are under 30 that lurk round here.
What say yee?
Actual Kiwi are worth more than the human variety for our overlords. Afterall, the birds have the potential to attract tourists, who apparently help the economy with their spending. Until funding to the conservators is completely cut…
Sorry, I just can't find a link (can anyone help please?)but I'm certain that I heard something on the radio earlier saying the books were looking better, in part because of them cutting public sector spending, especially in health. Like that is something to boast about?
But hey. balanced books trump the wellbeing of the populous.
Thank you
The inflation stats come out tomorrow.
I'm on the bus so can't easily find it but there was an article on rnz news saying inflation still at 3% or a bit over. The economists predicted the RBNZ not lowering the ocr anytime soon.
I bet luxon and Willis will try to blame the 2020 to 2023 government. What else can they do?
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/584679/inflation-likely-to-stay-higher-than-rbnz-forecasts
https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/19-01-2026/how-we-die-inside-new-zealands-looming-crisis-in-palliative-care
A truly sobering read about something that none of us can avoid and many of us (estimates/assumptions run from a third to 45% of all “New Zealanders […] as they die”) will experience directly themselves at some stage.
You can do the maths.
Personally I can't help but observe Seymour's euthanasia bill is going to help with the 'maths'.
In the same way the pay parity annexing helped with the budget.
That's the thing with these sorts of people, it's all about the money.
As usual Mountain Tui, you get to the nub. We are worth very little as we require Public Health Public Education and Public Transport. We also put a high value on the Natural Habitat and want Sustainability.
All of these have a cost per person. Hence we are "Bottom Feeders" who steer money away from Private Providers.
What are we worth?
Very little, as we "cost" through a share of taxes, (Although Coc has shrunk that and GDP by a large margin as they "redirect the funds to questionable private providers"
Too convince us Labour caused this, the supporters providers and lobbyists will pour millions into a propaganda war of lies to win the Election in Nov.
Willis denying she caused huge job losses with her instruction for budget cuts to Public Services is just an entree' to the bare faced menu of lies which will come.
Thank you for your clear warnings of what will really affect us.
Sometimes if you don't laugh you will cry.
Here is Monty Python, in just over 20 seconds summing up the attitudes of the COC and Health Ministry. From 43 years ago.
Yes.
And all the while (they might crow about building new hospitals) they steadily reduce the number of hospital beds. And probably operating theatres too.
If they tell you about a new hospital- check the bed numbers.