Health systems blog ‘Otaihanga Second Opinion’ discusses the problem when government’s base decision-making on balance sheet snapshots. otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2026/02/25/w...

‘Newsroom’ has published my column on the implications and risks arising out of the General Practice Owners Association proposal to establish its own primary care organisation (PHO) in the context of PHOs trying to function in a six-year policy vacuum. newsroom.co.nz/2026/02/20/h...

Health systems blog ‘Otaihanga Second Opinion discusses the threat to public safety of planned political interference in the regulatory authorities for New Zealand’s health system. otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2026/02/11/p...

@bsky.app Health systems blog ‘Otaihanga Second Opinion’ discusses the huge ‘Manage My Health’ security breach of patient health records in the context of private ownership (and operation) and the need to restore Health Ministry IT capacity. otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2026/02/06/m...

With an eye on the policy of the New Zealand government to Israel’s genocide in Gaza, politics blog ‘Political Bytes’ discusses the courageous unbreakable Nelson Mandela-like spirit of a Palestinian leader. politicalbytes.blog/2026/02/02/c...

This morning (29 January) I was interviewed live by Mike Hosking on Newstalk ZB on the reported significant increase in ambulances taking patients to hospitals. I argued that this mirrored what was happening in acute patient hospital demand. www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-...

Health systems blog ‘Otaihanga Second Opinion’ discusses recent comments by Finance Minister Nicola Willis on why Health New Zealand is ‘failing’ and her solution. In doing so she fails to put diagnosis before treatment. otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2026/01/27/n...

Politics blog ‘Political Bytes’ discusses with an overdose of cynicism why Donald Trump should have been awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize. politicalbytes.blog/2026/01/24/t...

On 15 January local Kapiti Coast online publication ‘KC News’ published my opinion piece on the apparent demise of a promising well-developed and publicly supported health polyclinic initiative. www.kcnews.co.nz/2026/01/15/h...

Health systems blog ‘Otaihanga Second Opinion’ discusses the High Court injunction on the puberty blocker ban in New Zealand and the opportunity for Cabinet to reconsider the issue as a clinical rather than political one. otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2026/01/19/h...

Politics blog ‘Political Bytes’ discusses the mass terrorist slaughter at Bondi Beach and the shameful attempt to use it to smear opponents of genocide in Gaza. politicalbytes.blog/2026/01/15/b...

Health system blog ‘Otaihanga Second Opinion’ discusses when systems failure leads to unsafe staffing which in turn causes tragic outcomes in the context of a Health & Disability Commissioner decision contributing to a stillborn baby. otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2026/01/12/c...

My politics blog ‘Political Bytes’ discusses the implications of the US military attack on and political abductions in Venezuela including fabrications and agendas. Also refers to New Zealand implications. politicalbytes.blog/2026/01/09/n...

After reading an interesting article on free speech, politics blog ‘Political Bytes’ discusses the issue in the context of the ethics of conviction and the ethics of responsibility including neo-liberalism in the United Kingdom and New Zealand. politicalbytes.blog/2025/12/19/f...

This post of health systems blog ‘Otaihanga Second Opinion’ is the second of a two-part series on how New Zealand’s health system got into its current poop and how it might get out of it. otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2025/12/18/g...

Yesterday ‘Newsroom’ published my column on the Labour Party’s recently announced loans policy to support GPs becoming general practice owners, partly in response to corporate ownership expansion. newsroom.co.nz/2025/12/09/l...

Health systems blog discusses how New Zealand’s health system got into the mess that it is now in. otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2025/12/08/h...

Health systems blog ‘Otaihanga Second Opinion’ discusses the Government’s decision to ignore clinical expert advice and ban puberty blockers for young people suffering gender dysphoria. otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2025/12/06/p...

Politics blog ‘Political Bytes’ discusses the public fall-out between fellow far right-wingers Tucker Carlson and Donald Trump and the insights it might provide for New Zealand politics. politicalbytes.blog/2025/11/30/t...

Health systems blog ‘Otaihanga Second Opinion’ discusses the pitch by Serco to run public hospitals, including new builds and public private partnerships, in New Zealand, otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2025/11/22/w...

Politics blog ‘Political Bytes’ discusses the genocide in Gaza through a doctor’s eyes and what the New Zealand government should learn from this. politicalbytescom.wordpress.com/wp-admin/pos...

Newsroom has published my column (link below) discussing the key issues and risks arising out of the Government’s intention to introduce for the first time a health target on access to general practitioners in New Zealand’s primary healthcare system. newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/14/h...

Health systems blog ‘Otaihanga Second Opinion’ discusses the response of general practices and Primary Health Organisations to increasing corporate power in general practice ownership, including private equity investors. otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2025/11/09/g...

