The Cass Review is the worst kind of pseudoscience & has at least 13 peer-reviewed critiques of it (all ignored by mainstream media). Streeting now wants a Cass Review for Autism, ADHD, etc. I have characterised these as “contrived authority” strategies (referring to the work of Max Weber) 1/2

Absolutely hilarious that the government had ALREADY had to rewrite their regulation banning puberty blockers because they were so incompetent, and the initial regulation was ambiguous and illogical. Even now the current wording allows side stepping of the regulation.

Did the New York Times know that today is Ikea Day in Aotearoa?

Specifically, he claims to be "restoring accountability", while actually removing independent oversight in favour of a powerless committee he appoints himself.

The Paediatric Society of NZ - representing the clinical field most relevant here - have released maybe the strongest statement of all the medical bodies: “puberty blockers are an established, safe, reversible, and life-saving treatment option”

Honestly, Labour's policy around primary care, which they have erronously described only in relation to GPs, appears to completely misunderstand the actual issues facing Primary Health Care in this country - www.labour.org.nz/familydoctor...

This flag has been up for possibly a couple months judging by a reddit thread about it. It's still up now, unfortunately on a building overseen by the Auckland City Mission at the moment.

Just to highlight how stupid this wording is - this legislation change appears to suggest that GnRHa can NEVER be prescribed to a transgender person for any clinic reason based on the wording of this puberty blocker ban legislation change.

Look at the wording this transphobic government is adding into legislation - this level of interference with healthcare provision is wildly unprecented. www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/p...

Can you imagine any other situation where a government bans a widely used medication without any identified examples of harm occuring while ALSO not providing any meaningful alternative treatment options? I guess this is what happens when hateful anti trans folk become minister of health.

Another health professional body adding to their voices to the outrage at our transphobic government's ban on puberty blockers - www.tekahuikorowairangatahi.co.nz/knowledge-hu...

The overwhelmingly positive experiences of trans youth on puberty blockers

Lolol imagine referencing an anti trans lobby group without explicitly pointing out that the groups sole purpose for existing is to make the lives of trans people harder www.chrislynchmedia.com/news-items/s...

I really wish the left wing parties talking about "free GP appointments" would at least get in touch with the College of Primary Health Care Nurses, because they're really missing a huge part of the problem by only centring GPs in their discussions, policies, and rhetoric.

Not to undermine how transphobic Simeon Brown is, but with NZ First's announcement today to repeal the Regulatory Standards Act that they literally voted to pass just days ago, I can't help but think the puberty blocker ban was a negotiation tactic to buy the votes of the very transphobic NZ First.

Here's another nursing led response to the puberty blocker ban by this transphobic government. Is there a thread showing all the professional bodies pushing back against this decision? kaitiaki.org.nz/article/nzno...

Very proud to have been able to contribute to this response from the NZNO College of Child and Youth Nurses to the puberty blocker ban. I'm glad our union and college have our back and are willing to stand up to this transphobic government. www.nzno.org.nz/about_us/med...

If they can ban access to healthcare like puberty blockers for one group of people, they can do this with any healthcare for their next target. They will ban abortion again given the chance and they will come after contraception after that. The anti-choice movement is our govt right now. #nzpol

There is a reason our fundy PM appointed another fundy as the Minister of Health and it is because they share the same beliefs on many issues, including abortion #nzpol

Trying to write a press release for the College of Child and Youth Nurses in response to this transphobic puberty blocker ban but I'm not sure I can express how I feel about this without swear words.

PATHA's statement has been published: patha.nz/news

email and/or call Brown and your local MP now, because its always how this attempt at eliminating trans people starts #nzpol #ProtectTransKids

Zero surprises that the brainless transphobic health minister in NZ ignored all expert advice and evidence and banned puberty blockers for trans youth. Literal blood on his hands. www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-...

People are often surprised when I tell them that nurse practitioners leave the union once they qualify because they see themselves as future owners/bosses. But here's a shining example.

I always chat with my pharmacist when I pick up my own medication, he knows I'm an NP because my clients also use his pharmacy. We had a good chat about his major concerns about this government's changes to prescriptions, with twelve month scripts becoming available.

Are there actually people who like "long as walks on the beach"? Like, maybe it's because I'm disabled but walking on sand sucks so much I can't comprehend enjoying walking on sand for a long period of time.