Politics blog ‘Political Bytes’ discusses whether the trend of the far right cannibalising the mainstream rightwing in Europe might follow into New Zealand in the context of uneven and combined development. politicalbytes.blog/2025/11/03/f...

Health systems blog discusses where private health insurance fits in with the crisis in New Zealand’s public health system, particularly the rundown of public hospitals. otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2025/10/30/p...

Health systems blog ‘Otaihanga Second Opinion’ discusses, with a bit of help from Hippocrates, Health Minister Simeon Brown’s accusation that senior doctors taking strike action were crossing an ethical line: otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2025/10/25/h...

Politics blog ‘Political Bytes’ discusses the controversy over the awarding of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize: politicalbytes.blog/2025/10/18/t...

Health systems blog ‘Otaihanga Second Opinion’ discusses how health targets have evolved to the point of shifting from a policy to a legislative requirement: otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2025/10/15/p...

@bsky.app Health systems blog ‘Otaihanga Second Opinion’ discusses the extension of corporate ownership of general practices into Primary Care Organisations in New Zealand’s health system: otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2025/10/12/c...

Politics blog ‘Political Bytes’ discusses the decision of, and reaction to, the New Zealand government not to recognise the state of Palestine. politicalbytes.blog/2025/10/01/a...

Politics blog ‘Political Bytes’ discusses the decision of, and reaction to, the New Zealand government not to recognise the state of Palestine. politicalbytes.blog/2025/10/01/a...

Politics blog ‘Political Bytes’ discusses the rhyming blogs of the Herero in south-west Africa in the early 20th centuries and Gaza today. politicalbytes.blog/2025/09/28/r...

Well said by Gregory Fortuin on disgraceful NZ government decision not to recognise Palestine as a state. www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360...

Health systems blog ‘Otaihanga Second Opinion’ discusses the growing power of corporate ownership of general practices in New Zealand’s health system: otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2025/09/26/g...

Health systems blog ‘Otaihanga Second Opinion’ critically discusses proposed amendments to New Zealand’s health system legislation that directly affect Maori healthcare, including functions and the Iwi Maori Partnership Boards. otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2025/09/23/p...

Politics blog ‘Political Bytes’ discusses Luddism as a positive and popular force, including in a historical and contemporary New Zealand context. politicalbytes.blog/2025/09/19/t...

Health systems blog ‘Otaihanga Second Opinion’ discusses the threat to patient safety by proposed amendments to New Zealand legislation governing health regulatory authorities: otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2025/09/15/h...

Health systems blog ‘Otaihanga Second Opinion’ critiques the NZ Medical Journal editorial by the Chair of Health New Zealand on the precarious state of our health system. otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2025/09/06/f...

Here is the link to my column in Stuff’s ‘The Post’ published today. It discusses the legislative amendment that threatens rights of health professionals to give public voice to their concerns (unfortunately paywalled): www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/3608...

Health systems blog ‘Otaihanga Second Opinion’ discusses the secretive attempts by the alcohol industry to influence health policy on alcohol harm in New Zealand. otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2025/08/21/g...

Below is the link to my latest politics blog ‘Political Bytes’. It discusses the New Zealand government’s recent road user charges announcement in the context of climate change indifference (and denial) and privatisation. politicalbytes.blog/2025/08/19/w...

My latest ‘Newsroom’ column discusses the implications and politics of the Government attempt to put its overhyped and simplistic health targets in New Zealand’s health system legislation. newsroom.co.nz/2025/08/15/s...

Health system blog ‘Otaihanga Second Opinion’ discusses the reported heart healthcare system “verging on collapse” as a barometer for the state of New Zealand public hospitals in general. otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2025/08/12/h...

Health systems blog ‘Otaihanga Second Opinion’ discusses the forgotten health professionals in the health system’s workforce – allied health professionals. otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2025/08/09/t...

Politics blog ‘Political Bytes’ discusses the debate within the New Zealand Labour Party over whether to base its tax reform policy for next year’s election on taxing capital gains or wealth. politicalbytes.blog/2025/08/06/a...

Health systems blog ‘Otaihanga Second Opinion’ further discusses, and drills down into, the Government’s decision to approve the business case for a third medical school at Waikato University. otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2025/08/04/f...

Witty satire by Steve Braunias on the secretive establishment of a FBI office in New Zealand: newsroom.co.nz/2025/08/02/t...

Health system blog ‘Otaihanga Second Opinion’ discusses the political cosy relationships that shaped the decision-making over New Zealand’s third medical school. otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2025/07/26/n...

Politics blog ‘Political Bytes’ discusses conviction rightwing politician David Seymour and how the ‘political left’ might respond. politicalbytes.blog/2025/07/22/d...