Talking to school based healthcare services colleagues about the attempt to privatize public schools, it's surprises me how few people are aware that Act is a dogmatic libertarian party that aims to privatize all public services. #nzpol

The attempted bid to turn Kelston Boys College into a charter school should send shivers up everyone's spine. Libertarian dogma attempting to undermine the school with a nearly 100% Māori and Pacific Island roll is classic Act party racism in action. #nzpol

This nurse practitioner here, who's constantly advocating for expanding the role of registered nurses in Primary Health Care, is gonna have a stroke if every political party including the Greens keeps talking about "free GP visits" #nzpol

Free primary care visits (fuck this GP centric discussion) would be great IF our primary health care system wasn't an example of neoliberalism failing the people. Especially in a context where primary care clinics are rapidly being bought out by conglomerates of profiteers.

While our minister of health continues to indicate he's contemplating a ban on puberty blockers in Aotearoa New Zealand, across the ditch the Supreme Court overturned an attempt to block blockers in Queensland. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Cops are THE LAST people you want present in a medical emergency. Today walking to the supermarket we passed two cops attending to a minor traffic stop, as we carried on we noticed to people approach and kneel down to check on a man who was unconscious on the ground.

The government’s political interference in the healthcare of trans kids is holding up the publication of sorely needed guidance for clinicians supporting *all* trans people. We’ve been told they will not be published until Simeon Brown deigns to decide the fate of trans youth.

While the government accuses health care unions of playing politics over safe staffing, this same government is playing politics, bowing to anti trans pressure, and preventing the release of updated gender affirming healthcare guidelines, absolutely unprecedented. www.1news.co.nz/2025/10/25/g...

The incredible part here is that the workers who cancelled their strike to deal with this crisis WERE ON STRIKE BECAUSE OF SHIT CONDITIONS AND UNDERINVESTMENT IN OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM

This article is a great explainer for those unfamiliar with groups like the Atlas Network and their influence in NZ politics. "At the moment, a new bill is being worked on in New Zealand and it is very much the policy and idea of Atlas Network partner the New Zealand Initiative." #nzpol

Another quirk of AoNZ nursing union coverage - school nurses who in many place are employed by the schools themselves have no union contract available to them, neither the nurses union nor the teachers union currently covers them.

The data is incredibly clear - there was been an increase in understaffed healthcare services as a result of this government's funding restrictions, despite Simeon Brown's gaslighting rhetoric. The stats are crystal clear on this fact. #Oct23Strike

'Key phrases and policies from NZ Pork's submission appear in the bill, the Regulatory Impact Statement and Department Disclosure Document.'

"The strikers I've spoken to are striking because they are being put into situations that are against their moral code. ... And they're seeing first hand how public sector cuts have harmed those that they care for, those that they've devoted their lives to ..." #NZPol www.emilywrites.co.nz/strike/

Lincoln Road has multiple pockets today and from my clinic office I can hear constant honking in support of the #Oct23strike. This is a historic day for workers rights in Aotearoa New Zealand

Also worth noting that our worst paid nurses in New Zealand, the ones whose pay equity claims were thrown in the trash by this government aren't able to join the strike today. But remember that primary health care, aged care and Māori health service nurses stand in solidarity with the strike.

It's hilarious that Luxon claims there are no hiring freezes in our health services, because everyone who works in healthcare knows well that funding cuts have meant staff are not being replaced, and haven't been for nearly two years. Call it what you will, but that's a hiring freezes to me. #nzpol

The negative impacts this government has had on our health system was almost immediate, and has worsened every month that goes by with them in power. Funding cuts, service closures, graduate nurses unable to find jobs, dismantling of Te Aka Whai Ora. Support the strike! #nzpol

Judith Collins statement that the mass strike this week is "political" is so meaningless. Like funding cuts to essential services is political, tax cuts to landlords paid for by hiring freezes leading to unsafe nursing staffing is political. Striking is a political act. So what? #nzpol

God it's so gross hearing reporters talk about Israeli "hostages" but then refer to Palestinian "prisoners held without charge" like what's the material difference between these two categories?

Yesterday at work we had a few nurses visiting for a training day, who I'd never met before. The first asked if I was the IT guy or something, and the next asked if I was a visiting counselor. I laughed because the receptionist at the school clinic I used to visit thought I was the music teacher.

Auckland's North Shore is practically a desert in terms of existing social services, despite growing need, service closure caused by this coalition government's obsession with landlord tax cuts paid for by cuts to health and social services is nothing more than a disaster.

I live next to a motorway and believe it or not in 2025 Google maps still thinks the fastest way home is to park on the motorway and jump over the fences to my house.

Furthest I've ever been nor including airports: N: McKenzie Island, Ontario, Canada E: Cusco, Peru S: Dunedin, New Zealand W: Melbourne, Australia Actually hadn't realized how far east Peru sits compared to Canada.